KAMPALA: The Hon. Minister of Education and Sports Janet Kataaha Museveni has reappointed National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) MD Dr. Eng. Silver Mugisha for a second term, as the new Board Chairperson of the Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB), for a period of 3 years (2022- 2025).
Eng. Mugisha will lead a team of 15 Board Members in line with Statutory Instrument 2009 No.9 that established UBTEB. The reappointment is against the background of a successful board tenure from 2019 to 2022.
Janet Museveni who was pleased to preside over the welcoming of a new Board, congratulated the outgoing Board members upon the successful completion of their tenure of service.
Eng. Mugisha’s appointment comes after an email communication trending on social media in June, purportedly from a company staff, indicating that NWSC has discrepancies in their salary scale, which was based on corruption.
However, NWSC dismissed the claims in a statement saying NWSC has a clear salary structure, ranging from SC1-8 and staff are recruited and later on promoted to different scales, based on their performance level and experience. It is not about having the same roles and responsibilities. “It is about how one performs their roles and responsibilities,” NWSC said in the statement.
They added: “NWSC has also experienced some new staff that join the corporation and quickly feel a sense of entitlement to promotion, without due consideration of the effort inputs and performance results.”
In relation to the above matter, Janet Museveni said that during the tour of duty, she was never privy to any information about poor working relations at the board or reports of financial impropriety from the watchdogs.
“This clear record gives credibility to the choices we made in appointing you (Silver Mugisha) to this strategic board,” added Janet Museveni, as she implored board members to uphold the key principles which must guide their conduct at all times and these include selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, leadership, public service and respect.
Newly appointed UBTEB Board Members 2022- 2025
1. Dr. Eng Silver Mugisha- Managing Director, NWSC
2. Dr. UmarDeputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs
3. Prof Maud Kamatenesi- Mugisha- Vice Chancellor, Bishop Stuart University, Mbarara
4. Mr. Deus Mutesigensi Faida- Principal, Uganda College of Commerce, Pakwach
5. Ms. Nakyobe Safinah- Ag Deputy Director/Qualification Standards, Directorate id Industrial Training.
6. Mr. David Ochieng- Assistant Commissioner, Selection Systems, Public Service Commission
7. Mr. David Mubiru Luyima- Principal Education Officer Technical/BTVET
8. Mr. Richard Musafiri- Principal Industrial Officer Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives
9. Mr. Simon Amuku- Senior Staff Surveyor, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.
10. Eng John V Twinomujuni- Commissioner Urban Water and Sewerage Services, Ministry of Water and Environment.
11. Mr. Micheal Ocero- Assistant Commissioner/ Information Technology, Ministry of Information Communications Technology and National Guidance
12. Mr. Francis Bongonyinge- Assistant Printery Manager, UNEB
13. Mr. John Habiyaremye- Manager Human Resource and Administration, National Curriculum Development Center.
14. Mr. Joshua Lukaye- Ag Assistant Commissioner, Exploration Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.
15. Ms. Oyuru Jennifer- Assistant Commissioner Agriculture Extension Skills Management, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries
Together with the outgoing Board members, Eng. Mugisha said they achieved the following during the 2019-2022 leadership years;
Staff enhancement:
At the start of the concluded tenure of service, the Board had 76 staff in-post which was 37.1% of the staff establishment of 205 and addressed critical skill gaps especially in Journalism, Water Engineering, Cosmetology to mention but a few. This therefore helped them to employ additional 21 staff making a total of 97 staff (47.3% of the staff establishment).
Budgetary Appropriation for the period 2020/21-2022/23:
There has been a steady positive increase in resource allocation over the three years from Ugx 28.567 billion to Ugx 31.875 billion for financial year ending June 30, 2022. The approved budget for FY2022/23 stands at Ugx 33.733 billion; of which Ugx 4.895 billion is Wage; Ugx 22.592 billion is Non-wage and Ugx 6.246 billion Capital Development.
Infrastructure Development-Construction of the Board’s Assessment Centre:
At the assumption of the tenure, the Board had a land donation from Ministry of Education and Sports at Kyambogo Hill for the construction of the Assessment Centre which will host among other facilities UBTEB Offices. But the Architectural and Building plans had not been drawn nor approved. The Board supported the Secretariat in all approaches and the construction of the Project by Seyani Brothers and Construction Co. Ltd was launched on March 23, 2022. The construction is expected to be completed in 2025.
Increment in the accredited Assessment Centres and Candidature:
The Board begun assessing TVET in November/ December 2011 with 15,903 (F:3,326, M:12,577) candidates from 184 accredited examination centres. The numbers of both centres and candidates have continued to grow to the current 615 centres and 92,223 (30, F & 54,179 M) candidates respectively as per April 2022 data.
Partnership with the world of work and professional bodies/assemblies:
The Board has established strategic partnership with the world of work including among others, the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UNCCI), Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI), National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) and Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA). The Board also is in partnership with the East African Association of Education Assessment the International Vocation Education and Training Association; The Association of Education Assessment in Africa and International Education for Assessment Association.
Passing of the Board Policies and Documents:
During my tenure of service, many Board and Committee meetings convened to discuss the usual business of the Board. Exceptionally the Board has passed among other documents; the TVET Assessment Working Group Operational Guidelines, the Audit Charter and the Clients Service Charter and strategic plan 2021-2025. These documents are critical in the operations of the Board and indeed the entire Secretariat.
ISO 9001:2015 Certification:
The Board has embarked on the process of obtaining ISO Certification. A team of Secretariat staff has been trained on Quality Management System as part of ISO Certification requirement. Internal audit processes on quality systems is at its tail end leading to application for the ISO certification.
Celebrated 10 years of existence in Uganda:
During the tenure the Board celebrated 10 years of its existence since 2011.
