The Parliament's Committee of Commissions, Statutory Authorities & State Enterprises (COSASE), Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) Managing Director Winston Agaba admitted his unawareness of four ghost workers receiving salaries without performing any work.
This discovery, made during a Ministry of Public Service payroll audit, has spotlighted deeper issues of payroll mismanagement and staff discrimination within UBC.
Appearing before COSASE, UBC Managing Director Winston Agaba faced intense scrutiny over the presence of ghost workers on the corporation's payroll, irregular payment practices, and the operation of multiple payroll systems that allegedly foster staff discrimination.
The audit revealed that Yosam Rugundana, Ssempa Kanakulya, Patrick Baligonzaki, and Christine Birungi Birabwa were receiving salaries despite not performing any work.
Agaba, addressing the committee, expressed his shock at discovering the payroll fraud.
"I was completely unaware of these ghost workers until the Ministry of Public Service audit brought it to light," he admitted. The audit’s findings have ignited calls for accountability and recovery of the funds.
Yosam Rugundana, who also serves as a Deputy Head Teacher in Nakasongola district, has no recovery plans set, both Ssempa Kanakulya and Patrick Baligonzaki are slated for fund recovery. Christine Birungi Birabwa is currently under investigation by the Inspector General of Government (IGG).
Committee member Medard Sseggona (Busiro East) voiced strong criticism of UBC's handling of the situation.
"You can’t just delete their names from the payroll. Is there any action in terms of recovery?" he demanded, emphasizing the need for comprehensive measures to address the issue.
In addition to the ghost worker scandal, MPs raised concerns about UBC’s operation of three distinct payrolls.
According to Sseggona, the segregation of payrolls for permanent staff, government-funded staff, and those paid from UBC's own sources has led to inequities among employees performing similar roles but receiving different pay.
"This creates discrimination among employees and could lead to legal challenges for UBC," he warned.
Agaba defended the discrepancies by attributing them to the government’s incomplete funding for UBC’s revamping project, which was supposed to include salary enhancements across the board.
"The revamping started with TV staff. The government was supposed to fund the initiative for five years, but we only received funding for one year. This caused the discrepancy. The Board has recommended to the Minister to harmonize this and request that the government cover 100% of wages," Agaba explained.
The revelations have cast a harsh light on UBC's internal management practices, highlighting the urgent need for reform and greater oversight. As the investigation continues, the corporation faces mounting pressure to rectify its payroll issues and ensure fair and transparent treatment of all its employees.
The case serves as a broader warning to other public institutions about the importance of diligent payroll management and the consequences of oversight failures.
