Trade unions, protect employees

Jul 02, 2010

ON Tuesday, I read an email allegedly written by the former National Social Security Fund boss, Chandi Jamwa to his subordinate Josephine Kaheru, the procurement officer.

ON Tuesday, I read an email allegedly written by the former National Social Security Fund boss, Chandi Jamwa to his subordinate Josephine Kaheru, the procurement officer.

It is absurd that in this era, when managers are supposed to learn that the development of any organisation depends on its human resource, they can still find time to intimidate their juniors in a manner that makes them feel incompetent and useless at their work!

The alleged email read in part: “You are on my team and I am not on yours, I forgive you this time but I only forgive once, so please watch your step.” Which employee in their normal state of mind would continue doing what they are supposed to do without fear of losing their jobs?

Who does Jamwa think he is? Before him there were managing directors at NSSF. What happened to them? Because he was the boss, it was totally lost on him that NSSF was not his private business and that he too was an employee like Kaheru!

This is just an example of what is happening in many organisations in Uganda. Employees are quietly being subjected to this kind of intimidation because their bosses are ‘untouchable’ or think they are because of ‘powers from above’. I appeal to trade unions to look into this subordinate-superior relationship and help call to order the Jamwas of this world.

The unions should ensure that employees have a desk where such incidents are recorded so that when one’s job is threatened, one has somewhere to run to. It is heartening Jamwa has found out he also has bosses above him.

Petrollina Kasujja
Kampala

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