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Ugandan palm oil company denies Shs66m salary claims by Indian expatriate

Mr Sankara Raman Janardhanan (second right) with other colleagues at Hillside  Agriculture Ltd, Apac District, in early 2024. Photo/Courtesy

What you need to know:

  • Mr Janardhanan alleges that payment delays extended to other employees as well, with the company’s 250 workers—10 expatriates and 240 Ugandans—experiencing salary delays of up to three months by mid-2024.

A Ugandan palm oil company has refuted allegations made by an Indian expatriate, claiming that it owes him Shs66 million in unpaid salaries.

The company insists that the complainant, Mr Sankara Raman Janardhanan, is still employed with them and has absconded from duty.

Mr Janardhanan alleges that Hillside Agriculture Limited owes him $17,600 (approximately Shs66 million) in salary arrears for April, May, and June 2024. According to him, he served as a senior operations manager—plantations for 17 months, from February 6, 2023, to June 30, 2024, in Akokoro Sub-county, Apac District.

He claims that problems began when the company failed to remit his National Social Security Fund (NSSF) contributions for eight months, from May to December 2023.

“From November 2023, salaries started getting delayed. Around this time, Mr Amaan Rai Singh took over as the new company director who had replaced his elder brother Mr Rajbir Singh Rai,” Mr Janardhanan said in an email dated December 11, 2024.

Mr Janardhanan alleges that payment delays extended to other employees as well, with the company’s 250 workers—10 expatriates and 240 Ugandans—experiencing salary delays of up to three months by mid-2024.

After submitting his resignation, Mr Janardhanan claims he continued with routine duties, but his resignation was not accepted.

“Instead of accepting the resignation, my supervisor invited me for a meeting at Kiryandongo Sugars, promising to address my concerns, but nothing changed,” he said.

The situation reportedly worsened, with unpaid salaries leading to widespread anger among the company’s employees.

“In order to save my life, I returned to India on my own and came back to Uganda on July 2, hoping to resolve the matter and recover my dues to help my ailing mother-in-law,” he added.

When efforts to engage the company proved futile, Mr Janardhanan sought assistance from the Indian Embassy in Uganda. The Indian High Commissioner referred him to Uganda’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, while an attaché at the embassy advised him to register his grievance with Uganda’s Commissioner of Labour, Industrial Relations, and Productivity.

Ugandan authorities respond

Mr Apollo Onzoma, from the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, acknowledged receipt of the complaint and requested Hillside Agriculture Limited to settle the matter amicably or provide comments within 14 days.

In its response, the company denied the allegations, asserting that Mr Janardhanan absconded from duty.

“We regard him as an employee who absconded from duty without informing management,” said Mr U. Ranganathan, a company representative, in a letter dated January 16, 2025.

The company accused Mr Janardhanan of mismanaging inventory, human resources, and machinery, claiming disciplinary action was initiated against him before he left the country.

“Unfortunately, he escaped before the process could conclude. The company is still waiting for his return to resolve these issues,” the letter stated.

Mr Janardhanan disputes the company’s accusations, insisting he is not responsible for the issues cited.

“Accounts, inventory, and machinery stocks were handled by another official, Mr. V.K. Singh, from June 2023 to October 2024. I was not involved in those aspects,” he said via WhatsApp on January 22, 2025.

He maintains that the delay in providing funds and resources by the directors hindered his ability to fulfill his duties.

“They are blaming me while withholding my salary dues for three months, along with 42 days of leave salary totaling $17,600,” he added.