By Chris Woo
More than 2,600 civil servants in Oyam District have successfully completed a two-day training on the Human Capital Management (HCM) system. The training, held at Acaba Technical School, included teachers, health workers, and other public servants from across the district. The HCM system, a new government initiative, is set to replace the outdated Integrated Personnel and Payroll System (IPPS), aiming to improve efficiency and accountability in public service management.
Joseph Zirimenya, the Principal IT Officer from the Ministry of Public Service, and one of the facilitators, described the training as a significant milestone. He explained that the HCM system will modernize public service operations and enhance service delivery. Despite its success, he acknowledged challenges such as limited internet access and resistance to change. He also noted that some civil servants still use manual phones incompatible with the new system and encouraged them to adopt smartphones to stay current.
Hon. Christ Ongom, the Vice Chairperson of the LC5 in Oyam District, praised the HCM system for its potential to ease public service delivery. He revealed that the ongoing transition has affected 360 civil servants, including some political leaders, urging all public servants and politicians on the government payroll to embrace digitalization with confidence.
Francis Ayo, the Acting Principal Human Resource Officer of Oyam District, hailed the training as a success and urged participants to fully adopt the HCM system to streamline their work. He emphasized the importance of embracing digital tools for improved efficiency across sectors.
Jimmy Awich, the headteacher of Abang Primary School in Myene Sub-county, appreciated the government’s initiative but pointed out challenges experienced during the training, such as inadequate space and poor internet coverage. He called on the government to extend the training to lower administrative units like sub-counties and town councils to reach more people who may have missed the sessions.
Similarly, Denis Ongom, a teacher at Alyec Primary School, praised the HCM system for being user-friendly, especially for those with smartphones. He encouraged his colleagues with manual phones to upgrade to smartphones to better adapt to the changing systems.
The government is currently conducting nationwide training on the HCM system, emphasizing its commitment to modernizing public service operations and improving service delivery for its citizens.