[Uganda] Broadcasting Corporation MD admits paying ghost workers

In Uganda, Winston Agaba - the MD of Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) - has admitted before a parliamentary committee that he was oblivious to ghost workers on the payroll, Business Focus reports.

Mr Agaba told Parliament’s Committee of Commissions, Statutory Authorities & State Enterprises (COSASE) that he had learned about the issue following a Ministry of Public Service payroll audit.

MPs reportedly expressed concern about the payment of non-existent employees, irregular payments and underpayments, plus the different payrolls UBC is operating. They stated that these breed discrimination among staff.

“At the time of harmonizing the headcount by Public Service, it was also at the time that we were notified that some people were on the payroll of other agencies. And that has been rectified, we terminated those that were on our side and even the IGG has interested herself in the matter. So the IGG came and is handling that matter,” Mr Agaba said in response to a question from Eddie Kwizera (Bukimbiri County).

The MP asked officials to furnish the Committee with a list and details of funds lost through the payment of ghost workers that had been alluded to in a December 2023 report.

Documents before the Committee revealed the names of the ghost workers: Yosam Rugundana, Ssempa Kanakulya, Patrick Baligonzaki and Christine Birungi Birabwa. But it was reportedly revealed that the Inspectorate of Government was solely investigating Birungi, though there are plans to recover funds from the other three individuals.

“When you read, the Auditor General is talking about payment of non-existent employees, underpayment and irregular payment, which can be a big motivation for staff and they end up being very corrupt. So can we get comments on why you have staffs that you are paying and are non-existent? Can you give us a list of those people who were getting salary from your side and getting from outside and you tell us why the Human Resource isn’t on interdiction,” Mr Kwizera said.

Medard Sseggona (Busiro East) asked UBC officials to explain why they operate three payrolls. He warned that when staff have the same roles but are paid different wages discrimination can arise together with legal liabilities for UBC.

“My biggest concern especially with UBC is that you seem to maintain three payrolls, you have one where you may call a permanent establishment, you have those you pay with Government money, you have those you pay from your own sources. But you are one entity, doesn’t this bring about discrimination amongst your employees? The way you pay them, their terms and conditions of their service?” Mr Sseggona said.

Mr Agaba reportedly attributed the difference in payment between television, radio and administration staff to the government’s failure to honour its financial obligation to revamp UBC by enhancing salaries for all staff.

The MD said this led to the Corporation focusing on television and administrative staff, excluding radio and casual labourers.

“The revamping started mainly with the Television staff, like I said earlier, the face and image of UBC is mainly TV. And that is why the wisdom of the Minister at that time was that the first people to be taken at the payroll were the TV staff and administration staff.

"The second phase in the second year, we were supposed to have additional funding because that was a presidential directive, the funding was supposed to run for five years, we only got one year and the second year, we got zero. 

“So that is how the anomaly came in. however, the Board has already addressed itself to this issue and part of the recommendations of the Board to the Minister is to harmonize this position and in the letters where we are requesting that 100% of wage should be paid by Government,” Mr Agaba said.

Source: Business Focus

(Quotes via original reporting)

In Uganda, Winston Agaba - the MD of Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) - has admitted before a parliamentary committee that he was oblivious to ghost workers on the payroll, Business Focus reports.

Mr Agaba told Parliament’s Committee of Commissions, Statutory Authorities & State Enterprises (COSASE) that he had learned about the issue following a Ministry of Public Service payroll audit.

MPs reportedly expressed concern about the payment of non-existent employees, irregular payments and underpayments, plus the different payrolls UBC is operating. They stated that these breed discrimination among staff.

“At the time of harmonizing the headcount by Public Service, it was also at the time that we were notified that some people were on the payroll of other agencies. And that has been rectified, we terminated those that were on our side and even the IGG has interested herself in the matter. So the IGG came and is handling that matter,” Mr Agaba said in response to a question from Eddie Kwizera (Bukimbiri County).

The MP asked officials to furnish the Committee with a list and details of funds lost through the payment of ghost workers that had been alluded to in a December 2023 report.

Documents before the Committee revealed the names of the ghost workers: Yosam Rugundana, Ssempa Kanakulya, Patrick Baligonzaki and Christine Birungi Birabwa. But it was reportedly revealed that the Inspectorate of Government was solely investigating Birungi, though there are plans to recover funds from the other three individuals.

“When you read, the Auditor General is talking about payment of non-existent employees, underpayment and irregular payment, which can be a big motivation for staff and they end up being very corrupt. So can we get comments on why you have staffs that you are paying and are non-existent? Can you give us a list of those people who were getting salary from your side and getting from outside and you tell us why the Human Resource isn’t on interdiction,” Mr Kwizera said.

Medard Sseggona (Busiro East) asked UBC officials to explain why they operate three payrolls. He warned that when staff have the same roles but are paid different wages discrimination can arise together with legal liabilities for UBC.

“My biggest concern especially with UBC is that you seem to maintain three payrolls, you have one where you may call a permanent establishment, you have those you pay with Government money, you have those you pay from your own sources. But you are one entity, doesn’t this bring about discrimination amongst your employees? The way you pay them, their terms and conditions of their service?” Mr Sseggona said.

Mr Agaba reportedly attributed the difference in payment between television, radio and administration staff to the government’s failure to honour its financial obligation to revamp UBC by enhancing salaries for all staff.

The MD said this led to the Corporation focusing on television and administrative staff, excluding radio and casual labourers.

“The revamping started mainly with the Television staff, like I said earlier, the face and image of UBC is mainly TV. And that is why the wisdom of the Minister at that time was that the first people to be taken at the payroll were the TV staff and administration staff.

"The second phase in the second year, we were supposed to have additional funding because that was a presidential directive, the funding was supposed to run for five years, we only got one year and the second year, we got zero. 

“So that is how the anomaly came in. however, the Board has already addressed itself to this issue and part of the recommendations of the Board to the Minister is to harmonize this position and in the letters where we are requesting that 100% of wage should be paid by Government,” Mr Agaba said.

Source: Business Focus

(Quotes via original reporting)