By Dr. Martin M. Lwanga
Sula’s father, Haji Teyesiga, was a trader who specialized in informal lending. One day, he lent out a colossal sum of money to a Kikubo trader who needed cash badly to clear goods from customs.
As usual, several land titles and car log books were deposited as security which Haji Teyesiga handed over to his office manager for safe keeping. Later, when the trader had cleared his debt, Haji Teyesiga, to his shock, discovered the office manager had disappeared with all the titles and log books. This meant Haji Teyesiga had now to liquidate much of his wealth to compensate the Kikubo trader’s titles and log books. That experience taught young Sula never to trust his possessions with anyone lest he suffers the same fate.
Another experience happened in his polygamous family. As a little boy Sula noticed that whenever his father was away on business trips some of his wives would entertain young male visitors. In fact, one of the wives eventually eloped with a young male lover. Sula decided that when he grew up he would marry only one wife because it was easier to control one wife.
Sula graduated as a teacher and in the mid-nineties after the introduction of Universal Primary Education (UPE) in Uganda he took advantage of the surging numbers of pupils to launch a private school. Partly for lack of money to hire staff and more so because in his world Sula trusted few human beings, he doubled as a teacher, school bursar and headmaster. He even served as a school driver and often from classes he would jump into his Toyota pick-up and go out to buy food and other necessary school materials.
He built his home at the end of the school compound largely to have an eye on his young beautiful wife, a school dropout. One day his young wife expressed an interest to finish her education. But Sula totally rebuffed the idea. “Your job is to look after my children,” he cautioned her. “And you are not to leave home without me!”
Meanwhile, the school grew as one of the best performing primary schools in Wakiso District. But in spite of the increased school population Sula continued to double as a teacher, bursar, driver and headmaster as he feared losing control by delegating power to people who might cheat him.
One day he was approached by a number of investors wishing to inject cash in the school. This would provide the school an opportunity to start a Secondary section. Almost immediately, Sula threw the investors out suspecting a hidden trick to snatch the school from him.
A Tragedy
Late one night while driving back from Masaka town, where Sula had gone to buy food for the school, Sula’s Toyota pick-up hit a speeding trailer, killing him instantly.
Immediately upon his death an older brother of Sula showed up. The brother claimed all of Sula’s wealth including the school.
Sula’s wife, who had no idea of her husband’s activities, was informed that the school had all long been a partnership. In fact, the brother claimed he had loaned Sula the money to build the school. Since the wife had no knowledge of Sula’s business, bank accounts, and properties she could hardly counter the aggressive brother’s allegations. Eventually she was thrown out of Sula’s home as the brother claimed it had been his all along!
Questions.
- Why is delegation a problem in many organizations?
- As a manager what steps can you take to create a culture of delegation?
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