|
|
Uganda: Country's Broke Employees
 |
 |
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
The Monitor (Kampala)
COLUMN
18 May 2008
Posted to the web 19 May 2008
Ben Sabite
This is very shocking. I am wondering whether we still need the current 300+ weak parliament, and more particularly, the Minister of State for Labour.
A banking officer here earns a paltry shs500,000 (gross)! That makes it 300 something thousand after Auntie Kagina (URA) and uncle Jamwa (NSSF) pounce on this peanut. A marketeer however will be earning a gross stipend of Shs300,000 ($179!).
Meanwhile all this is done when these corporate employers are making obscene profits, with which they build sleek, air-conditioned and storied headquarters and rent in upscale places. I've known today that this is known in those circles as "keeping up appearances".
Paul is telling me that every time he takes his buddies to the office, they envy him for his plush and spacious office with a "flat plasma, flat monitor" PC. He however can't buy a wool carpet for his one roomed shack in lower Kikoni. And he's a "banker"!
Tuesday
It's now over with banks. Tom has told me why I should never be a teller. But then key corporate organisations seem not so different. Nick marketed for one of the biggest Telecom companies for two years, and here he is, looking for a "loan" from me.
"I am not a bank" I politely tell him, as he tells me not to be so naïve. He has Shs43,000 on his phone worth of airtime though, and it's the one he wants me to convert into cash since he doesn't need it any more. It beats my understanding that I am increasingly becoming a target for these broke employees.
Wednesday
At midweek service at St Francis, and after an eternity of absence, it's a homecoming feeling. After last week's fight with Rachael, I couldn't have got a better venue for the much needed repentance.
But then someone will forgive me for being, I guess, a "bully". But why should I be nagged into marrying someone, only to starve us in my quarters? Let her marry me instead. That would mean going to Abim, her home district.
Thursday
I am shocked that my cousin Matoki earns just Shs150,000 a month from his job as a private security guard. Meanwhile the property he protects is worth over Shs3bn.
He narrates to me an ordeal in which one time one of his colleagues just abandoned the wood-looking rifle and left with thugs who he had helped enter the premises, bagging 20m, the only petty cash that was around. Asking him whether he is tempted to do the same, his gaze unfortunately betrays his otherwise well crafted answer.
Friday
I am waiting for Africa's next Nelson Mandela, but it seems I am clinging to false hopes. Looking at these guys who soon will turn 90, I can't help but wonder why Africa's dictators can't be good leaders, since there's no evidence that good governance doesn't pay. Still puzzled when a pundit-friend of mine texts me; "Cameroon's Paul Biya gets his Sixth Term!"
Saturday
For the first time in my life, I have nothing to do, hence nothing to write.
Sunday
|
Still reeling from last Sunday's shock, in which United was finally handed the trophy they had won long time ago. Church has really helped. Wondering whether anyone among the blues' faithful will forgive and forget Grant's lacklustre performance on Sunday. I promise he won't be around in the fall; though I am no Roman Abramovich.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Copyright © 2008 The Monitor. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Make allAfrica.com your home page | RSS Feed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Top | Site Guide | Who We Are | Advertising | Search | Subscribe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Questions or Comments? Contact us. Read our Privacy Statement. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
