MEGA SCANDAL. When Airtel Uganda unveiled its new Managing Director, Soumendra Sahu aka Soum in 2024, replacing the then outgoing boss Manoj Murali, staff across the company were filled with optimism. His inaugural address, centred on digital transformation, connectivity and innovation, left employees convinced that a new and promising chapter had been opened. But one year down the road, that optimism has curdled into frustration and fear.
Today, the telecom veteran, once embraced as a visionary leader, Soum finds himself at the centre of a storm, facing fierce criticism from nearly every corner of the Airtel Towers, headquartered along Clement Hill Road, in the Capital, Kampala.
Also Read – BILLIONS & BILLONS STOLEN AS HACKERS BREAK INTO AIRTEL UGANDA SYSTEMS
This story is based on a 2454-word missive, supposedly written by the bigger family of Airtel Staff, and directed to the Group CEO, Sunil Taldar. The dossier in our possession, and the same our prominent sources at Airtel have, on condition of anonymity, confirmed its authenticity to us, unveils the supposed rot inside the walls of the telecom giant.
The tough-written dossier, whose authors remain unnamed in these pages for their own protection, warns the Group CEO of the looming crisis; “As it seems now, you may have your worst performances in many of the departments by Q4 if we continue this way and [we] will try to share what we know for all departments and the reasons why,” reads the dossier in its intro section.
Sunil`s Deaf Ears. However, the staff plight seems to have fallen on deaf ears of the Group CEO, Sunil Taldar. This stance, because we have landed on another email, accusing him of the same. “Dear Sunil, we are following up to understand the progress made on the issues outlined in the attached document. The team’s concerns regarding Soum remain unchanged, and there is a growing perception that this behavior is being tolerated,” reads an authoritative message.
Also Read – LOAN SCANDAL: HOW CENTENARY BANK STAFF BRUTALLY ATTACKED A CLIENT’S WIFE & STOLE OVER UGX90 MILLION
The authors proceed to encourage their colleagues to speak up and suppress the `oppressor` against them. “Additionally, other colleagues on the Ugandan team should be encouraged to speak up and express themselves freely, as many have felt silenced and fearful for a long time.” When contacted, the Airtel PRO David Birungi said he wasn’t aware of the dossier but promised to drop in his comment upon getting a copy, possibly at our end. Below, we reproduce the slightly edited missive…
The Massive Missive in Detail. “Dear Sunil. We, the several persons and employees of Airtel Uganda Limited come before you through this communication without prejudice and here below, are our matters against the Managing Director and are stated precisely for your expedition but briefly, the concerns are about Uganda Airtel Opco (Operating Company) and need your urgent intervention before the situation goes out of hand.
First and foremost, when Soum (Soumendra Sahu) was brought to the Opco in the first days the team was excited with the way he cascades his strategy and we all thought we have some hope going forward but as it seems now, you may have your worst performances in many of the departments by Q4 if we continue this way and I will try to share what we know for all departments and the reasons why.
HR department Completely Taken Over. This department has completely been taken over by Soum and it has literally been rubbished and turned into a paper pusher department. For example, recruitment turn around has greatly deteriorated because the MD does not trust any of his Exco Directors to complete this process and needs to see every recruit regardless of his busy schedule.
Secondly, the HR comms email has been hijacked by the MD and all comms including just a “happy birthday’ message must be approved by him before it is sent out. And by the way, many birthday wishes are equally sent late because he is now in control of the same. So many policies including those of employees are being changed without the consent or alignment of HRD and legal, and are dictated upon them.
Please look at all the new policies he is formulating and cascading one by one and curb this situation before it gets out of hand, as it will have a serious legal implication on the company. The same HR team as Business Partners can no longer air out their views, on behalf of the different departments and when they dare, Soum becomes emotionally violent, and does not listen to any of their views. Just to take you back on that visit while you were in Uganda, most of the things were just window dressed and stopped on the slides because Soum really knows how to put convincing slides together.
This is an example, we believe that you noticed, that the town hall was equally stage managed with all the questions rehearsed and given to particular individuals to ask on behalf of the team. If you noticed, there was one lady, a one Ms. Annet who kept asking for your protection whenever she wanted to ask because everyone at the company is in fear and she was equally not part of the decoys planted to ask reason she needed your protection for.
