Minister warns new UPPC board

By Patrick Jaramogi

The minister for presidency Frank Tumwebaze has urged the new board of the Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation (UPPC) to turn the firm into a leading modern printery in the region.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at the UPPC premises in Entebbe on Monday Tumwebaze gave the new board chaired by George Eddy Ococ three months to sort out the management wrangles at the government printer.

“I appointed you not because you’re my acquaintances but because of your competence. Resolve the staff wrangles as fast as possible and give me a report in three months,” he said.

Tumwebaze implored the staff of UPPC to cooperate with the new board and warned them against taking petty issues to the  office.

 “To the new board treat every staff equally. Whether a cleaner or cook listen to them scientifically. Stop the bickering and the various camps here. To those who have been coming to my office, stop it report your problems to the board,” he said.

He urged the UPPC management to work toward steering the printer into a leading modern printer in the region.

 “Justify why government should give you all government printing jobs. We shall amend the PPDA but you also need to be efficient. Go for jobs like printing of UNEB exams, or even currency, be ambitious,” he said.

He said the board comprising of eight members; George Eddy Ococ as chair and Jovino Akaki, Flora Kambarara Nkurukenda, Simon Gerand Menhya, Stephen Nabeta, Moses Nyakairu, Geoffrey Kakira and Denis Kakuba would serve for four years.

“I will ensure that we amend the laws to ensure you get business and will ensure that UPPC is not sold off. Even the president can’t support selling of a government printer. It tantamounts to selling government secrets,’ he said.

The UPPC managing director Alex Marinzi noted that UPPC finance position has been firm despite the numerous challenges and management issues.