Overview:

Among says the Uganda Airlines is funded by taxpayers hence there should be value for money.

Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has tasked newly appointed new chief executive officer of Uganda Airlines Jennifer Bamuturaki to come up with a strategic plan that will revamp the national carrier into a profitable venture.

While meeting Bamuturaki at the speaker’s chambers on Tuesday, Among, flanked by her deputy, Thomas Tayebwa, said the Uganda Airlines is funded by taxpayers hence there should be value for money.

‘’The airline was revived using tax payers’ money.  We expect you to come up with a strategic plan that will meet the vision of making national carrier a world-class airline that will compete favorably and profitably with other airlines,’’ she said.

“A customer’s only point of distinction with any airlines may be the level of customer service provided to them. Improving it can lead to happier customers, better travel experiences, and improved service ratings,’’ she added.

‘’The airline was revived using tax payers’ money.  We expect you to come up with a strategic plan that will meet the vision of making national carrier a world-class airline that will compete favorably and profitably with other airlines,’’

ANITA AMONG, SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT

On her part, Ms Bamuturaki, who was early this month appointed to the position, called for political support from Parliament.

“We need a lot of local support in order compete favourably in the already liberalized sector,’’ she said.

Last week, Works and Transport minister Gen Katumba Wamala confirmed her as the Uganda Airlines CEO barely a fortnight after the consultant—PricewaterhouseCoopers—hired by the ministry to lead the search process to fill the position had called for expression of interest from suitable candidates.

Since inception in 2019, Uganda Airlines has been lurching from one crisis to another from in-fights to flawed procurement deals, dubious staff recruitments, among others. Uganda Airlines has had three CEOs and two boards in less than four years of its existence.

The Auditor General John Muwanga named the company among the worst performing state enterprise whose performance was setback by the Covid-19 pandemic for two years. The audit detailed that the company earned $113m (Shs421b) but spent $165m (Shs615b).