Bribery alleged in Lira University’s recruitment process

Lira | There are allegations that a senior Lira University Appointments Board official solicited bribes from job seekers to ensure their placement.

Nearly two weeks ago, the University’s Appointments Board sat to sort applicants for the advertised positions.

Some claim that they were asked for money before and after the interviews in order to be hired.

“I was told my CV is excellent, but many others have been shortlisted for interviews for the same position. “I was asked to pay shs1 million,” one of the job applicants said.

Another, who requested anonymity, accused the Appointments Board of “trading jobs.”

When asked to provide payment proof, it was not available but claimed the money was paid at one of Lira City’s top hotels.

The Lira University Appointments Board is chaired by Bosco Onyik Ogwal. However, Mrs. Acen Tamali Okao remains the chairperson, as stated on the University’s official website.

On February 12, 2025, a letter of concern was addressed to the University Vice Chancellor Prof. Jasper W. Ogwal Okeng. The central registry received it on February 17.

This letter, which tndNews has not edited, expresses concern about the university’s ongoing recruitment. Written by an unidentified individual, he/she wrote:

“As a concerned Lango citizen it has come to my attention that a out the irregularities to the University recruitment exercise which has been marred with corruption in buying different job positions notably is the case of one Apio Finnella in the human resource department, already celebrating a win and yet results have not yet been released.

“Allegation of buying the job at shs10,000,000. This has already been reported to the office of the IGG and only waiting to hear if she is given the job.

“I request that you do your thorough background check before issuing appointments for people being recruited especially from Local Government because that is the command centre of corruption.

“This so call HR Apio Finella has gross record of smart corruption, indiscipline, inhuman treatment of staff, pensioners, retired staff. Apio Finella cannot work at the Beacon University. The integrity of Kole DLG especially HR has gone to zero. We cannot allow this to happen at the University. At an appropriate time I am going to produce evidence.”

While Onyik, the chairperson, has been accused of soliciting bribes, he has strongly denied this.

In an interview with tndNews, Onyik stated, “I do not know what they are saying; I am the chairperson of Lira University’s Appointments Board, fine. But Lira University is an equal opportunity institution, it’s an academic institution so they walk the talk.

“I don’t know what has been happening there in the past but what I found there is that people get jobs on merit. Even in this current recruitment which has just ended, I did not even ask any of my relatives who might have gone through the interview but yet they were there. I know many of my relatives might have gone there.

It is not very easy, Onyik said, adding, “Everybody works independently and you will pass the interview on merit. There is nothing like this is my person, this is my brother, this is my sister; this is my what! It’s not there, at least that is what is there. You have to go through the Board and it’s on merit.”

The Appointments Board chairperson said “members of the appointments committee are people of different stature, people of integrity.”

When asked whether he had received a copy of the concerns regarding the recruitment process, he did “acknowledge that of Apio Finella.”

According to a security source, they have received dozens of complaints about the recruitment process and bribes, with up to shs300 million reportedly collected.

Nepotism and favouritism are also prevalent at the University.

A senior member of the University staff has attributed the dossier to “internal influence and conflict of interest,” stating that Lira University will remain The Beacon.

In the coming days or a few weeks, names of those who have got the job will be published.