Ugandan public servants have been banned from wearing dresses showing cleavage, skirts above the knee, and having long nails or dyed hair to work.
The country’s Ministry of Public Service on Wednesday directed all permanent secretaries and Chief Administrative Officers to enforce a strict dress code for all public officers.
A circular issued by the Ministry’s Permanent secretary, Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire, pointed out that all officers are required to dress decently and in the generally acceptable standards in the Ugandan society.
According to the statement, female officers, “should avoid wearing sleeves, transparent blouses or dresses to work places and also ensure that clothing covers up cleavage, navels, knees and back.”
Female officers will also not be allowed to appear for duty in open flat shoes except on a doctor’s recommendation/medical grounds, wear bright coloured hair, in form of natural hair, braids and hair extensions.
Those who choose to wear trousers may do so but the trousers must be in “form of smart lady suits with jackets, long enough to cover the bosom”.
The circular directs that male public officers are required to dress in neat trousers, long sleeved shirts, jacket and a tie. Open shoes are not allowed.
Director of Human Resource in the Ministry, Adah Muwanga, added that, the rules were meant to respond to public outcry over indecency. She said, “We got complaints that some public officers are indecent. Some female officers are pumping up their breasts, wearing mini-skirts… You are sexually harassing the male counterparts and in Uganda this is not acceptable.
“We are mindful of the perception of the public to our officers. Do you feel okay when you have nails several meters long? It is not neat and healthy and we have to care about the health of public officers,” she added.
