KAMPALA, UGANDA — A legal battle surrounding the controversial reappointment of Eng. John Mary Vianne Twinomujuni, the retired Commissioner for Urban Water and Sewerage Services, has brought renewed scrutiny to hiring practices within Uganda’s public service.
At the center of the dispute is the decision to extend Twinomujuni’s contract for three years despite his formal retirement and the existence of multiple qualified internal candidates.
His continued stay in office has been challenged in court, with petitioners alleging that the process violates the Public Service Standing Orders (2021).
Court documents reveal that Dr. Alfred Okot Okidi, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Water and Environment, recommended Twinomujuni’s reappointment. This move, according to an affidavit by Head of Public Service Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye dated October 3, 2025, came despite the availability of eleven qualified Assistant Commissioners within the ministry who could have filled the role.
Petitioners argue that this reappointment flouts provisions in the Standing Orders, which allow re-employment of retired officials only when the position requires “special skills” and the retiree is the “only suitable candidate available.” They contrast this decision with the precedent set by previous commissioners such as Eng. Joseph Oriono Eyatu and Mr. Joseph Epitu, who retired and duly handed over their offices under the supervision of the Permanent Secretary.
Dr. Okidi, in a responding affidavit, maintained that his actions were carried out in “good faith,” warning that halting Twinomujuni’s duties would negatively impact public service delivery and leave a leadership vacuum.
The controversy deepened following a letter from Solicitor General Pius Perry Biribonwoha to the Public Service Commission, dated September 25, 2025.
The letter advised that, lacking an injunctive court order, there was no legal barrier to proceeding with the appointment. However, critics say this legal advice omitted crucial reference to Section A-J(1) of the Public Service Standing Orders, which outlines strict criteria for re-employing pensioners.
Petitioners have since questioned the impartiality of both the Permanent Secretary and the Solicitor General, accusing them of facilitating a process that remains under judicial review.
On October 2, 2025, High Court Justice Collins Acellam ruled on Miscellaneous Application No. 704 of 2025, declining to issue an interim injunction to block Twinomujuni’s appointment. While the court acknowledged that a substantive case existed, it found no urgent threat that would render the challenge meaningless if not immediately halted.
Currently, Twinomujuni continues to serve under an “Administrative Stop Gap Measure” authorized by the Head of Public Service, citing a directive from the President supporting a three-year extension of his contract.
