Beware, the government of Uganda has outed a threat. Civil servants who moonlight in the private sector or run private businesses within their professional sectors are now facing the prospect of severe consequences, with the government preparing to clamp down starting July 1, 2025.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Education and Sports, Dennis Mugimba, confirmed that the ban is not a new policy but one that is now being strictly enforced.
“Referring to the public service standing orders, you are not allowed to hold two jobs. You cannot be in two places at the same time. You cannot be employed by the government and private sector at the same time,” Mugimba explained
The move, which has been subject of debate over the years, is aimed at enforcing adherence to public service regulations with the government targeting health and education sectors for a start.
Debate on the subject has often been the case, with many teachers in public service accused of spending their time in private schools while medics are often cited in theft of medical supplies for their clinics, dubious referrals and absenteeism from public duty.
It is a known fact that public officials in the health sector own hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and also engage in full-time employment therein.
Going to the education sector; teachers in public school moonlight in private schools while several officials including a minister run schools of their own.
“The policy is not new. It has always been part of public service regulations,” Mugimba reminded everyone.
The President ordered his dismissal In October 2024 following complaints about Dr. Godfrey Bonane Pariyo, an orthopaedic consultant at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital, in line with the policy.
Dr Pariyo was accused of being frequently absent from his duties, allegedly due to his private practice.
“I am going to dismiss him in the public interest,” President Museveni directed, underscoring his commitment to addressing the issue of absenteeism among government employees.
In a broader discussion on moonlighting, President Museveni raised the question of whether government doctors should continue to be allowed to operate private clinics.
“Should government doctors continue to be allowed to have or work for private practice?” he asked.
“We had allowed this because we had few doctors. Now the doctors are many and some are unemployed. Could we now make it a point for dismissal from government service for any government doctor to work for private practice?” He defended laxity in implementation.
The President’s directive came as part of an ongoing conversation about the challenges facing public sector employees, particularly in the medical field, where absenteeism has been a recurring issue.L.
Last year, Education and Sports minister Janet Museveni called for private school owners to stop hiring government teachers, citing concerns about their ability to balance dual roles effectively.
“School proprietors should avoid employing government teachers so they can concentrate on their official roles and improve service delivery,” she said.
The government’s move to stop public sector doctors and teachers from owning or working in private businesses, such as schools, hospitals, and clinics, is driven by several concerns.
Primarily, it aims to eliminate potential conflicts of interest, ensuring that public servants dedicate their full attention to government duties.
By engaging in private practices, civil servants may prioritize personal interests, leading to absenteeism and neglect of their public responsibilities, especially in sectors like healthcare and education.
The government seeks to improve public service quality by ensuring that professionals in the public sector focus on strengthening institutions rather than dividing their time and energy.
The crackdown is also intended to prevent skilled workers from leaving public service in favour of more lucrative private-sector opportunities, which could contribute to a brain drain.
