As a probe on Uganda Airlines rages on, the Committee on Commissions Statutory Authorities (COSASE) has discovered that Uganda Airlines chief executive officer Jenifer Bamuturaki was given a job without the minimum academic requirements.
MPs were shocked to learn that Uganda Airlines’ top boss, who earns shs 87 million, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and Social Administration (SWASA) with no Post Graduate training.
While appearing before the \committee chaired by Nakawa West Member of Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, Bamuturaki insisted that she is qualified and experienced to run the airline.
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 tasked to present her curriculum vitae to ascertain if she met standards before being appointed as CEO of Uganda Airlines. She told the committee that she is skilled, experienced and qualified and that is seen by her work at the airline.
According to the job requirements and experience as advertised, 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 state 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.
Ssenyonyi observed that while Bamuturaki had over 12 years of experience in the hotel and hospitality industry, her experience and qualification in aviation is lacking.
Ssenyonyi said that Bamuturaki worked as a guest relations officer and sales manager at Imperial Botanical and Sheraton Hotels respectively before joining East African Airlines and Air Uganda which all collapsed.
“Her highest qualification as of now is a Bachelor’s in Social Works and Social Administration; how come she was given the job. 40 others who applied perhaps had better qualifications and yet the people she is supervising have masters,” he said.
The MPs then tasked the acting Human Resource Officer, Jane Nanono to explain why they considered hiring Bamuturaki yet she lacked the qualifications.
Nanono however said she cannot comment on the matter as she was not in charge.
She said Price Water House Coopers developed the job specifications for the CEO and was specific on the experience in the aviation industry which was forwarded to the board of directors for approval.