Public servants must begin planning for retirement years before leaving government employment, the Secretary to the Office of the President, Hajji Yunus Kakande, warned on Friday.
Public service operates on a fixed timeline with a definite beginning and end, Kakande said while addressing the closing of the five-day Third Policy Analyst Cadre Forum at Hoima Resort in Hoima City. He urged officers to save, invest, and maintain their physical health well before reaching their final years on the job.
“Public service is a career with a beginning and an end. Plan early for life after service. Save, invest and look after your health. Do not wait for the last year of service to begin preparing,” Kakande said, as reported by Watchdog Uganda.
Organised by the Office of the President under the theme “Promoting Professionalism in Public Policy Management for Effective Public Service Delivery,” the five-day gathering brought together policy analysts to examine governance issues, performance reforms, diplomacy, protocol, and mental health.
Commercial Ventures
Kakande cautioned retiring officers against plunging into trade ventures without prior experience, explaining that commercial enterprises carry complex dynamics that are difficult to handle late in a career. He recommended manageable alternatives such as agriculture and cattle rearing instead.
“Quite often, I have seen officers who are retiring asking me what they should do next, and we obviously counsel them. Do not go into trade when you are retiring because it is something that needs to be started when you are young. When you start late, you may fail to manage its dynamics,” Kakande said.
Dr Shafic Mujabi Advises on Mental Wellness and Burnout
The forum also addressed the psychological dimensions of leaving public office. Dr Shafic Mujabi, a senior lecturer and consultant, briefed participants on mental wellness, burnout, and coping mechanisms for workplace pressures and leadership changes.
“An employee is the system, and burnout is real. Protect your peace, normalise looking at the good things, and do not think in black and white. Be prepared for different possibilities in life,” Dr Mujabi advised the gathering.
Institutional Rotation
Addressing the analysts’ professional duties, Kakande encouraged officers to accept reassignments across different ministries and departments rather than anchoring themselves to a single office.
“All ministries, departments and agencies belong to one government. As policy analysts, you are supposed to move around ministries and departments and familiarise yourselves with their mandates,” Kakande said.
Local leaders at the event pointed to ongoing infrastructure projects in the Bunyoro sub-region, including Hoima City Stadium and Kabalega International Airport, as key drivers of regional transformation tied to upcoming oil and gas developments.
