A joint security investigation into the operations of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is underway at the troubled organisation’s headquarters in Entebbe.
The probe was ordered by President Museveni to investigate suspected acts of sabotage by top CAA officials.
Led by State House Anti-Corruption Unit boss, Brig Henry Isoke, the investigation team comprises officials from Internal Security Organisation, military intelligence, Special Forces Command (SFC) and Police.
“There are two investigation desks at CAA,” said a source who preferred anonymity to speak freely.
“One is investigating acts of sabotage on the part of CAA including frustrating plans to have Entebbe International Airport certified for direct flights to Europe and the United States and mismanagement of multi-million dollar infrastructure projects,” the source added.
“The second desk /line of investigation focuses on general corruption at CAA including extortion of money from passengers.”
CAA spokesperson Vianney Luggya was not readily available for comment when we posted this article on Sunday morning.
ChimpReports recently reported how President Museveni was frustrated by CAA’s failure to facilitate the certification process of Entebbe International Airport for Uganda Airlines to make direct flights to London Heathrow Airport.
Uganda Airlines secured slots for departures and landing at London Heathrow Airport after receiving its two Airbus A330-800 Neo aircrafts in December 2020 and February 2021.
The airline had earlier submitted an application for an Air Operator’s Certificate to operate in the UK and expected to commence the flights in January 2021. However, this is yet to happen.
The delay of Uganda Airlines to fly to the United Kingdom and ultimately the European Region who are governed by the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority and European Aviation Safety Agency respectively, has been affected by the outdated certification status.
This delay is based on CAA’s delayed resolution of issues raised by the last International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) audit in 2014 such as legislation, organization, licensing, operations, airworthiness, accident investigation, air navigation services and aerodromes.
ICAO had also provided an aerodrome expert to help CAA expedite the certification process within a period of 12 months but the official was frustrated by CAA officials.
Effects
The biggest effect to Uganda is that economic welfare projects like the initiatives being spearheaded by DFID (UK) where Uganda would be exporting food directly to the UK supermarkets can’t kick off without these improved oversight systems and certification levels.
Moreso, Uganda would also make billions of shillings from the direct flights to London, making Uganda Airlines more competitive in the region.
Aviation Development Chief Analyst, James Pearson said over 84,000 passengers flew on Entebbe-London flight on a two-way point-to-point basis in 2019, “making Entebbe the second largest unserved market from Africa to London.”
Media has learned that Museveni wants to know why CAA officials sabotaged the certification process of Entebbe Airport.
CAA boss Fred Bamwesigye, who chaired the certification process, has since been grilled over this matter and the failure to implement infrastructure projects at the airport.
The certification committee was deputised by Eng Ayub Sooma (project manager).
Fred Lutalo served as project hands-on coordinator. Other members on the committee included Eng Ronald Twesigye, Chris Omondi, Rev Ateboa, Hannington Banyendera, Godfrey Matovu, Marion Tibenderana and Pascal Jabbe.
The CAA certification committee spent billions of taxpayers’ money on benchmarking in several countries but 13 years later the standards have still not been met.
Rwanda recently beat Entebbe Airport to the coveted Category One Certification, under the US Federal Aviation Administration’s International Aviation Safety Assessment program (IASA).
The rating opened the way for direct flights between Rwanda and the United States, which flag carrier Rwandair has been aiming at for some years.
The other issues being investigated by Isoke include CAA’s failure to carry out routine runway surface friction tests, which could lead to accidents; poor communication and security equipment at the airport among others.
