Committee of Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has quizzed new Uganda Airlines boss Jennifer Bamuturaki.
COSASE, chaired by the chairperson, Joel Ssenyonyi has quizzed the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Uganda Airlines, Jennifer Bamuturaki on how she got appointed from the acting CEO and yet she had no appointment letter and was not being paid salary.
Bamuturaki was appointed as the new substantive Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Airlines on 6th, July, 2022.
Following her appointment, Minister of Works and transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, in a latter dated July 5, 2022 letter said the appointment of Bamuturaki who has been acting in the same position is in line with a presidential directive in a letter dated April 24, 2022.
“Reference is made to a letter Ref. No. PO/28 dated April, 24, 2022 from H.E the President of the Republic of Uganda in respect of subject matter above copy attached for ease of reference). The purpose of this letter is to bring the directive to your attention for implication,” Gen Katumba said.
The committee under COSASE however went on to question Bamuturaki on how she rose from Acting to CEO of Uganda Airlines.
Following the discussion, Uganda Airlines Board member, Herbert Kamuntu, revealed that when Uganda Airlines advertised for the position of CEO, atleast 40 Ugandans applied however following a presidential directive to appoint Jennifer Bamuturaki, the whole process was halted.
Appearing before COSASE, Bamuturaki noted that she was not among the 40 Ugandans who applied for the job because on the day she was going to apply, that is when she was appointed.
Salary disparities at Uganda Airlines have however shocked Members of Parliament in COSASE.
According to Ssenyonyi, CEO earns Shs.87m, Chief Financial Officer gets Shs.73 m, Manager Finance earns Shs.58m, Director maintainance gets Shs.80m, Manager IT Shs.36m, Human Resource earns Shs.43m, Manager Cargo Shs.14m and Quality Ass. gets Shs.43m.
Asked why some Pilots get 60m and others 50 million shillings and why some Cabin Crew members earn Shs.4m, while others earn Shs.2m, Bamuturaki responded that the Airbus has a different pay structure while the CRJ Bombardier also has a different one.
MPs on the committee asserted that they are not against the salary of the Pilots, but asked Uganda Airlines officials to explain why the Airlines, which is making losses (160bn) a year is paying managers and directors exorbitantly with the CEO earning Shs.87m.
The CEO Bamuturaki s that they are currently reviewing these salaries.
The committee chairman, Ssenyonyi, therefore, tasked Uganda Airlines to come up with a staff structure within one month, adding that this is how the Airlines will know who is needed and who is not.
The Airlines had asked for end of the year to develop one but were given one month.
By Kalamira Hope
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