Key issues as MPs investigate Posta Uganda Lira branch

Lira | Members of Parliament from the ad hoc committee on Uganda Posta Limited paid a visit to the Posta Uganda branch in Lira City on January 23 as part of their nationwide investigation into the company’s management.

The committee chairperson, Faith Nakut, Napak district woman MP, dismissed “widespread claims” that technology has undermined the postal service.

She stated that people continue to use various postal offices throughout the country.

Nakut insisted that if Posta Uganda Limited improves its management, technology will not jeopardise the postal system.

“The postal service plays a crucial role in transporting exams, medications, and gifts, which underscores its importance despite technological advancements,” she said, in an interview with tndNews.

During their visits to over ten different Posta Uganda branches, the committee came across a land dispute at the Lira branch.

The dispute is between Uganda Telecommunications Limited (as it is commonly known) and the postal branch. The MPs discovered that UTL involved police to arrest workers of Posta.

Nakut condemned the action, calling it “unacceptable.”

Another pressing issue is the complex land issue at Plot 5 in Lira City. The committee urges the government to take decisive action on UTL and land disputes in order to effectively resolve these challenges.

Their tour, which includes stops in Soroti, Mbale, Gulu, Arua, Mubende, Luwero, and Lira, is part of a nationwide initiative to revitalize Posta Uganda and other government agencies, the chairperson said.

Nakut, on the other hand, praised the Lira Postal branch management for their efficient system and efforts to keep the land green and well-maintained.

“Once successfully implemented, Posta will enable local innovators to create, protect, own, and manage their intellectual property,” she noted.

Osinya Dauson, the manager of the Lira Post Office or Posta Uganda branch, referred tndNews to their Public Relations Officer, Immaculate Ntalo Namunyolo, and stated that the publication’s pressing inquiry into other matters required the attention of their general manager.

In November 2024, the ad hoc committee started their probe into alleged mismanagement of resources at Posta Uganda for the last 5 years.

Alongside Posta Uganda, UCC and UTL faced the committee for scrutiny. Parliament learnt that Posta Uganda has been grappling with, among others, unpaid court awards of shs45b, payables worth shs20.4b and payroll liabilities of shs3.2b.