The storm at Uganda Airlines

It will be interesting to know how the investigations at Uganda Airlines will return. PHOTO/COURTESY

Summary

• It is difficult to clearly understand what caused the suspension of top managers at Uganda Airline, but there has been conflict  between management and the board, alleged corruption and influence peddling. 
• Uganda Airlines, during the 2019/20 financial year, according to the Auditor General, grossed Shs102b in losses, which had sharply risen from Shs15b that had been posted in the 2018/19 financial year. 

By Dorothy Nakaweesi

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A storm has been brewing at Uganda Airlines – albeit silently. Last week, the lid was blown off. 
For now, it is difficult to predict how things will end, but what we are sure of is, there is a problem. 

Reading from details that Daily Monitor has seen and sources that requested anonymity to speak freely, the problem seems to be wider mix of both politics on one hand and corruption on the other.  

On one hand, is the supervising role that seats with the Ministry of Works, with a seeming extension to State House and the presidency, while on the other is the board that is fighting for control with management of the Airline. 

All these seem to be interested in having the last call. But what is clear it has ended up in a pull and push game that seems to have no end in sight. 
On April 27, Works Minister 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,  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. 

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