The country’s flagship carrier, Uganda National Airlines Company Limited (Uganda Airlines) has advertised the vacancy of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) days after the arrest of Cornwell Muleya this month.
Former CEO Muleya – a Zambian national – was detained this week on Tuesday 21st June 2022 by police for defying summons of the Inspectorate of Government (IGG).
Uganda Airlines is the official national passenger and cargo carrier for this East African nation.
In a recently released advert published by PricewaterhouseCoopers Limited (pwc) the authorized recruiter for the airline, states that;
“Uganda Airlines would like to recruit a Chief Executive Officer (CEO),”reads an excerpt from the job advert.
The job summary states that the successful applicant will report to the Board of Directors.
“The CEO is responsible for leading and driving the business and success of the airline. The CEO will be responsible for devising and executing the airline’s strategy,” says the communication from Uganda Airline courtesy of pwc.
Uganda Airlines provides scheduled air transportation services in East Africa and near- international markets.
It was set up to enhance Uganda’s competitiveness by reducing the cost of air transport and easing connectivity to and from Uganda; to support faster harnessing of opportunities in the economy (tourism, agriculture, minerals, oil and gas) and fulfill the requirement to establish air transport infrastructure to meet the growing demand for air transport (passenger and cargo).
According to the communication, the goal of Uganda Airlines is to create a hub at Entebbe International Airport, interconnecting passengers North-South, East-West across Africa, to regional, continental and European destinations. The airline also flies to other foreign destinations in Asia and the Middle East.
Duties of the CEO
Key duties and responsibilities of the CEO role at Uganda Airlines include;
Strategy formulation and implementation, commercial management, financial management, managing the airline’s operations and people the airlines’ human resources.
“Corporate communications, stakeholder relationship and compliance management and oversight of the airline information systems,” states the pwc inscribed document.
QUALIFICATIONS: What does it take to become Uganda Airline’s Chief Executive?
The applicant will be required to hold a bachelor’s degree in any academic field plus post graduate training in Administrations or any other business-related course.
Over ten years of aviation experience at senior management level (Executive Committee) are highly required.
“Experience in marketing and commercial aspects of the airline’s business, including knowledge of airline commercial systems,” reads a phrase from the job ad.
Leadership and management skills coupled with management of stakeholders are preferred and will be highly considered by the recruiters and employers.
The ideal candidate ought to possess previous or current experience as CEO, COO, or CCO of a successful commercial airline.
Ugandan enterprises urged to explore regional oil and gas opportunitiesHe or she must have experience in airline financial management fundamentals, skilled at managing people at various levels. This should also be on top of experience in network, scheduling, and planning of flights of both commercial and chartered flights.
Other key qualities desired by the recruiters include; innovation, decision making, negotiation and attention to detail; business acumen, which involves financial management and team building.
The recruiters are also keenly looking out for a good coach and mentor with excellent report writing, presentation and execution.
HOW TO APPLY for this top job.
A detailed job description and application form can be downloaded using the following link; www.bit.ly/3HIEaeZ
“Interested persons who meet the above criteria should download and fill the application form to provide details about how their experience is relevant to the duties and responsibilities described in the job description as well as send their curriculum vitae and the application to ug_hrs@pwc.com by not later than Friday 8th July 2022,” reads the pwc communication, penned on behalf of the national airline.
The recruiters are also receptive of applicants “outside the aviation industry but who have comparable experience from other sectors” who can demonstrate ability to execute the above highlighted tasks.
Pwc firmly states that only shortlisted candidates for this role will be contacted.
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni recently accused the Uganda Airlines officials of extorting money from job applicants, mismanaging procurement contracts, recruiting relatives, friends and church members across the network, maintaining ghost workers on the airline’s payroll and giving jobs to unqualified pilots at the expense of the safety of passengers.
These events unfold as Muleya, a Zambian national, battles the Government of Uganda for compensation after he was sacked in February 2022.
The airline’s acting Chief Executive Officer is Bamuturaki Jenifer.
On 1st April 2022, the Uganda National Airlines Company Limited inaugurated a new Board of Directors consisting of a team of seven members.
This aviation executive committee is headed by Priscilla Mirembe Serukka the Board’s Chairperson, the other board members include; Samson Rwahwire, Herbert Kamuntu, Patrick Ocailap, Barbara Namugambe, Abdi Karim Moding, and Ebrahim Kisoro Sadrudin.
The entire board was approved by the cabinet of Uganda on 7th March 2022 to replace the provisional board which President Yoweri Museveni terminated in May 2021.
The sacked board members comprised of; the Airlines Chief Executive, Director of Finance, Human Resource and Director of Safety.
The executive leadership team was accused of abuse of office, corruption and intrigue with top managers under the parent Ministry of Works and Transport.
The new team that was assembled to oversee the airline’s flight operations was appointed on a three-year term and is expected to guide the smooth operations of the national flag carrier to fulfill its corporate mission and translate its vision into reality while protecting the aviation company assets by ensuring accountability and maximum transparency.
This skilled head hunt comes on the heels of frequent bad publicity that have plagued the national carrier for over a year, after consistently making headlines for erroneous reasons that date as far back as April 2021; when Gen Katumba Wamala, the line Minister of Works and Transport sent the airline’s top management and board members on “forced leave” pending investigations into allegations of corruption, mismanagement, political interference, including influence peddling in hiring of staff.
The current Uganda Airlines is a revitalization of the older Uganda Airlines, which existed between 1977 until 2001 before the flight company halted operations. It launched afresh in 2019 with a renewed promise.
