By Our Reporters
Embattled National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU) Chairman General Usher Wilson Owere suffered biggest setback when his Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union (ATGWU) QDC replaced him with Mr Dennis Oloro as Union Chairperson.
The hotly contested position for the Chairperson at Entebbe’s Innophine hotel, had only two candidates, Dennis Oloro, a current staff at the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority and Usher Owere a retired Civil Aviation Authority staff. ATGWU delegates were visibly grouped into pro – Usher Owere and anti – Owere camps as they canvassed for votes in an electoral process that was marred by underground schemes with condemnation by rival members for betrayal of members in various caucus groups.
The ATGWU QDC was widely followed by local and international partners and stakeholders following central – stage of administrative wrangles in NOTU where Mr Usher Wilson Owere features prominently with his recent victory in court. Mr Owere was suspended by NOTU General Council on January 9, 2023 at Kampala Hotel Africana. He was accused of sabotage, dictatorship and mismanaging the federation, and was referred to the Disciplinary Committee headed by Haji Twaha Ssempebwa.
But this year Mr Owere received some lifeline after the High Court Civil Division ruled on June 7, 2023 that he was illegally removed from office without following established procedures in the Labour Unions Act and the NOTU constitution. Okua and Associates managed to extract a court order restraining the acting leaders at NOTU from any activities and called for maintaining a status quo.
However NOTU and accused parties have since filed their appeal. So when Mr Owere campaigned at his ATGWU QDC, little did he know that the fights ongoing at NOTU and hostilities emanating from the controversial Ushs 6b he exposed and tried to block in the Gender, Labour and Social Development Ministry, would return to haunt him. There was visible resentment and hostility towards Usher Wilson Owere as different caucuses grouped and regrouped discussing how to defeat Mr Owere while others planned on how to save him from the opposing camp.
Towards election time it became clear there were two camps ,pro and anti – Usher Owere. The fights at NOTU and within the labour fraternity especially surrounding the Ushs 6b at Gender, Labour and Social Development Ministry were said to have entered ATGWU. It was becoming increasingly clear that Mr Owere had lost grip and was not in control at his own union. If Owere had any doubts about his status in ATGWU then he would have to prove after the outcome of the elections.
Some members who preferred to remain anonymous accused Mr Owere and his surrogates of destroying the labour fraternity and transfering their destructive schemes to ATGWU. They vowed to vote for young and progressives leaders. Some few leaders, who sought anonymity told the Workers Eye that Mr Owere was being sacrificed after working hard to bring the union where it stands today. “We shall support him to win the Chairperson’s position as a reward for his good services. But one senior trade unionist and elder said Mr Owere should retire noe because he has become a liability to the labour fraternity .
” The Chairperson should stop being selfush retire to his Tororo village as he gives chance to young leaders. Speaking as Chief Guest at ATGWU QDC Commissioner for Labour Industrial Relations at Gender, Labour and Social Development Mr Apollo Nzoma called for unity and strict adherence to the Labour Unions Act, 2006. He said trade union leaders should desist from retrogression and divisions.
He said: “ ATGWU is one of the well – organized unions in the country that is vibrant with many recorded Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA). Mr Onzoma advised ATGWU leaders to always strive to be up to date with union formalities including filing annual returns at the Gender, Labour and Social Development Ministry so that they avoid impediments in administration.
“We appeal to ATGWU leaders to fulfill requirements that include filing annual returns to the GLSD Ministry,” he said. NOTU Acting Secretary General Mr Richard Bigirwa called on ATGWU members to remain united, dynamic and progressive so that they build a pillar on which NOTU can rely on for development, stability and sustainability. He said there have been many disagreements going on in the labour fraternity especially adminisrative wrangles in NOTU but hastened to add that the transport union members restrained themselves from being involved directly in the fights.
“I commend ATGWU as a labour union for resisting any temptations of being drawn and involved in NOTU wrangles,” he said. Mr Bigirwa thanked ATGWU for the commitment and enthusiasm in remitting fees to the federation and promised that NOTU would always stand by the union in supporting its programs.
BIG SHOTS POURED MONEY IN ATGWU TO FIGHT OWERE
Outgoing ATGWU Chairperson Usher Wilson Owere thanked members for the trust bestowed upon him, adding that the ended term has been tough and challenging with the Covid-19 pandemic, economic hardships and administrative wrangles in NOTU.
He said despite all the fights and disagreements and all odds encountered in the labour fraternity, the High court ruled that he is still the legitimate NOTU Chairman General. “Court ruled on June 7, 2023 that I’m the legitimate NOTU Chairman General,” he said. The veteran trade unionist conceded defeated and promised to work with the new leaders but awarned them against putting money ahead ATGWU objectives.
Mr Owere said he transformed ATGWU from scratch and built the union progressively as one of the most well -organized and vibrant labour unions in Africa with structures for capacity building, training and recruitment He said: “I’m the face and trade mark for the labour union in the country which has come after my commitment and sacrifices.”
The troubled – NOTU Chairman General lambasted highly placed officials or big shots and individuals for pouring money in ATGWU with an aim of fighting him out of the union. ” I’m a fighter who fought bad policies in NOTU and court confirmed that I’m the legitimate federation’s Chairman General. I exposed officials who wanted to steal workers’ Ushs 6b. I know they are not happy with me and have poured money in ATGWU to fight me out,” he said. Mr Owere warned ATGWU members to watch out for masqaraders and schemers who will use money to destroy workers’ defenders for their selfish gains.
ATGWU Chairperson Dennis Oloro and National Tresurer Jonathan Olupan
ATGWU General Secretary Mr Stephen Abima said the labour union was able to achieve a lot because leaders did not allow fights especially wrangles in NOTU to spill over to the union despite one of the key actors being their member. “ We sought to serve our members diligently with special focus on organizing, training and recruitment of members in the country without deviating,” he said. Mr Abima said they have maintained a high established working code of ethics that surpasses anything that would derail their programs, adding that they continue to establish cordial relationship with employers for purposes of promoting workers’ rights.
He said:” We have consistently managed to organize programs for our members in conjunction with our stakeholders both local and international key partners,” he said. The QDC was attended by representatives from the International Transport Federation (ITF) and Frederich Ebert Stiftung (FES). Newly elected ATGWU National Executive Committee: Chairperson Mr Dennis Oloro, Vice Chairperson – Mr Stephen Kiyaga, General Secretary – Mr Stephen Abima, Assistant General Secretary Ms Jane Atto, National Treasurer – Jonathan Olupan, Secretary PW Disability Ms. Monica Bogere, Secretary for Women Ms Emily Ayikuru and Secretary for Youth Ms Shanita Birungi■
