MP Judith Babirye loses bid to join Notu board

Celebrated gospel artist and Buikwe Woman MP Judith Babirye

What you need to know:

  • Mr Fred Bob Sifuna, the chairperson Notu Elections Committee said the elections were free and fair.

MUKONO. Celebrated gospel artist and Buikwe Woman MP Judith Babirye has lost the bid to represent informal economy workers on the board of National Organisation of Trade Unions (Notu).
Ms Babirye was defeated by two other women; Ms Jessica Mwijuka and Amina Nalugya to take up the two slots for informal economy workers during an election held at Colline Hotel, Mukono District over the weekend.
Four candidates, including a man one Fred Moses Waida, contested for the two slots at Notu board.

Mr Waida and Ms Babirye lost.
Ms Babirye polled 163 votes against 212 votes and 175 votes garnered by Mwijuka and Nalugya respectively.
However, Mr Usher Wilson Owere who has led Notu for two terms since 2009 was re-elected as Notu chairperson general with 191 votes after trouncing Mr Richard Bigirwa who got 173 votes.

He will steer Notu for the next five years. Notu secretary general, Mr Peter Werikhe also retained his post after defeating Mr Robert Matuku.
Speaking after the elections, a beaming Owere said he will ensure that he finalises his campaign of having a standard minimum wage for various categories of workers in the country as well as pushing for key reforms in the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
“We need key amendments in the NSSF Act to enable workers who have lost jobs at the age of 45 years access their savings and start up income generating businesses and avoid getting bank loans,” he said.
Mr Fred Bob Sifuna, the chairperson Notu Elections Committee said the elections were free and fair.

“This was the first well organised election in the history of labour movement in Uganda and the winners won genuinely,” he said.
He said the new office bearers will be sworn in next week.
A total of 350 delegates from 33 unions subscribing to Notu took part in the elections.

Others elected on Notu board include
1. Stephen Mugole - deputy chairperson general
2. Jolly Alipa Kirabo –First chairperson general
3. Musa Okello – Second chairperson general
4. Anita Nannozi Sseruwagi –Vice chairperson general –general duties (women)
5. Christopher Peter Werikhe – Secretary General
6. Melisamu Oloka – Deputy Secretary General (Administration)
7. Aggrey Sanya-Deputy Secretary General (Operations)
8. Tom Amiti –Deputy Secretary General (Political and Internal Affairs)
9. Teopista N. Ssentongo-Deputy Secretary –General Duties (Women)
10. Stephen Mwanika Legesi- Treasurer General
11. Mercy Matende-Deputy Treasurer General
12. Alice Rhoda Atim- Representative of Public Sector Unions
13. Justus Kiplangat Cherop –Representative of Public Sector Unions
14. Samuel Buhigiro –Representative of Private Sector Unions
15. Moses .R Mauku –Representative of Private Sector Unions
16. Agnes Kim Atwoki- Chairperson Women’s Committee
17. Annet Birungi –Secretary Women’s Committee
18. Everest Mubangizi – Chairperson Youth Committee
19. Barbra Badaru –Secretary Youth Committee
20. Jesca Mwijuki-Representative of Informal Economy Workers
21. Amina Nalugya –Representative of Informal Economy Workers
22. Sam Gombya – Representative Workers with Disability
23. David Nkojjo –Board member
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