Uganda

Where to Work Uganda

Learning the Concept of Work

The country comes from a history of continuous conflicts that tore it apart. People are learning the concept of work, as they were never forced to work. It is not always easy, but things are improving.

By ARNE DOORNEBAL

Foreigners in Uganda often complain about the slow pace at which people work. Ugandan employers feel the same way. “Here, people were never really forced to work, and therefore they are not used to it,” explains hotel owner Bill Wandera. Bill Wandera, the owner of the Royal Impala hotel in the Ugandan capital Kampala, apologizes profusely for being late for our meeting, explaining why he was delayed at the bank: “Opening up an account is a real hassle here. The bank wants to see a ridiculous amount of documents,” he says. We sit down in the lush garden that accompanies his 40-room hotel in the posh suburb of Munyonyo. Wandera employs 22 people at the Royal Impala. “Now, 21, actually,” he realizes. “I just fired one of them.” Wandera worked long hours in construction in the UK, as well as with the United Nations in Somalia. After returning from abroad, he built the Royal Impala, which has a variety of rooms and two furnished apartments. “Ugandans have a different work ethic,” Wandera explains. “Studies show that people in neighboring Kenya work twice as hard as Ugandans.” Oscar Ssemawere, manager of African Express Airways’ Uganda office, confirms: “I have to admit that Ugandans are slow workers. It is rooted deep in our culture. We are not shrewd. Certain tribes in Kenya are rougher than us, and work faster as a result of that.” “In Uganda,” says Wandera, “you can stay without working and still eat. This country is so fertile that whatever you throw behind your house grows. Especially in the villages, people can easily live off their land. So workers don’t care if they get fired. They will go back to their village and eat.” Kenya, for example, is much dryer, forcing people to work hard to grow enough food.

EMPLOYEE TRICKS

“When I told my mother that I had 24 Ugandan staff members, she told me that I could expect a lot of worries,” says Robert-Jan Nieuwpoort, a Dutch businessman in Uganda. “It turned out she was right. Not only do they work at snail’s pace, they are also very good at making up excuses to come late or skip work,” he says. “Most people lie about where they live, so they can try to claim high commuting allowances.” According to Wandera, it has become difficult to lay people off. “We now have workers’ rights, but they do not yet know their duties well. One day I fired somebody who took money from a client and used it as his own. Then he took me to court. This is costing me money as well, so next time I have to think twice before laying someone off. People here know that.” Nieuwpoort has had experiences with underperforming staff. “One day I fired a woman and she then stole crucial company equipment from the office. She started blackmailing: ‘If you want your things back, you have to pay me money.’ Luckily I had hired her because I know her uncle, and he managed to get my things back the next day.” Ssemawere says he has never employed a friend or a relative: “I only look at qualifications.” For Nieuwpoort, hiring through your network of friends and relatives, which is quite common in Africa, seems smart. “If you don’t know somebody’s family or background, it is much easier for that person to cheat you,” he says.

Sue Macpherson is a Dorset -based photographer born in Tanzania. Three years ago an opportunity arose that enabled her to fulfill her ambition to work as a volunteer in Africa with a newly formed charity. The Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund is a charity committed to lifting Ugandan children out of poverty through education. The charity was started by Claire and Alex van Straubenzee whose son, Henry, was tragically killed in a car accident shortly before he was due to go to Uganda to teach in a rural school. In loving memory of their son, Claire and Alex have dedicated themselves to improving education in a large number of schools in the Jinja area of Uganda.

[W suemacpherson.co.uk]

01 Ugandan children sneak a peek at a better future. Photo by Sue Macpherson

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