What kind of HR do we now have that cannot say anything and listen to the voice of the employees because Soum is ruthless on them to an extent that they cannot even issue out a salary loan letter to a person? Remember this is an employee right. And this is an eye opener that so many employment laws and rights have been breached.
The team has even failed to conduct an employee survey because Soum is afraid of the outcomes for those that can speak up, and he has intentionally delayed it and keeps postponing it. Please come to our rescue and hear us out before it is too late. On this, we request that you order for that survey immediately for the good of the company. Many People including Senior Managers and staff have polished there CVs and only waiting for the next equal opportunities to leave. Some have, for your information, already left as the environment is wanting.
Finance department – “Manipulated Figures and Pressure”. If there was ever a department that we thought was happy, it was finance, because they would be happy with many cost cutting initiatives but this is NOT the case and we will give examples. Many of the senior managers in this department are unhappy, even with their own Finance Director (FD). He often speaks to them rudely and pressures them to manipulate financial figures.
We urge you to pay close attention to the decrement figures being reported under Gross Ads, as they are concerning. Currently, we record over 1 million gross ads from the same customers, many of whom hold more than 10 SIM cards under a single national ID. This practice significantly distorts the net ads figures, and no amount of marketing or campaign effort can change that reality.
Furthermore, the team is being compelled to produce reports that disregard IFRS standards, simply to please Soum and present an overly positive picture to you. While the truth will eventually come to light, we felt it was important to bring this to your attention now.
Internal Assurance – “Witch Hunts Instead of Audits”. In the eyes of Soum, this is his only performing department because it serves his interests best especially when he is witch-hunting someone in a department. This department led by Tonny looks for blood as opposed to the substance to an extent that, they ask leading questions so as to directly implicate people as opposed to treating someone as innocent until proven guilty. The opposite is true in their eyes that you are guilty before you even speak.
The way they conduct their Audit leaves a lot to be desired and should be equally investigated as they are un ethical. Tonny behaves like a man on a mission and does not care because he has entered his retirement age and is only there to please his master, Soum. How does IA suspend someone for four months and keeps extending the period? What are they looking for or who are they trying to implicate? Same sentiments are being shared by all departments they do Audits on, that is HBB, S&D, Enterprise, procurement, Airtel Money etc.
Sales and distribution – “A Time Bomb”. We must say that this team is really trying their best to sale regardless of the circumstances but are also in pain. They sale literally 10 sims to one National Id and keep bringing sim swaps as new sales because of the pressure exerted to them. Please look at the net ads and decrement report done by someone in finance, the story is very clear. You will validate what we are saying.
Managers here want to leave because their structures are being changed especially in distribution without their input and consent. We are sitting on a time bomb as our true performance, if audited, will be known when we have lost market share especially if we are able to get accurate market data and not use the unvalidated assumptions Soum uses with the help of his trusted man Amit.
Marketing – “Almost Non-Existent”. This department is currently, almost non-existent. Much of the work done by the previous team was dismissed and disregarded until Amit was recruited by Soum. Even after his arrival, the department continues to struggle and has yet to regain proper structure or functionality. For example, Amit has effectively assumed an autocratic role within the department, exercising authority far beyond reasonable managerial discretion due to the backing and influence of Soum.
He unilaterally restructured the department overnight, resulting in the unlawful termination of five employees without prior notice or due process, in clear violation of established labor and employment regulations. The HR department appeared powerless to intervene and merely observed the situation unfold. Unfortunately, this has become the prevailing norm within the organization.
Does it equally surprise you that there is a mass exodus in this department too, with the latest person to leave being the brand strategy manager Noela, that had worked with us for over 10 years but has finally called it quits? Others are just still searching for the jobs or have bank loans, so they are still glued here against their wish.
You need to check LinkedIn, the most active and posting employees lately are from Airtel Uganda. Rogany and Sunil, please come to our rescue and bring back the sanity this OpCo deserves since you claim to put people first with the GCEO.
HBB – “Military-Style Leadership”. This department is special to an extent that it’s Director was forced out without a job. I hope you took the time to carry out an honest exit interview with this director? He did not agree with many changes Soum implemented that included change of his team commissions, putting an installation fee on sales which never took off, grid way of working that is only good on paper in the slides that dictates that commission is only paid if you sale in that area regardless of a referral. This is very unrealistic in the sales world.
