The Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) management is at war over the position of the Board Secretary leaving staff confused on whose orders to follow. Documents obtained from this Authority indicate that on October 1, 2019, the UCDA Managing Director, Dr Emmanuel Iyamulemye Niyibigira issued an Internal Memo informing all staff that the Board had decided not to renew the contract of the entity’s Secretary, Andrew Kilama Lajul.
He thus took a decision to effect changes in the management by appointing the Finance manager Nina Nassuna in an acting capacity as director corporate services and Eunice Kabibi to handle board matters on top of her duties of legal manager.
This was at the time when the substantive Secretary, Lajul was away on official duties.
As soon as he returned, Lajul also issued a separate Memo directing UCDA staff to disregard Dr Iyamulemye’s memo saying no decision regarding renewal of his contract has been taken by the board.
“As you are all aware, the power to appoint and terminate employment contracts of managers and above rest with the board. There are two statutory executive positions in UCDA, that is, the MD and the board secretary. The board is also obliged to follow established rules and procedures in appointment and termination of the said positions including that of the Board Secretary.
Also, the Managing Director does not have any powers to appoint anyone in acting position at that level,” Lajul wrote.
The two exchanged later came after a September 30 letter the MD Dr Iyamulemye wrote to Lajul claiming the UCDA board of directors had decided not to renew his employment contract despite his request and urging him to make arrangements to handover office and other items in his possession to the Finance Manager.
The handover was supposed to be within seven days from date of receipt of the letter.
What however surprised staff was that before even a day could elapse of the seven, Dr Iyamulemye procured services of welders who came and changed the locks to Lajul’s office and also contacted the Information Communications Technology (ICT) Department to block Lajul from accessing the official Email for communication.
A source at UCDA revealed that Dr. Iyamulemye’s communications came through at the time when the board chairman, Perez Bukumunhe was out of the country.
“The board secretary is the second-high ranking person in the management at UCDA. The MD has no powers but he is just employing impunity and underhand methods causing unnecessary tension and fear. Where else has this happened that even before expiry of seven days, one’s office door locks are changed to block him from accessing it and his email is disabled!” revealed the source who works in a senior position.
Bukumunhe could not be reached for comment on this matter because his known telephone number was off and even those of UCDA Public Relations Officer Laura Walusimbi were off.
One of the board members confirmed that no board meeting has sat to deliberate on the contract of the secretary.
“You don’t have to quote me but what I have told you is the fact. I just don’t want to appear conflicted now that the issue has become contentious and it is our board that is supposed to resolve it. Just get the facts,” he said.
When contacted, Dr Iyamulemye said that the board took a decision not to renew Lajul and that he has no contract after his tenure expired.