Trade Ministry intervenes in Walimu Cooperative Union disputes, orders holding of AGM

KAMPALA, March 13, 2025 – All is not well at Walimu Cooperative Union Limited, according to the latest letter from Robert Bariyo Barigye, the Registrar of Cooperatives in the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives [MTIC], addressed to the Union’s Chairperson, Stephen Nabende.

“I am compelled to write to you to express grave concerns regarding the alarming situation concerning the governance and management of Walimu Cooperative Union Limited, and the conduct and decision-making practices exhibited by the Board of Directors, the Supervisory Board, and the management, particularly over the past month, from February 10, 2025 to date,” Barigye wrote in a letter dated March 10, 2025.

Barigye outlined several issues of concern at the Union, which is made up of teachers’ SACCOs. These include allegations that some members have been denied access to their savings, and the termination of contracts for senior staff, namely: General Manager Carolyn Atai, Credit Manager Paul Oketcho, and Internal Auditor Nicholas Masaba.

Barigye in a letter was dismayed by the confusion caused by the Walimu Board of Directors. For instance, after the termination of the senior staff on March 7, 2025, Some members of the Supervisory Board later notified him that they had convened a meeting to reverse the decision to terminate the affected staff, among other matters of concern.

The decision to reinstate the said staff was made in order to avoid the risk of the Union losing a court case, as their alleged dismissals had occurred without a fair hearing.

However, the Union’s lawyer, Dennis Atwijukire, in his legal opinion, insists that the staff were lawfully terminated by the Board of Directors and that seeking legal redress would not benefit them, as the courts have previously ruled that employers are entitled to terminate employees’ contracts.

“…the aforementioned staff were not dismissed but terminated in accordance with Section 64 of the Employment Act and therefore did not require a hearing before their termination,” Atwijukire stated.

While some Board members accuse Nabende and Atai of conspiring to defraud the Union, with the assistance of Masaba and Oketcho, along with other accusations of tribalism and nepotism, Atai claims that it is the leaders of the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) who are interfering with Walimu’s management, creating confusion under the guise of whistleblowing.

Baguma Filbert Bates who is a Board Member of Walimu Cooperative Union, and General Secretary of UNATU is among the four board members of the Union who petitioned the Ministry of Education, claiming Nabende, Stephen Olinga, and Atai had carried out fraudulent actions in the Union, which required a forensic audit.

Atai further alleges that UNATU is interfering with the ongoing investigations into teachers who have taken loans totalling Shs 9.77 billion from Walimu but have failed to repay them. She also claims that UNATU influenced the Board to unlawfully dissolve senior management, and that UNATU seeks Shs 7 billion that Walimu has been demanding from the government.

However, she states that no agreement has been signed between UNATU and the Ministry of Education and Sports concerning the Shs 25 billion promised by President Museveni to the teachers in 2021. To her, it Walimu Cooperative Union Limited supposed to receive the money since they have an agreement with the ministry to manage the funds.

Board members asked to work together

However, despite the numerous counteraccusations, Barigye has urged the rival parties within the Union to cease engaging in erratic and divisive actions, to review recent strategic decisions, especially those affecting the institution’s management and operations, and to engage in constructive dialogue. He has also ordered that an Annual General Meeting [AGM] be convened to elect new leadership, stating the AGM should have taken place some time back.

Barigye emphasised, “As you are aware, the Annual General Meeting should have taken place before 30th March 2025. You are required to submit a roadmap for the AGM, which must be completed no later than 30th June 2025. Please note that you will be issued special guidelines regarding this exercise, aimed at strengthening governance.”

https://thecooperator.news/govt-to-give-shs-9bln-to-walimu-saccos-union/

Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news

Views: 15