By Hannington Mbabazi
Kampala: The minister for the presidency Milly Babalanda has inaugurated a new board of Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation (UPPC) with a strong warning to the members not to ashame the president and the ministry.
“Please don’t ashame us because the president knows you and has trust in you. Go and work,” she counselled.
The minister warned the team against engaging in corrupt tendencies, saying corruption is an enemy. She asked the team to be focused and embrace teamwork which will enable them to push the Corporation to greater heights.
“This Corporation is totally business. Move around and look for business. Don’t sit in your offices and wait for it. I urge you to love your job, love to work and love your country. Add value to your country because I want UPPC to be the leading Corporation not only in the region but even in Africa,” she said.
Babalanda said that managing a crisis like the one that existed in UPPC wasn’t an easy task as there were many negative forces that were fighting from all sides.
“We thank God for shaming the detractors whose main goal was to malice and sabotage. We’re now glad that the new board has been appointed” she said.
Minister Babalanda addressing the board after swearing-in
She said identifying the team wasn’t easy as there was a lot of lobbying with all ministers and other government stakeholders proposing names to sit on the eight-member board. She said the proposed names were in 100s but finally, the cabinet approved the eight members.
Babalanda said UPPC has been in the media for both good and bad publicity, adding that some people think it’s an entity where people come to share money.
“There’s no idle money at UPPC. There’s no money for sharing. Your work is to create avenues to make this money. There’s a weak attitude that the board shares every coin generated. We have come to help UPPC make money but not to make money for ourselves” she advised, adding that soon the office of the president is going to organise an induction workshop for the board.
Meanwhile, the Secretary Office of President Hajji Yunus Kakande said the president attaches a lot of importance to the UPPC, the reason he; in 2016 had to look for a German investor to come to invest in UPPC which resulted in a merger. In this merger (Uganda Security Printing Company) government has 51% shares and the German consortium Veridos (41%).
“Already, that merger is bearing fruits. A year from now, all our passports, and driving licenses will be printed here. Every year Uganda loses a lot of money in printing. UPPC has a very bright future than it has been having because it’s now merging with a foreign company for 15 years. After 15 years, the Germans will leave and the factory reverts to Uganda” he said.
He informed the new team that the previous board was suspended and some of the managers because of corruption. He asked the board to guide management to achieve its plans as set out by the acting managing director Kenneth Oluka. He, however, said that in spite of the challenges UPPC has been facing, it was not listed among those loss-making entities as it made some minimal profits.
“We think that in the next 10 years, UPPC will be among the best-performing organizations not only for making money but also for the socioeconomic transformation of Ugandans,” he said.
Minister Babalanda poses for a photo with board chairman Buwembo
He advised the board chairperson Buwembo to always listen to his members and also the technical team, especially on matters of procurement. He said it is high time UPPC makes its own money to buy equipment as there’s no money to come from the consolidated fund.
“Don’t think you will get money from the consolidated funds. That I can assure you. It stopped sometime back. So, chairman, this is the time you must tighten your belts to make money. Create efficiency in UPPC and only the sky will be the limit for you,” he said.
He commended the office of the president and the minister for standing in to bridge the leadership gap at UPPC in absence of the board. He said this intervention enabled the Corporation to carry on with its activities as it kept getting guidance from the minister and the technical team. He said the new board comes at a time when there’s a lot of work that they will do together.
Under this, UPPC plans to acquire modern machinery, revamp the printing school, and revitalize the Publishing mandate of UPPC among other projects.
“Madam Minister, we request that even with the new board in place, your stewardship continues to UPPC and that of the secretary office of the president,” he said.
He pledged to give all his energies, connections and intellectualism to develop UPPC, adding that the board will prioritize technology.
Joachim Buwembo (Wakiso) Sadat Kisuyi (Bugweri) and Jolly Kamugira Kaguhangire (Mbarara) who’s also the former executive director of Uganda Investment Authority.
