The Ministry of Public Service in conjunction with the Uganda Association of Public Administration and Management (UAPAM) 0n 23rd June 2011 held a workshop at Hotel Africana in commemoration of the Africa Public Service Day of Civil Service and Public Administration.

The workshop whose theme was “Results and Prospects of Administrative and Institutional Reforms since the Independence of African States” attracted participants from across the Public Service, private sector, academia and the wider Ugandan society.

In his opening remarks, the 2nd Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Service Hon. Henry Muganwa Kajura expressed his delight in participating in the commemoration of the African Public Service Day. In line with the theme, Hon.Kajura informed participants that upon attainment of independence in the 1960s, Africa, and in particular Uganda, inherited a well structured, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient public service.
He added that the administrative and institutional reforms envisaged for the Uganda public service should put more emphasis on efficiency, value for money, customer orientation, National standards, targets and indicators and performance and measurement.

The 2nd Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Public Service informed participants that the Government was considering the reduction of retirement age from the current 60years to 50years. In his conclusion, he stressed the fact that the Uganda Public Service was in the processes of re-inventing its self and hoped that his ministry would definitely enhance performance in support of Government’s developments.

However, the Minister of State for Public Service, Hon. Mbaguta Sezi identified some challenges faced by the Public Service in Service delivery, “innovation is still minimal, adjustment to modern technology is still low”, she also noted on insufficient resources and under staffing mainly in the Health and Education sectors.

Despite the challenges, the Minister stressed that the Ministry of Public Service working with other stake holders is determined to over come them through developing a strategy for the transformation of the Public Service.

As she officially closed the workshop, the state Minister for Public Service expressed her gratitude to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Service, and Uganda Association of Public Administration and Management (AUPAM) for their commitment towards the organization and commemoration of this day.

Highlights in pictures........