Amit now runs the show in HBB to an extent that the team feels like they are in a military academy and cannot express their views. And if one does, it gets personal. They are at a point of asking for permission when going for a short-call because if he finds you away from your desk, he writes to HR claiming you absconded from duty.
The recruitment policy of the Dsts in this department leaves a lot to be desired. Soum tells you on Monday that he needs 150 people by Friday without fail! So, they interview you once and same day, they give you a letter to start work. Please check with HR and you will see what we are talking about.
The same applies when they are looking for internal installers. It is such a shame! You may see the growth due to the number of people on ground but believe us, wait for the churn and decay. It is just a matter of time since they are also under immense pressure to sale. Fortunately, they have the MD`s blessing and have got all they need in terms of stock and installations as opposed to the enterprise department.
Enterprise Department. “Suffocated and Undermined”. Those who have been here long enough to witness the transition, this department has had with the leadership of the current ED really see how far they have come. This department had failed every previous director including Amit Kapur, who left and was at the verge of being closed. Soum literally makes it look like he has a personal attack on this department and wants it to fail.
The department never has stock, never has Caf for installations and is always in crisis management even new installations are delayed with no stock and installation Pos. Soum has literally suffocated its leadership to an extent that they cannot even implement what was learnt in the six months while its ED was in India.
It feels like he is afraid of very outspoken people and only wants Exco that bows to him. Many policies have been changed, from up to down forcefully, and not communicated for the DSTs, Kams and Fps. So, all the distribution channels have been affected and only get paid in arrears. Who does that for a business you expect growth from? Soon we shall be sued for breach of contract. This department is understood by very few people. So, we will not have much to say but it has lived in uncertainty with an audit that has lasted 5 months and is affecting performance.
Customer service – “Leadership Driven Out”. This department lost its CXD because of similar issues that Soum is putting us through regardless of its good performance. Why is Soum still here and yet he is even doing worse? We will not deliberate a lot here because its issues were brought to light before.
Airtel Money – “Performing Against the Odds”. This department has done well because of Japheth. He is not easily bullied or intimidated by Soum. It is not surprising that he was nominated as the CEO of the year as opposed to Soum. Please ask yourselves why? We as an OpCo have even failed to win any townhall award! There is only one event that MD keeps forcing into our faces. It is called the MD`s Platinum club which was never budgeted for and used to show that all is well at the OpCo and yet we are headed for chaos. We have never even had a glimpse of a team building with claims of no budget. Do we really put our people first? His section has equally had some senior people leave and he can say more about it. Kindly, Sunil, get time and talk to your Exco freely before this goes out of hand. Next you will have labour suits everywhere. We guess Soum has budgeted for this very well.
Legal department – “Dead on Arrival”. This department is now dead-on-arrival and can no longer have a voice or be listened to even with the guidance Godfrey tries to offer. It goes on deaf ears and he is forced to just sign anything and everything. The next CEO will have a lot of work to undo. Staff policy was introduced just last Friday! We do not know if it was reviewed by group HR. Many more policies are coming our way and they seem to only relate to Uganda and not Africa. A strike at some point may be eminent.
Networks and IT – “Something Brewing”. We will combine these two, in the history of Airtel. We have never seen a Networks director take leave this long? Something is brewing their too, and to even make matters worse, Soum speaks his language in meetings with his fellow countrymen and always looks like he is back biting someone. This team has stood the taste of time and are trying to do their best regardless of the circumstances.
The Mouthless PR – “Constantly Rubbished”. This team is always doing damage control but always being rubbished by the Soum. He literally never appreciates anything that anyone does and always ready to critic. He has concentrated more on procuring everything at the OpCo, including pens and cakes! And he has forgotten the big picture of the business. Soon you will see fines coming from the regulators for noncompliance due to his lack of focus on serious issues! Yet it is always petty in everyone’s business. He literally does not trust his Exco team with an exception of Amit and Nishant because they do all he wants – whether wrong or right. Please come to our rescue before the situation gets out of hand.
Lest We Forget. More detailed information can be obtained directly from the respective departments. Our intention here is simply to provide you with key highlights from each area, driven by our genuine commitment to the company and our desire to see it succeed, not fail. The board equally has no idea what is happening because all this has been hidden from them by Soum. Please intervene before it is too late. We chose to Speak up. Thank you in advance and we eagerly expect immediate interventions.” Additional reporting – The Investigator.
