By Our Reporters
Workers’ Members
of Parliament and
other trade union
leaders affiliated to the National
Organisation of Trade Unions
(NOTU) have rejected a directive
from Parliament to refund 10 per
cent contributions from the National
Social Fund (NSSF).
They said the Select Committee of Parliament that
probed mismanagement in NSSF was
biased and targetted punishing trade
union leaders. Trade union leaders
said they were denied a fair hearing
yet they received the money legally
as per their appointment terms of
engagement.
Female Workers MP and former NSSF
Board member Hon. Agnes Kunihira
They vowed never to refund the money and added that
they would only pay if court made a
ruling to that effect. NOTU General
Council that convened April 6, 2023
at Pearl of Africa hotel, was charged
as members deliberated on the NSSF
Probe Committee recommendations.
The 34 NOTU affiliates questioned
the motive of the Select Committee
which ignored past bench – marking
trips by Members of Parliament
financed by NSSF but only targeted
the ones undertaken by trade union
leaders. At the end of deliberations
Parliament directed immediate
blocking of the 10% contributions
paid to NSSF Board members.
The Select committee chaired
by Hon. Mwine Mpaka investigated
mismanagement of NSSF, before
tabling their report.
Parliament edorsed committee recommendations
that individuals who are part of the
23 former and current NSSF board
members refund money between
seven working days and 60 days
upon adoption of the report or face
prosecution.
Workers MP and NSSF ProbeCommittee
member Hon. Charles Bakkabulindi
The affected members includes
former and current members of
Parliament with the majority being
trade union leaders.
Select Committee report indicates
that NSSF illegally contributed Ushs 12.4 million for Female Workers MP Hon. Agnes Kunihira, Ushs 37
million to Bubuulo West MP Hon.
Peter Werikhe Christopher and Ushs
32.7 million for Kabweri County MP
Hon. Stephen Mugole during their
2019 tenure as board members.
The 23 on the list includes two
members namely Christopher
Kahirita (Ushs 90.000) and Kyayonka
Ivan (Ushs 11,100,000), who are
departed.
Committee report explained that
the matter is clear since there is no
employee – employer relationship
between the board members and NSSF
to warrant 10 per cent contributions.
The report adds that the
contributions are not provided for
as a benefit accruing that a member
of the board is entitled to, under the
Board Charter.
But NOTU members who include
legislators and trade union leaders
have rejected the NSSF report saying
it seems to have been strategically
designed to target trade union leaders
and workers’ representatives in Parliament.
During debate Hon. Peter
Werikhe, Hon. Stephen Mugole and
Hon. Agnes Kunihira tabled written
submissions challenging the report
and demanding amending the report
to expung their names but all in vain.
They argued that if there is any
errors made by the appointing
authorities then the initiator of the
process ought to have taken the
blame.
Hon Agnes Kunihira told NOTU
General Council that the NSSF Probe
Committee was biased as it ignored
other areas like the Lubowa housing
project where workers savings were
sank and lost without accountability.
” The directive that board members
who received or continue to receive
10 per cent contributions is illegal
was decided without giving affected
individuals chance to be heard,” She
said.
Current NSSF Board member Mr
Hassan Mudiba Lwabayi wondered
if the Probe committee understands
the difference between invitation and
summons.
He said :” I was invited but harshly
treated like a criminal, “terrorised”
and humiliated moreover live on
television channels.”
Infrastructure Union General
Secretary Mr Robert Matuku Wanzusi
said the NSSF Probe Committee was
deliberately set up to taint the image
of trade unions.
He said there is need to promote
transparency, accountability and
good governance at all levels.
” In future we need clearly defined
procedures for Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) between NSSF
and trade unions,” he said.
NOTU Ag Secretary General Mr
Richard Bigirwa said as a federation
they would move progressively after
the findings of the Inspector General
of Government (IGG).
” We shall comply with the findings
of the IGG on matters pertaining to
NSSF ,” he said.
National Organisation of Trade
Unions (NOTU) Ag Chairman
General Mr Musa Okello said it is
unfortunate that Parliament targeted
trade union leaders .
” There were many legislators who
were sponsored by NSSF on bench
marking trips in West Africa and
elsewhere and are not mentioned
anywhere,” he said.
Both Hon Stephen Mugole and
Hon Peter Werikhe Christopher were
appointed on NSSF board following
court ruling after they had been
disenfranchised in 2019.
Kabweri MP Hon. Stephen Mugole
vowed never to refund any NSSF,
money adding that he could only pay
the money following a court ruling..
He said Workers MP Hon. Charles
Bakkabulindi should have resigned
from NSSF Probe Committee because
he was conflicted as a trade unionist.
“We were hurt and punished by the
committee when our own trade union
leader was present”, he said.
Workers MP Hon Charles
Bakkabulindi said being on the probe
committee did not imply he would
correct other peoples’ mistakes.
“I had a duty as a legislator to
undertake duties in line with
provisions that govern Parliament,”
he said.
The legilstor said there were many
damaging decisions which were
proposed for implementation in the
recommendations but his presence
helped save the trade unionists.
There were conflicting and mixed
reactions on the matter of collossal
sums paid to NSSF board members as
some thought members could tackle
the matter individually without using
the labour federation.
NOTU NSSF Probe Committee
Report states below illegal 10%
contributions that NSSF board
members received.
- Mr Bahemuka Julius – 37,293,858
- Mr Bamwesigye Fred -80,237,972
- Ms Birungi Annet – 10,644,600
- Hon. Lyomoki Sam – 17,258,700
- Mr Magoola Isaac – 43,929,297
- Mr Mudiba Hassan. L – 15,716,520
- Mr Mugisha Silver – 16,466,520
- Hon. Mugole Stephen – 32,745,360
- Ms Nakawunde Annet – 5,668,320
- Ms Namatta Florence – 71,178,633
- Mr Obita, Andrew – 22,988,400
- Tukamwesiga Peninnah – 82,873,737
- Mr Wafana Nelson – 23,131,300
- Ms Walusimbi Sarah – 39,715,006
- Hon. Werikhe Peter – 37,014,341
- Mr Kyayonka Ivan – 11,100,000
- Mr Okello Musa – 13,255,000
- Hon Kunihira Agnes – 12,430,00
- Mr Bigirwa Richard – 15,640,000
- Mr Mukasa Henry – 13,975,00
- Mr Romano Ojambo – 4,185,950
- Ms Aripa Jolly Kirabo – 3,235,000
23 Mr Kahirita Christopher – 90,000■
