Justice Kiryabwire tips on work ethics

Sep 29, 2014

Geoffrey Kiryabwire, Justice of the Court of Appeal, has decried the poor corporate governance culture in Uganda.

 By Vision Reporter 


Geoffrey Kiryabwire, Justice of the Court of Appeal, has decried the poor corporate governance culture in Uganda. 
 
“If you are manager at a building site and cement is being stolen, what kind of manager are you? If you are a manager in a company and yet you are always making losses, year after year, what kind of manager are you?” he pondered. 
 
While officiating at 19th annual seminar of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) recently, Kiryabwire linked poor corporate governance to the demise of some local enterprises and the scandal-ridden public contracts. 
 
“I liked the managers (of national teams) at the World Cup. When some of them lost games and let down their countries, they resigned. But in Uganda, if someone fails, they instead ask for another term and we all okay it,” he said. 
 
Kiryabwire noted that the problem in Uganda is that of weak institutions and said if this trend can be reversed, companies and organisations will achieve more results. 
 
“Since 2004, when regulations became stronger, we have had fewer failures of banks. Bank of Uganda has now become a strong institution.” 
 
He further went on to expound on the importance of accountability if the country is to move to the next level. 
 
“Everybody who is doing business in Uganda needs to be accountable. Bodabodas too need to be accountable. I am a strong supporter of small businesses, but if you put your goods on the streets, where do you expect me to walk?” Kiryabwire said with the enactment of the Company Act of 2012, leaders should not be complacent as they run their organisations. 
 
“Be careful when you are appointed to the board of directors, even in your family company. It is not enough to say that this is my company. You must always act in good faith. One of the reasons why we have few companies in Uganda is that people do not want to follow the laws,” he said ICPAU president Patrick Kagoro encouraged employers to report errant employees to the body for action.
 
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