By Our Reporter.
Wrangles within the National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU) took a dramatic twist on November 15, 2022 when the “hunter” became the “hunted” as 27 affiliates voted unanimously to suspend embattled federation Chairman General Mr. Usher Wilson Owere.The “Vote of No Confidence “ in the Chairman General was ironically a twist from what Mr. Owere had been plotting against NOTU Secretary General Hon. Peter Werikhe Christopher on three occasions in Kampala and Masaka.NOTU affiliates accused Mr Owere of inefficiency, sabotage and mismanagement of the federation. He was also accused of promoting tribalism and thereby dividing the federation on sectarian lines.Kabweri County Member of Parliament and NOTU Deputy Chairman General Hon. Stephen Mugole was unanimously elected Acting Chairman General to steer the federation until end of 2023 when a Special Delegates Congress would be convened.Mr. Owere twice exhibited open biasness and inefficiency as he failed to chair the General Council meetings and openly disenfranchized members from speaking .As members were pondering on the next move to reorganize the federation then came Mr. Owere’s “militant” October 25, 2022, declaration that he had made himself Titular head of NOTU, a position that does not exist in the federation’s constitution. He dismissed the Secretary General, overthrew the board and Governing Council, declared Hon. Werikhe sacked and promised to appoint a Secretary General of his choice. As if that was not bad enough Mr. Owere wrote to banks to freeze all NOTU bank accounts. Mr. Owere said the Secretary General and the Treasurer General Stephen Legese resigned while Deputy Treasurer Ms Mercy Matende passed on leaving a vacuum in the federation.“As you well know our brother Werikhe Peter Christopher having complied with the provisions of the NOTU Constitution officially vacated office of the Secretary General to enable him concentrate on his constituency in Bubulo West,” he said. Mr. Owere advised Hon Werikhe to prepare a report of handover and asked banks hosting NOTU accounts to halt any financial withdrawals on all accounts until further notice.It was at this stage that affiliates decided to petition Gender, Labour and Social Development (GLSD) Ministry and also began a censor process in the Chairman General.Gender, Labour and Social Development Minister Hon. Betty Amongi Ongom wrote a letter on October 28, 2022 requesting Mr. Owere to furnish the Registrar of Labour Unions with the minutes and resolutions of the Governing Council that mandated him to be NOTU titular head within seven days. The Minister said she was in receipt of a petition calling for an extraordinary meeting of NOTU General Council and another document highlighting a vote of no confidence in the Chairman General supported by more than a tenth of the members.She said:” Mr Owere must provide minutes of General Council that mandated him NOTU titular head and a resolution he used in freezing NOTU Bank accounts”.“ I am requesting the Registrar of Trade Unions to call for a meeting of General Council on 15th November, 2022 to resolve the leadership crisis, ”,she saidThe Ministry advised affiliates to conform to NOTU constitution and Section 34 of the Labour Unions Act on removal of officials from office. Mr. Owere wrote back to GLSD Minister Hon. Betty Amongin Ongom on November 1, 2022 accusing her of taking sides after being misinformed by petitioners and now gives shield to those who wanted to impeach him.“Having studied your letter and the directives contained therein, we realize that you have been greatly misinformed by petitioners who seek to proceed unconstitutionally with your support as a shield,” he said. Hon. Amongin advised Mr. Owere to respond appropriately to her letter of October 28, 2022 to General Council members by providing evidence that NOTU Secretary General Hon. Peter Werikhe Christopher resigned from his position.The Minister warned Mr. Owere to desist from running NOTU like personal property but to conform to the ‘federations constitution’ and Section 34 of the Labour Unions Act, 2006.In a related development, the Commissioner for Labour Mr. Apollo Onzoma issued a letter on November 10, 2022 where he signed on behalf of Permanent Secretary Mr. Aggrey Kibenge titled “Leadership issues of National Organization of Trade Unions”. “The petition of “Vote of No Confidence” on the Chairman General is an internal matter of NOTU as a registered organization. This should be determined by the relevant NOTU organ mandated to handle the same matter as per NOTU constitution,” said Mr Onzoma. “The Ministry has no objection with the notice for holding an Extraordinary meeting, which was requested for by the petitioners on 27th October 2022, as long as this is done in accordance with Section 34 of the Labour Unions Act, 2006,” said the letter.Hon. Mr Werikh’s detractors allege that he is drawing two salaries, one from NOTU and the other from the Parliament of Uganda and was involved in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party politics contrary to NOTU constitution. But Hon. Werikhe dismissed the allegations as untrue , baseless and unfounded , and rebuked detractors to refrain from disseminating unsubstantiated claims.During the November 15, 2022 heavily guarded Governing Council meeting at Hotel Africana, 27 affiliates voted unanimously in support of Hon. Stephen Mugole to act as Chairman General.Mr. Mugole told the members that two General Council meetings were aborted by the Chairman General due to selfishness, sabotage , incompetence and intrigue.He said:” We decided to petition the Gender, Labour and Social Development Ministry which responded supporting us to hold our Council in line with Section 34 of the Labour Unions and NOTU Constitution.”Mr. Mugole said there is a Vote of no confidence in the Chairman General who had become a menace and an impediment to the progress in the federation.Uganda Communications Employees Union General Secretary Mr. David Nkojjo told the members that after Mr. Owere aborted two Council meetings prematurely, affiliates resolved to vote him out.“ Affiliates from various unions resolved to endorse a vote of no confidence in the Chairman General,” he said.The motion was seconded by General Secretary Printers, Paper, Polyfibre and Allied Workers Union Haji Twaha Ssempebwa.Members elected Mr. Richard Bigirwa as Acting Secretary General, Mr. Moses Mauku Treasurer General and Ms Barbara Bandaru Deputy Treasurer General.Hon. Peter Werikhe Christopher said he has played his part in ensuring NOTU acquires a home for the first time yet there are some leaders who have been around and in Parliament for a long time but have nothing to show.“Leaders should stop duping workers with ”peanuts” in form of handouts but ensure workers’ rights are defended and there is efficient service delivery.”, he said.Incoming NOTU Secretary General Mr. Richard Bigirwa called for unity of purpose, adding that for a long time Ugandan workers have been exploited with impunity and it was time to end afflictions of workers. He said:” I shall ensure bickering of affiliates is thwarted as we promote unity and move forward unlocking the world of opportunities for workers.”NOTU Treasurer General Mr. Moses Mauku said he was delighted to have been voted in his area of expertise, adding he would ensure proper books of accounts, transparency and accountability.“As a qualified accountant, I shall use my skills and vast experience to keep safe, efficient and up to date financial records,” he said.Female Workers Member of Parliament Hon. Agnes Kunihira Abwoli congratulated members of Governing Council for commitment in ensuring the federation is saved and revamped.She said: “ We shall work tirelessly in walking the talk on matters pertaining to capacity building, empowering leaders and defending workers’ rights. Mr.Owere suffered another blow on November 17, 2022 when the High Court dismissed his application seeking to block holding of General Council meeting ■
