UGANDA | AIRLINES | FRAUD 

KAMPALA - Suspended top bosses of Uganda Airlines have been asked to resign to create room for the national carrier to prepare for them a send-off package. 

This was after an investigation of the issues at Uganda Airlines yielded no implicating results against the top leadership, including board members, led by the chairperson, Pereza Ahabwe. 

The company secretary, Bisereko Kyomuhendo, on January 19 wrote to the suspended top officials, detailing how they would be remunerated upon resigning. 

Citing two interaction meetings that the suspended bosses had with Uganda Airlines shareholders in October last year, Kyomuhendo said it was agreed that board members submit resignation letters to pave way for payment of their send-off packages. 

During the meetings, the Uganda Airlines shareholders reportedly approved payment of a sh30m package, in addition to a retainer of sh5m to each member for six months. 

The board members are Ahabwe, Benon Kajuna, Godfrey Ssemugooma, Catherine Asinde, Charles Hamya and Rehema Mutazindwa. 

This implies that each member will get at least sh60m.

Last year, the works ministry, which supervises Uganda Airlines, sent the top bosses, including the chief executive officer, Cornwell Muleya, on a three-month leave, causing worries within the company. 

Board queries 

In May last year, the then transport state minister, Joy Kabatsi, wrote to the chairperson board of directors Uganda Airlines, seeking a comprehensive report on the operations and management of the airline. 

Kabatsi revealed that she wrote to the board chairperson (Ahabwe) after he reportedly refused to attend a meeting she called together with other board members. 

“Following your refusal to attend the meeting together with your board members, I have found it necessary to communicate to you the issues that were to be discussed during the aborted meeting,” the minister noted. 

In her letter, dated April 26, Kabatsi highlighted 12 pertinent issues that she wanted the board chairperson to explain, adding that; “in case of failure to respond as requested, I will have no other option but to request the shareholders to suspend you as the chairman board of directors.” 

Kabatsi cited governance issues, where she questioned the role of the board in recruitment of staff and wondered whether it was their role to hire workers, failure of the chief executive officer to reign in and discipline errant staff, among others. 

When contacted for a comment about the dismissals, Jennifer Bamuturaki, the Uganda Airlines acting chief executive officer, said: “I know nothing about that development."

She noted that the process of acting on the suspended official was being taken by the Ministry of Works and Transport on behalf of the shareholders.