As a clean-up takes root at the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), junior staff are raising concerns that the process is unfair, targeting low-level workers while sparing top officials.
“I was shocked to learn that only cleaners and sweepers were dismissed. The senior managers who oversaw these corrupt practices are still in office,” said one CAA employee, speaking anonymously for fear of retaliation.
The crackdown follows an embarrassing incident where Mama Maria Nyerere, former First Lady of Tanzania, was trapped in a faulty elevator at Entebbe International Airport for over four minutes. The situation triggered a strong response from President Yoweri Museveni.
In a letter to the Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala, the President condemned what he called “massive corruption” and inefficiency at the CAA.
“I have received information that there is massive corruption in UCAA, including the recruitment of unqualified staff. This has led to serious inefficiencies that must stop,” the President wrote.
He highlighted the elevator incident involving Mama Nyerere as a clear example of failure, and revealed that an investigation had identified 152 unqualified employees. “All of these must be dismissed, along with those who hired them,” he instructed.
However, insiders claim the purge has so far only affected casual workers, cleaners, sweepers, and other junior staff, while senior administrators responsible for recruitment and oversight remain untouched.
Martin Sempa, a former CAA employee, voiced his concern: “We support the President’s fight against corruption in aviation. But justice must be fair. You can’t just sweep out the cleaners and leave the people who created the mess.”
With the aviation sector under public scrutiny, workers and stakeholders are calling for a transparent, balanced, and thorough investigation, not just symbolic actions meant to appease the President.
