KAMPALA– A few weeks after the IGG has launched investigations into the mismanagement or unusual operations at Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) as per the request of some concerned staff, new details have emerged.
According to the leaked minutes from the Management meeting held on 8th July 2024 in the upper Radiotherapy boardroom, the Executive Director Dr. Jackson Orem informed members that “The IGG asked the Minister of Health Ruth Acheng to take action on the organization Board Chairperson Prof. William Bazeyo which the Minister declined and asked IGG to send a recommendation to her Office, and the minister said if she will act on the report after getting a recommendation.”
The IGG responded that she had no strong basis to make a recommendation to the Minister for her to remove the Board Chair Bazeyo.
Dr. Orem also informed the meeting that UCI has many issues which attracted the interaction with the IGG which resulted into instability in the institute , however she didn’t go to the bottom of the matter
He noted that the Board interferes with management of the Institute and Board has not responded to and letter from IGG but they are blaming the management
The meeting also heard that the board was behind the confusion in the institute since the board chair held a meeting with staff of the institute without management knowledge.
“All the things have come up because the Board Chair influences other members on the board , he uses board lawyer Michael Mayambala to mislead other members.”
It was suggested from that meeting that there is a need to define the roles of the Board , revise HR manuals of UCI, to revisit the UCI Act 2016 and analyze the role of the Board In management of the institute.
However there are many questions which left unanswered questions like how many members should attend the Institute’s management, how resolutions are reached among others.
According to our inside source the management meeting was only attended by nine members on the 8th July 2024 and one Doctor sent an apology. However, she pointed out that its these minutes that are the basis for all allegations which were raised.
“ The truth can be obtained from the Uganda Cancer Institute Act 2016 which shows the functions of the Board and those of the Executive Director . I personally attended the meeting the way the ED was talking. It showed that he is trying to fight the board because of the powers given to it by the Act.
By the way this organization bigger than one person who used the management meeting to suggest that there is need to define the roles of the Board , revise HR manuals of UCI, to revisit the UCI Act 2016 and analyze the role of the Board in management of the institute all these things are aimed at taking up the powers of the board and gave them to the ED.
According to UCI Act 2016, the functions of the Board are as follows;
(i)The Board is responsible for the general direction and supervision of the Institute.
(ii) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection
(1), the Board shall—(a)oversee the operations of the Institute;
(b)advise the Minister on cancer disease related matters, policy and strategic issues
©review and approve business and operational plans, budgets, reports and audited financial statements of the Institute
(d)Appoint, promote and discipline staff of the Institute, terminate service of the staff of the Institute and approve the terms and conditions of service of the staff of the Institute
(e) Provide guidance to the Executive Director and the employees of the Institute; and
(f)perform any other function conferred by this Act or which may be necessary for the proper implementation of this Act.
“When you read the functions of the board you will automatically understand what the board chairman Prof. Bazeyo is going through with his board because the Executive Director Dr. Orem has taken up the work of the board which is unethical. I am calling upon the two offices, the one IGG and the Ministry of Health, to handle UCI issues with care to avoid being used as some staff and other people state it because they know what is happening here” the source added.
When Dr. Jackson Orem was contacted for a comment , he reffered us to IGG’s office the matter is still under investigation.
Efforts to reach out Prof. Bazeyo, the Board Chair have been futile because his phones were not going through by press time .
Michael Mayambala , the Company Secretary of UCI when commenting about allegations that he is being used by the board he said that he can’t say much about this , but the truth will come out with time.
When contacted about the matter, IGG Spokesperson Ms Munira Ali confirmed that they know about the UCI report and they are investigating the matter.
“The investigations are almost done and the report is ready, but I have not checked to see the outcomes but I will keep you posted after the meeting” said Munira.
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