DPP threatens to close offices over staff shortage

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has threatened to close its offices across the country over inadequate staff.

DPP Mike Chibita says that his office has for years been grappling with shortage of staff now totaling to 600 personnel in their upcountry offices and the condition has been worsened with a freeze slapped on the institution by the Ministry of Public Service not to recruit new staff.

He made the revelation while appearing before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee to present the entity’s Policy Statement for the coming financial year 2018/2019.

Chibita said that his office has been getting requests about opening offices in different districts but they do not have staff to post to any new stations. He also said that they want to close offices since they are not adequately staffed.

According to the documents tabled by Chibita before the committee chaired by West Budama South MP Jacob Oboth-Oboth, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions has no office in 23 districts with its presence currently registered in 98 districts.

However, with the latest number of districts in the country standing at 121, this puts the DPP’s absence in 40 districts.

According to Chibita, they are looking for 7.9 billion Shillings to implement the revised structure of his office, and that this matter has been worsened by a directive issued by the Ministry of Public Service not to recruit.

“Public Service hasn’t allowed us to recruit; they are saying there is a freeze on recruitment. So there is no prosecution happening,” Chibita added.

The required 7.9 billion is part of the funding gap of 48.8 billion Shillings which the DPP’s office is grappling with.

Among the items the DPP seeks funding for include clearing case backlog estimated to cost 1.5 billion shillings, after the Ministry of Finance provided only a budget of 800 million Shillings, despite the institution requesting for 2.3 billion.

The Directorate’s funding is further short by 2.7 billion to be used for criminal prosecution that will involve conducting pre-trial witness interviews, prosecution of serious criminal offences as well as facilitating gender-based violence among others.

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