The Government of Uganda has announced plans to transition recruitment for district and city local government jobs to a fully online system in a move aimed at eliminating corruption, improving transparency, and streamlining public service hiring.

The digital recruitment platform, spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Service, will allow job seekers to submit applications electronically, upload academic and professional documents online, and receive updates throughout the recruitment process without physically visiting district offices.

According to government officials, the new system is designed to reduce direct interaction between applicants and District Service Commission officials, a practice that has long been associated with bribery, favoritism, and recruitment irregularities in local governments across the country.

The platform will also automate key recruitment processes, including application management and shortlisting, while standardizing hiring procedures across districts and cities. Authorities believe this will promote merit-based recruitment and restore public confidence in public service employment.

The reform follows years of concerns raised by Parliament, anti-corruption agencies, and oversight institutions over allegations of bribery and influence peddling in district recruitment exercises. Reports have previously indicated that some job seekers were forced to pay illicit fees to secure government positions.

Government officials say the e-recruitment initiative forms part of Uganda's broader digital transformation agenda aimed at modernizing public administration, improving service delivery, and enhancing accountability in government institutions.

The online recruitment system is expected to reduce operational costs associated with paper-based applications while creating a transparent digital audit trail for every recruitment exercise.

Minister of Local Government, Hon. Balaam Barugahara, together with Hon. Justine Nameere, expressed support for the initiative, pledging to work closely with the Ministry of Public Service and the Head of Public Service to ensure its successful implementation across local governments.

The Ministry of Public Service says the rollout will be phased and will eventually become the standard recruitment platform for district and city local governments nationwide.