Civil Aviation Authority human resource boss job advertised

Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has advertised the job of the director human resource, whose holder is facing prosecution for allegedly defacing President Yoweri Museveni's campaign posters.

Efrance Mbagaya was arrested by security personnel on November 16, last year from her office at UCAA in Entebbe after she reportedly removed Museveni's posters off the authority's building walls.

Although court has not yet pronounced itself on the matter, UCAA, in a notice published in New Vision on January 4, advertised the position of director human resource and administration, which Mbagaya was holding.

The advertisements has attracted widespread criticism of UCAA on social media, with some saying Mbagaya should have been replaced after the court case against her has been heard and concluded.

However, responding to a tweet in which one Wilfred Businge said Mbagaya had been fired, UCAA management explained that she was holding the position of director human resource in acting capacity, but not substantively.

"Please note that Efrance  Musimenta (Mbagaya) substantively the manager human resource development and training. The position of director human resource and administration in which she acted at one point, is vacant. It has been advertised as per UCAA regulations. She is performing her duties as manager human resource development and training," the tweet said.

The UCAA public affairs manager, Vianney Luggya, confirmed that the authority had tweeted in response to Businge's tweet to clarify on the matter. But Luggya declined comment on the matter.

Another UCAA staff, who spoke to New Vision on condition of anonymity, said whereas some people were politicising the authority's decision to recruit a substantive director of human resource and administration, it was normal for a vacant position to be filled. Asked whether any administrative action had been taken against Mbagaya, the official said she was still in office because the matter has not yet been concluded in court.

"We have our own regulations governing how such matters are dealt with, although we are owned by government," the official explained.

Another official said interdiction relates to an offence or a felony under the Penal Code Act, but this offence is under the Presidential Elections Act.

Once a civil servant is charged with a criminal offence, public service standing orders require that such a person should be interdicted and put on half pay until the case is heard and disposed of.

Court case

Last year, Mbagaya appeared before Entebbe Magistrate's Court on charges of defacing campaign posters of President Yoweri Museveni, the National Resistance Movement party flag-bearer, from the walls of UCAA buildings.

Mbagaya, who is currently out on bail, is facing charges of defacement of notices and posters, contrary to Section 78 of the Presidential Elections Act 2005. Prosecution alleges that while at the UCAA headquarters in Entebbe, Wakiso district on November 10, Mbagaya maliciously removed and tore posters belonging to Museveni.

Mbagaya, who was represented by lawyer Matthew Ngugu, denied the charges. Mbagaya appeared before Magistrate Juliet Nakitende in November last year.