Sebbowa appointed new investment authority boss
What you need to know:
Eng Sebbowa takes over from Dr Maggie Kigozi who last year in June resigned from Uganda Investment Authority.
Kampala
Eng Frank Sebowa was yesterday introduced to Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) employees as the new boss, bringing an end to a 15-months search for the agency’s new executive director.
Since Dr Maggie Kigozi left in June last year after serving the investment body for about 11-years, the board had struggled to find a replacement, culminating into a power struggle, which has negatively impacted the image and operations of UIA.
With Dr Kigozi gone, Mr Tom Buringuriza who was her deputy took over in acting capacity. And before his forced leave just months ago, about 11 senior staffers had resigned; with most of them claiming that through his leadership, the investment body had lost direction.
Petitioning the IGG
However, prior to that, when the position was advertised and interviews conducted, Mr Biringuriza, who was a candidate for the top job did not make it and he felt the playing field had not been leveled hence he petitioned the Inspector General of Government to intervene in the matter.
This prompted the UIA board chairman, Mr Patrick Bitature, to send him on forced leave, pending the IGG’s investigations into the process as he appointed Mr Lawrence Byensi as acting executive director.
And as soon as the Ombudsman ruled against his petition, the UIA board swiftly concluded its long search and zeroed in on Eng Sebowa as the substantive executive director of the investment body. “I can confirm to you that we now have an executive director, who started work on Monday this week,” Ms Olive Kigongo, the UIA board member told Daily Monitor on phone yesterday.
Explaining the delay, Ms Kigongo who is also the President of the Uganda Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UNCCI), said the delay should not be looked at as political but the board had a mandate to get the right person for the job. Eng Sebowa formerly worked with Electricity Regulatory Authority.
Earlier the Private Sector foundation Executive Director (PSFU), Gideon Badagawa said, for continuity and predictability it is wrong for such an important institution to go for this long without a substantial leader.
