The President of Uganda Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UNCCI) Oliver Kigongo has sold off the chamber’s properties without following due process, according to the letter written by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Amelia Kyambadde.
Minister Kyambadde wrote the letter on December 6, 2018 and addressed it to Ms Kigongo informing her of the petitioners’ concerns, including that Ms Kigongo and her accomplices have not accounted for the properties sold off. According to the petitioners, it is only the Annual General Meeting (AGM) that can approve the sale of properties. Kigongo has not organised the AGM.
The petitioners also accuse Ms Kigongo and her accomplices of organising board meetings without quorum. “The current number of the Board is 12 which is below the mark of 15 as required by Article 31 of UNCCI,” the minister wrote based on what the petitioners told her.
The minister also noted that the petitioners informed her of the indebtedness of Chamber, arising out of recycled bills that include arrears to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
According to the letter, Ms Kigongo has not respected the court order which was issued on December 21, 2016, ordering her and other office bearers not make major policy decisions during the subsistence of the injunction that stopped elections of UNCCI President. “The petitioners claim it (injunction) has not been respected. The petitioners are now seeking my intervention on behalf of Government,” the minister further wrote.
The minister has urged Ms Kigongo’s leadership to comply with the court ruling of June 20, 2017. She has also demanded for an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting (EGM) in order to discuss and resolve the other allegation of gross mismanagement as well as the possibility of organising elections.
The minister also wants Kigongo to put a caveat on the properties of UNCCI.
The petitioners, according to the minister’s letter have also accused Ms Kigongo of sacking the Secretary General and staff as well as mismanaging elections.