The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation (UPPC) is steadily advancing to meet contemporary printing and publishing demands, following significant improvements to this official government publisher.
The 123-year-old printing house, once merely respected as the Uganda Gazette printer, has acquired state-of-the-art printing machinery. Its digitalization efforts have reached 35 percent, with a five-year target of 80 percent.
At the inaugural stakeholders’ engagement, the corporation launched the electronic version of the Uganda Gazette and a web portal, “Gov Info Hub,” providing Ugandans with comprehensive government information. This initiative aims to enhance interaction and communication between UPPC and its customers. The event was themed “Enhancing Customer Loyalty through Excellent Service Delivery.”
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, represented by Robert Kasule Ssebunnya, head of the delivery unit in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), praised UPPC’s efforts to modernize its operations. She affirmed that continuing this trend could save the government up to USD 10 million, currently spent on outsourcing printing work abroad.
The Prime Minister urged all MDAs to comply with the presidential directive to contract all printing work to UPPC, emphasizing its newly developed capacity. Kasule, in his role as a quality assurance unit leader, pledged to engage the auditor general regarding MDAs that fail to contract their printing work to UPPC.
He also encouraged UPPC to increase its market visibility and advocate for its rightful contracts, especially those involving security elements like ballot printing. He noted that winning such contracts depends on how the corporation presents itself to MDAs responsible for these documents.
Milly Babalanda, the Minister for the Presidency, represented by Sadat Kisuyi, the assistant commissioner for finance and planning in the office of the president, acknowledged UPPC’s remarkable transformation. She commended the management team for fostering lasting relationships with their clientele, a critical aspect of business trust.
UPPC Board Chairperson Joachim Buwembo revealed that a year ago, the corporation was nearly defunct, lacking the capacity for its basic mandates. However, significant improvements have been made over the past year. He emphasized the board’s mission to revamp the corporation and restore its rightful position. “We are here for a specific assignment to turn around the organization, and I think we are on the right trajectory,” he said.
Buwembo highlighted UPPC’s commitment to establishing a printing school to promote professionalism in the sector. He stressed that the corporation aims to guide rather than compete within the industry.
He also requested the corporation be entrusted with confidential government documents, revealing that UPPC is currently working with NIRA to print millions of national registration forms, a task unsuitable for private companies. This trust from NIRA serves as a vote of confidence that other MDAs should emulate.
UPPC Chief Executive Officer Sudi Nangoli stated that the stakeholders’ engagement aimed to build trust and loyalty for ongoing long-term relationships, integrating stakeholders into the product development process. He reported an increase in customer satisfaction rates to 80 percent, attributed to the introduction of digital machinery. The UPPC customer service portal has also revolutionized customer interaction and communication.
Nangoli mentioned that the corporation has received very positive feedback from customers, with a significant increase in clientele over the past 12 months.
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