The Ministry of ICT has formally instructed Principal Communication Officer Susan Kataike to report to her new duty station at the Ministry of East African Community Affairs, following her continued refusal to comply with deployment instructions. The directive comes after several months of administrative wrangling, which has drawn attention to longstanding challenges within Uganda’s public service regarding transfers and reshuffles.
According to a letter dated November 4, 2025, from ICT Permanent Secretary Dr. Amina Zawedde, the Ministry referenced previous communications regarding Kataike’s transfer.
The initial deployment, issued on September 11, 2025, officially moved her from the Ministry of Works to the Ministry of East African Community Affairs.
The Ministry of East African Community Affairs subsequently notified ICT on October 15, 2025, that Kataike had failed to report for duty.
The letter notes that her refusal to comply with the posting instructions has adversely affected service delivery at the Ministry of East African Community Affairs.
Dr. Zawedde emphasized that non-compliance with deployment directives is classified as misconduct under the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders 2021, Section F, and warned that it may lead to disciplinary action.
The letter concludes by requesting Kataike to report to her new duty station immediately.
This development follows a series of reshuffles within government communications departments that began in August, when the Ministry of ICT transferred a number of public relations officers to different institutions.
Among those affected were Jesse Ofwoni, who moved from the Ministry of ICT to the Ministry of Agriculture; Gladys Kajura, transferred to Mulago Referral Hospital; Simon Peter Jamba, moved from the Judiciary to Mulago Specialized Hospital; Daisy Nakandi, posted to the Ministry of ICT replacing Jesse Ofwoni; and Pius Mwinganisa, transferred to the Ministry of Works. Susan Kataike was reassigned from the Ministry of Works to the Ministry of East African Community Affairs, replacing Mwinganisa.
The reshuffles, aimed at enhancing efficiency and accountability in government communications, have faced resistance from some officers who have served in their positions for extended periods.
Many have become accustomed to their roles, and some reportedly perceive new offices as “dry” due to limited budgets. An official from the Ministry of ICT previously explained that such resistance undermines the intended benefits of staff rotations and affects overall service delivery.
Efforts to resolve the matter amicably have reportedly been complicated by administrative changes, including mergers in the Ministry of Works involving UNRA and the Road Fund, which Kataike cited in past statements.
However, the formal letter from Dr. Zawedde underscores the Ministry’s position that delays in reporting for duty are unacceptable and must be addressed immediately.
