Gen Katumba Wamala, Minister of Works and Transport, has commented on Uganda Airlines CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki’s appointment, stating that it was a President Museveni directive that she be appointed.
A statement by the Minister of Works and Transport, Gen Katumba Wamala, has been released regarding the appointment of Uganda Airlines Chief Executive Officer Jenifer Bamuturaki. He noted that she had been appointed in accordance with the directive of President Museveni.
Gen Katumba Wamala made the remarks while meeting legislators who sit on the Committee Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE).
He said the president because he holds the constitutional right fronted Bamuturaki for appointment after doing thorough investigations.
“I cannot question the President’s authority because I simply do not have that power. He has the constitutional right to do what he did. He said he had done all necessary due diligence to arrive at the recommendation of Jennifer Bamuturaki for the position. The president wrote in his handwriting a letter stating that he had done due diligence and listed a number of reasons supporting his directive to the airline to appoint Bamuturak,’’ Katumba told the Committee.
Katumba’s stunning revelations follow public outcry and criticism in relation to the recruitment exercise and mismanagement of the airline, which has lost over UGX 500 billion as per the Auditor General’s Report of 2020/21.
Other findings in the report also point to the fact that Bamuturaki as CEO did not meet the minimum academic requirements at the time of appointment.
Last week, the Nakawa West Member of Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi who is also the COSASE chairman outlined that Bamuturaki only holds a bachelor’s degree with no post studies attached to it.
He said she only had a B.A SWASA and lacked postgraduate training which was a prerequisite needed in the appointment.
“Her highest qualification as of now is a Bachelor’s in Social Work and Social Administration; how come she was given the job. 40 others who applied perhaps had better qualifications and yet the people she is supervising have masters,” Ssenyonyi said last week.
Meanwhile, Ssenyonyi and his team also questioned why exorbitant salaries are being disbursed to many top officials working in the airline yet it is yet to start generating any profits.
Among salaries that were highlighted include that of the CEO Bamuturaki who earns at least sh87million per month, the Chief Financial Officer earns sh73m, Manager Finance earns sh58m, and the Director Maintenance is on sh80m.
Others include the Manager IT, they said earned sh36m, Human Resource Manager sh43m, Manager Cargo sh14m, and Quality Assurance sh43m.
