Policy brief (SC/o1/19) 1. Issue IN A BID TO GROW THE LOCAL content and empower local service providers, the Government of Uganda developed the Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (BUBU) Policy. This policy encourages all organizations operating in Uganda to prioritize local service providers. However, many Ministries, Directorates, and Agencies (MDAs) source and pay for services directly to foreign companies. This practice not only leads to loss of the much needed foreign exchange without any benefit to the local economy, but it also exposes GOU to national security risks specifically cyber risks. The current approach to ‘Open International Bidding’ procurements is…
The Power of Customer Service
As you read this the News of The World (NoW) tabloid is dead. It ‘died’ on 10th July 2011. Ironically, on its last print day, it sold seven million copies. After 168 years of print, the World’s most popular tabloid just folded up on the cusp of a potentially debilitating phone-hacking scandal. The gory details of this scandal are just emerging, but for 168 years, NoW played the part of chief malice cheerleader. With no regard to its readers and the wider society, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. International made money while it mocked the rest of the world. And the…
What it takes to become a professional accountant
There are few professions that give one a latitude to excel at different jobs. Accountancy is one of them. A master at numbers and a bedrock of key decision making across the business, there are few fulfilling career options like becoming a professional accountant. You would be right to call me an accidental accountant. Limited career guidance during our secondary school times meant that we drifted our aspirations to professions that were common in our rural communities. When you were sick, you would go to the doctor or nurse at the local dispensary. When the bicycle broke down, you took…
The primary role of the board
The board is the second-highest decision-making body in an organization structure, after the shareholders or owners. The owner (the citizens in case of a government-owned entity) or shareholders (for public listed companies) or the founder of the business in case of a family business, handpick people with exceptional skills and leadership and appoint them on the board of directors to govern the organization on their behalf. For emphasis, the board’s primary responsibilities are: 1. Oversight – to ensure the entity is a going concern –business sustainability, strategy, and competitiveness. Sound financials (good cash flows, year on year growing profit margins, reducing…
Tool 41 of 104 is to show up often
Luke 9:17 They all ate as much as they wanted, and when the scraps remaining were collected, they filled twelve baskets. In life, an attempt at something, is the most important thing that cuts across all winners. Why? If you don’t show up, you don’t register any performance. For example, to win any race like a marathon, you must show up and participate in the race first. If it is an exam, you must show up in the examination room. Whatever you think of in life, success starts when you take the first step. As a consultant, I am always…
Know your banking products and how to win.
Islamic Banking Islamic Banking is a form of financing that draws its mode of operation from the sharia law. The Koran strictly forbids taking interest “ribba” from money lent to someone. It likens taking ‘ribba’ to taking a bribe. Therefore, in Islamic banking, “ribba” is forbidden, but instead banks will share a part of the profits made from monies lent out to businesses. This seems very reasonable to the ordinary person as it allows for a culture of full focus on the business activities to generate profits. Islamic banking has quickly gained popularity around the world and many countries, now…
