Corrupt managers at Uganda Airlines must face consequences- Museveni

A day after he flew to Dar es Salaam Tanzania aboard Uganda Airlines jet, President Museveni has commended the crew, which includes pilots for being professional and “very good” before encouraging travelers, especially Ugandans to support the national carrier.

“I had not flown using the Uganda Airlines, until yesterday. The crew is very good. When they were landing, I did not know we had landed,” tweeted Mr Museveni who used the “Crane” CRJ900 instead of his presidential jet after a one-day working visit to Tanzania where he witnessed the signing of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) tripartite host agreement.

The crew included Captain Clive Okoth, Ahmed Bamweyana, Sheillah Kashillingi, Joseph Lukwago and Mark Kyaligonza.

Regarding the alleged corruption in the airlines, Mr Museveni said “some elements in management and the board must face the consequences.”

Mr Museveni’s statement comes on the heels of ongoing investigations against some top managers of the national carrier.  

On April 27, Works Minister Gen Katumba Wamala sent seven Uganda Airlines top managers on forced leave in a letter that did not clearly state the reasons for the suspension. It only pointed to need to “pave way for investigation into serious allegations raised against their conduct of business”.  

Those suspended included Mr Cornwell Muleya, whose contract as Uganda Airlines chief executive officer had just recently been extended up to September 2022, Mr Paul Turyacayisanga, the finance director, Mr Joseph Ssebowa, the head of human resource, Mr Harvey Kalema, the manager ground handling and operations, Mr Bruno Origi, the director safety and compliance, Mr Moses Wangalwa, the head of procurement and assets disposal and Mr Alex Kakooza, the first captain, who the letter instructed not to undertake any flight functions until he is “cleared”. 

The suspension came as a surprise to many but what is clear is that it was ordered by President Museveni, who, acting on information, was privy to a number of issues that were not going on well at the Airline. 

“I am writing in connection to a meeting you held yesterday [April 26] in the office of the Minister of Finance with shareholders of Uganda Airlines to discuss pertinent issues concerning the company. The issues were raised in a letter dated April 21 written to me by the President,” Gen Katumba wrote in the April 27 letter addressed to Uganda Airlines chairman Perez Ahabwe. 

The same issues were referenced in an April 26 letter by State Transport Minister Joy Kabtsi, who had invited the management of the airline and the board to do some explaining but none of those who had been invited turned up.

Being the Transport state minister, Ms Kabtsi supervises the airline but it is not clear why those who had been invited did not turn up.     

While appearing on NTV on May 10, Gen Wamala tried to downplay the mangers’ suspension insisting that they had asked to take their accumulated annual leave.

"Because of the low tempo operations caused by Covid and the fact that we have not yet started the long haul operations, top management at Uganda Airlines, asked to take leave. These people were not disbanded or suspended. They are on leave and yes we may be also taking that time to also look into how they have been doing business but it is not as bad as what I have seen in some papers (media)," he said.