Battle at government printer

Litany of poor performance

UPPC performance remains low as a result of increasing market pressures, old machinery, and insufficient funding.  For instance in 2014, the Corporation made an operating profit of Shs 237 million compared with Shs 23 million in 2013 and Shs 85 million loss in 2012. In 2011, the company made a profit of Shs 582 million compared with Shs 155 million in 2010.

The corporation’s assets are valued at Shs 6 billion, with a share capital of Shs 4.5 billion.  But the government stands to lose this capital, if urgent refinancing is not made.

The new management intends to focus on ensuring that there’s sustainable and profitable business through quality products and services as well as effective communication marketing and partnerships in its new strategic plan. Also, the Corporation intends to focus on effective governance, risk management and strategic partnerships to double revenues from its services such as security and general printing, gazette sales, publications, stationary sales and subscriptions every year.

The current circumstances at the Corporation followed a Board retreat in Jinja in February 2015 at which the Corporation’s three year strategic plan was approved.

But most importantly, a series of allegations from a section of members of management started to be leveled against the  managing director ranging from delayed payment of staff meals, allowances  and transport, which culminated  into her sacking by the Board in April last year.

This prompted a petition to the Inspectorate of Government.

In the report released on Feb. 12 this year, the Inspector General of Government Irene Mulyagonja directed then Minister in Charge of the Presidency Frank Tumwebaze to immediately dissolve the Board of Directors of the Corporation and also reprimand several officials for misconduct.

Justice Mulyagonja also recommended disciplinary action to be taken against the Corporations Secretary Wanyama Kadoli for incompetence.

She also pointed out that some staff such as the finance and administration manager Lawrence Nuwagira and assistant human resource manager Anne Arihomugisha show cause why they should not be sacked following allegations that they were irregularly recruited.

The IGG also said the former managing director, who was dismissed earlier by the board on grounds of incompetence, abuse of office and insubordination, had been terminated unjustly.

The Ombudsman further indicated that the body is in urgent need of “professional organisational assessment” and restructuring to address various redundancies, especially at the top level.

Some of the complaints made against the board included regularly changing the organisation’s structure without adjusting the expected deliverables thereby making it unlikely to meet targets, holding unnecessary meetings with intent of drawing allowances while Board Chairman Eddy Ococ illegally maintained a full-time office at the body’s premises and was drawing daily allowances for feeding, fuel, and internet.

“There were indeed clashes in the roles of the board and UPPC management, more particularly with the managing director,” the report reads in part.

“The board policy of 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.”

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 also irregularly received allowances amounting to Shs 8.4 million in 2014 and 2015.  Justice Mulyagonja directed Tumwebaze to reprimand Ococ, recover the Shs 8.4 million, dissolve the board and ensure that future board members act appropriately.

The Independent has established, however, that the Board was not dissolved until its tenure came to an end on June 30.

****

editor@independent.co.ug