• Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Donate
  • Login
Watchdog Uganda
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
Watchdog Uganda
No Result
View All Result

Out To Lunch: Lessons for government from Liverpool’s victory

watchdog by watchdog
6 years ago
in #Out2Lunch, Op-Ed
3 0
ShareTweetSendShare

By Denis Jjuuko

My friend Sarah used to work in a public office and before she quit to pursue another career, she used to joke in a bragging tone that her job was “permanent and pensionable”, which was an insinuation that she didn’t have to do much. All she needed, it seemed, was to ensure that she doesn’t lose the job. I think she got tired of being “permanent and pensionable” quit and went into something else that isn’t “permanent and pensionable.”

As I watched the Uefa Champions League final on Saturday night, I reflected on the final a year before. Had their calamitous goalkeeper Loris Karius been employed on “permanent and pensionable” terms, what would have happened? Would Liverpool have been able to return to another final? Would they have managed to win this holy grail of club football competitions? The answer is no.

For the uninitiated, over the weekend, Liverpool, an English soccer club won its 6th Uefa Champions League title after winning 2-0 against fellow English club Tottenham (as an Arsenal fan, I was supporting Liverpool against my club’s archrivals). Despite winning 2-0, the performance from Liverpool was lackluster I think owing to the fact that they lost last year’s final to Real Madrid. They probably chose substance over form. Some people say winning is everything. There is a lot business and government can learn from Liverpool.

The biggest lesson for me from Liverpool was what happened when they lost last year’s final. Real Madrid won mainly because the Liverpool goalkeeper at that time made costly errors and of course the injury of their talisman Mohammed Salah. Karius was never a good goalkeeper and Liverpool immediately addressed that issue by splashing a record £66.8m on a goalkeeper in Alisson Becker. He is an assured hand and on Saturday the money paid for his services looked everything a bargain.

In front of Alisson, Liverpool spent big again to bring in Van Dijk — who is now one of the biggest defenders in the world. He cost £75m — who like Alisson turned out to be another bargain. Liverpool is not just an attacking force, they are strong at the back.

For businesses and governments to succeed, there is need to get the right staff to do the job and paying as much. The right and talented staff, like we have seen with Liverpool, don’t come cheap. If you hire cheap, you may not get much out. The big football clubs, don’t just hire. They have scouts who look at the strength of the player in detail and whether he will fit in with the club’s philosophy. They don’t hire you because you are somebody’s nephew or potential girlfriend. Now with data, they look at everything and then make a decision to hire or not.

After you have hired big, you spend big on salaries and other emoluments. This should apply to public offices. In Uganda, you find a person like Permanent Secretary who controls billions of money earning so little, which may tempt them to be corrupt to make ends meet. Public officers must be paid what they would earn in the private sector and given similar terms. They would know that if they don’t perform, they would be fired. Governments need to start competing for talented staff with the private sector. That is how Lee Kuan Yew attracted the best talents to government and that is what happens in football, if you don’t turn up in a match or in training, somebody else replaces you. That way sport is always competitive. Business and government need to do the same.

I must note that there are no guarantees, a lot of players fail for one reason or another and unlike staff that are “permanent and pensionable” they are usually carted off to somewhere else. Karius never played again for Liverpool after that weird performance a year ago. There is need to let people go who aren’t performing as expected.

Liverpool played some scintillating football this season eliminating European giants Barcelona 4-0 despite losing 3-0 in the first leg. It was kind of a miracle but in life and business, giving up should always not be an option. There are lots of setbacks in business and there is no successful entrepreneur who has never failed at one stage. Like Liverpool, successful businesspeople don’t give up. They keep knocking on the door until one is opened. Governments need to take this approach.

The writer is a Communication and Visibility Consultant. djjuuko@gmail.com

*Internet photo of Liverpool players celebrating their Champions League victory


Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com


Mashable is a global, multi-platform media and entertainment company For more queries and news contact us on this Email: info@mashablepartners.com
ShareTweetSendShare

Related Posts

Mr. Kagenyi Lukka
Conversations with

KAGENYI LUKKA: With Its Current State of Economy, Uganda is Headed to a Middle-Income Status

7th July 2025 at 13:00
Dr. Ayub Mukisa (Ph.D.)
Conversations with

Dr. Ayub Mukisa: To Develop Karamoja: Critical Thinking And Alternative Analysis Is Necessary

7th July 2025 at 09:15
Bwanika Joseph
Op-Ed

BWANIKA JOSEPH: The Ballot and the Briefcase, Uganda’s Corporate Workers Must Vote for Fairness and Dignity

5th July 2025 at 10:36
Next Post

OPINION: Prof. Apolo Nsibambi always lamented Uganda’s arrested development as a nation

  • Prostitution in Uganda- Courtesy Photo

    10 dangerous hotspots known for prostitutes in Kampala

    1120 shares
    Share 448 Tweet 280
  • Silent Billionaire Bosco Muwonge Buys Mukwano Arcade at UGX 250 Billion Cash Down

    46 shares
    Share 18 Tweet 12
  • LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

    2288 shares
    Share 915 Tweet 572
  • Who is Bosco Muwonge, Uganda’s elusive real estate billionaire?

    32 shares
    Share 13 Tweet 8
  • Uganda’s Billionaires 2025: Once Again Sudhir Ruparelia Leads a Resilient Pack

    47 shares
    Share 19 Tweet 12
Facebook Twitter

Contact Information

Watchdog Uganda is a portal for solution journalism, trending news plus cutting edge commentaries in the fields of politics, security, business, tourism, entertainment, technology, agriculture, climate change, environment, public health et al. We also give preference to Ugandan community news and topical discussions. The portal also publishes community news and topical discussions.

Email: editorial@watchdoguganda.com
To Advertise:Click here

Latest News

NRM youths once again beat NUP with 90% victory in Kassanda district, MPs Kabuye, Nsamba fear for their seats

8th July 2025 at 11:13

Reason Over Regulation: President Yoweri Museveni Urges Ugandans to Embrace Science and Reason in Natural Resources Management

8th July 2025 at 09:15

Check out

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Minister Muruli Mukasa

LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

24th May 2020 at 10:45
Pregnant woman

Shock as 17-year old boy impregnates his two sisters during Covid-19 lockdown 

17th June 2020 at 08:17
Sudhir Ruparelia is the undisputed king of Kampala

Billionaire Sudhir’s wisdom on how to invest in real estate

0

How a boy’s destiny turned from cotton grower to communications guru

0

NRM youths once again beat NUP with 90% victory in Kassanda district, MPs Kabuye, Nsamba fear for their seats

8th July 2025 at 11:13

Reason Over Regulation: President Yoweri Museveni Urges Ugandans to Embrace Science and Reason in Natural Resources Management

8th July 2025 at 09:15

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda