Inspector General of Government Irene Mulyagonja has directed the Minister in Charge of the Presidency, Mr Frank Tumwebaze, to immediately dissolve the board of directors of Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation (UPPC) and also reprimand several officials for misbehaviour.
Justice Mulyagonja in the report of investigation of mismanagement of the Entebbe-based UPPC recommended disciplinary action against the corporations secretary, Mr Wanyama Kadoli, for incompetence. She also pointed out that some staff; the finance and administration manager Mr Lawrence Nuwagira and assistant Human Resource manager Anne Arihomugisha should show cause for not being sacked after they were irregularly recruited.
The IGG also said the former managing director Irene Wasike Muwanguzi, who was dismissed earlier by the board on grounds of incompetence, abuse of office and insubordination, had been terminated unjustly. The ombudsman in the report dated February 12, further indicated the body is in urgent need of “professional organisational assessment” and restructuring to address various redundancies, especially at the top level. Investigations into mismanagement at UPPC commenced last year following several complaints about the conduct of the board.
Some of the complaints made against the board included regularly changing the organisation’ structure without adjusting the expected deliverables thereby making it unlikely to meet targets, holding unnecessary meetings with intent of drawing allowances while the chairman of the board illegally maintained a full-time office at the body’s premises and was drawing daily allowances for feeding, fuel, and internet to check his emails. “There were indeed clashes in the roles of the board and UPPC management, more particularly with the managing director,” the investigation established, according to the report. “The board policy allowing staff to directly approach board members was abused by some staff members who used it as an opportunity to undermine the managing director and engage in insubordinate acts against her.”
The reports further reads in part that “the board’s termination of the managing director’s contract was unfair because she was not subjected to a proper appraisal as was required by her contract.” Investigations also revealed the board “was meeting far too frequently and exceeded the number of meetings stipulated in the UPPC Act. The board chairperson Eddy Ococ received allowances outside those that were stipulated in his terms and conditions of service, amounting to Shs8.4 million in 2014 and 2015.”
Justice Mulyagonja, in recommendation, directed minister Tumwebaze to reprimand Mr Ococ, recover the Shs8.4 million, dissolve the board and ensure that future board members act appropriately.
Mr Tumwebaze told Daily Monitor he was yet to receive the report but said “when I finally look at it, I guarantee I will take the necessary actions because that place has been in a mess for some time.” He added: “I was among the people who requested the IGG to investigate the mess at UPPC, so I will make it a point to implement the recommendations.”