By Spy Uganda
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Uganda Airlines, Jenifer Bamuturaki revealed to those who didn’t know ‘the flavor’ in her that she is the most qualified and experienced person to run the Airline.
Bamuturaki was appearing before the Committee on Commissions Statutory Authorities (COSASE) chaired by Nakawa West Member of Parliament, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi on Wednesday, 17 August 2022. She was accompanied by other officials from the airline to respond to queries in the report of the Auditor General for the year ended 2021.
During the meeting, Bamuturaki was asked to present her curriculum vitae to ascertain if she met standards before being appointed as CEO of Uganda Airlines but was quick to comfort the committee members assuring them that she is skilled, experienced and qualified which can be tested through her tremendous work at the Airline.
According to the job requirements and experience as advertised recently, the ideal candidate should hold a bachelor’s degree in any field and post-graduate training in administration or any other business related course.
It also requires at least 10 years of aviation experience at a senior management level, the experience in marketing and commercial aspects of the airlines business including knowledge of airline commercial systems.
However, MPs stated that Bamuturaki holds a Bachelor of Arts (honors) in Social Works and Social Administration which she obtained from Makerere University in 1993 and she lacked the post-graduate training prerequisite.
While responding to the MPs, Bamuturaki informed them that she has 15 years of experience in aviation which makes her not only the best but more than perfect for the job.
She could not leave MPs with any iota of doubt in her, she told them that the above mentioned experience supported by the certificates obtained from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) makes her one of the best CEOs Uganda Airlines has ever dreamt of.
“The certificates I have from IATA; if you put them together, they will come to a diploma but I have a degree. It doesn’t matter what I did at degree level, but I have the skill and certification from IATA,” Bamuturaki said.
She also told the committee that she is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Administration at Makerere University.
Meanwhile, in the same submission, Bamuturaki dismissed reports that she alongside her top ranking counterparts at Uganda Airlines are paid highly.
“I was looking at the wages that were circulated, they were truly false. That is not what we earn. I for instance don’t even earn 50 per cent of what was presented,” Bamuturaki, an irony lady behind swiftly growing Uganda Airlines told the committee.
Meanwhile, some concerned Ugandans who are happy with Bamuturaki’s work at the Airline have since wondered why MPs are concerned about how much is paid to staff but not at what rate the Airline is progressing.
”Let those MPs tell us how many employees does Uganda Airlines have and what law did they break if they are paid highly. Let us be fair Uganda Airlines is a prestigious institution which deserves some respect, how much do MPs want Uganda airlines officials to get?, Based on which bench marking? Based on what other Airlines in the region earn or Internationally?” wonders one concerned Ugandan who preferred anonymity;
”Remember Uganda Airlines is competing with the world Airlines not KCCA and UNRA as MPs want to make the country believe. And if it’s based on the national basket, then let’s begin with the very MPs’ salaries and emoluments. And by the way, they should know that these salaries are set by the board not by staff, and are based on regional and international bench marking.”
