Three errant staff have been arrested and disciplinary action has been taken against 24 others following public outcry over corruption and mistreatment of Ugandans at Entebbe International Airport.
The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Director General Mr. Fred Bamwesigye told the media that management will not turn a blind eye on any of their staff who has been involved in extortion of money from travelers among many illegalities reported at the airport . Some female travelers have also accused airport staff of sexual harassment .
“We have always been robust in dealing with misbehaving staff . We have had many different agencies deploy staff at the airport and there was no proper coordination. Now going forward for every government agencies deploying staff at the airport we shall have a CAA supervisor to superintend over their work,” Bamwesigye stated .
The CAA boss said that apart from the supervisors no airport staff shall be allowed to carry a mobile phone while on duty .
A press conference was jointly addressed by UCAA and the head of the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control at Entebbe International Airport on January 20, 2023, which among others highlighted the following mitigation measures that have been put in place as follows;
1.In 2021, the Authority issued a directive to all airport stakeholders urging them to inform thier staff who interface with passengers in operational areas that use of private mobile phones is prohibited while on duty within the terminal building. It is only the supervisors that were expempted. While there may have been laxity in implementation of this directive, it is now being re-emphasised and is to be fully enforced.
2.UCAA held engagement meetings with security agencies and others to harmonise operations of the different stakeholers on departure with a view of ensuring that some functions are merged and handled more efficiently by fewer agencies to avoid duplication and multiple checks and desks before a passenger accesses the check-in counters.
3.It has been resolved that after a passager has gone past Immigration on departure, recalling them or offloading them for any reason would only take place with the express permission of the Director Airports and Aviation security or General Manager- EIA of UCAA.
4.The Authority is intensifying the playing of messages on Flight Information Display screens at the airport alerting/reminding passengers not to be compelled to pay any money to anyone in exchage for a favour at the airport.
5.We would like to re-assure the public that all cases/complaints submitted to UCAA with evidence will be thoroughly investigated and action taken. A number of those, which were submitted earlier were worked on and action taken, with staff found culpable disciplined. From 2020 to date, 26 members of staff from various agencies have either been suspended, terminated or subjected to other disciplinary measures.
6.A UCAA staff who appeared in one of the videos and appeared to be negotiating some payment was detained at Aviation Police on the morning of January 20, 2022 and is to face disciplinary action as investigations continue.
7.Name tags for all staff operating at the airport are to be emphasised.
8.Customer service training for members of staff of all stakeholders operating at Entebbe International Airport is to be emphasised.
2 thoughts on “THREE ENTEBBE AIRPORT STAFF ARRESTED AND 24 OTHERS ARE UNDER INVESTIGATIONS FOLLOWING PUBLIC OUTCRY OVER CORRUPTION AND MISTREATMENT OF UGANDANS”
Entebbe saga shouldn’t be taken lightly. You cannot tell Ugandans that all these happenings were done without the knowledge of the supervisors, security, CCTV cameras. If so, terrorists will easily access the airport. Overhaul the whole setup and recruit on merit.
Entebbe saga shouldn’t be taken lightly. You cannot tell Ugandans that all these happenings were done without the knowledge of the supervisors, security, CCTV cameras. If so, terrorists will easily access the airport. Overhaul the whole setup and recruit on merit.
gd point