{UAH} Irregular hiring at Uganda Airlines

By Nick Ddunba

Let me say something about the ongoing Uganda Airlines and its CEO Saga.

I have seen many commentators missing the whole point that led to the happenings in the COSASE Committee to the extent that they are now attacking the persons of the members of that Committee!

The Committee is surely and rightly acting upon findings in the Auditor General's Report!

Secondly, people who seem to be "attacking" the CEO are doing so because of the way she became CEO! Institutions have been abused in this country by her appointing authority! There was a recruitment process and money was spent for that same process, only to be terminated at the whims and will of a man who thinks every decision in this country must be made by him alone, even where there are institutions he himself sets up!

I so believe and know that university degrees or certificates in many instances mean nothing where some so many jobs are concerned. Personally I believe in hiring skill, talent, experience and passion, but where there is a defined process of recruitment, it should be followed especially where the stakes are high! 

Operating an airline business requires precision in every step of the way and one cannot afford not to pay attention to details in this type of business, because one single mistake can lead to loss of lives, business, infrastructure and finances.

Therefore, for those who think or feel that people are attacking the CEO because of her type of degree and tribe (most unfortunate that I saw someone who calls himself an MP and also heard of rumours of a relative mini-star having called one of the COSASE members with threats) are totally missing the point!

The CEO was irregularly appointed! She shouldn't be in that position because she doesn't have merit to occupy it.

Also, it should not be the president to make such appointments where there is a Board of Directors and a Line Minister!

Thirdly until office bearers in this country of such highly technocrat -based positions start getting those offices on pure merit (capability, skill, talent, experience, passion, right attitude), we should expect such institutions to continue making such losses in billions of shillings.

And in such circumstances, one thing always leads to another, reason the public got to know about the salaries of the top executives of the airline. I have read some comments that compared to global air transport standards, these salaries are actually small. This may be right, but is it tenable in the economic situation Uganda is in and considering the losses the business is making? Can the airline first make profits and then the salaries are raised accordingly? In essence Uganda Airline can be considered as a start up, and start ups only start paying hefty sums in salaries when they have grown, expanded and making good profits! As much as we are having the airline for pride purposes of the country and to promote tourism like many have said, can't we do that rationally with some financial intelligence?

Then since one thing leads to another, can the Committee actually go ahead and ascertain the share holding composition of the airline? For we have heard rumours that 99.9% of the shares belong to a private individual, yet taxpayers' money was used to purchase the aeroplanes and commercialise the business, can we get to know the actual position, with concrete evidence?

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