Why former Uganda Airlines CEO Cornwell Muleya was detained

Cornwell Muleya, the former Chief Executive Officer at Uganda Airlines was yesterday arrested for defying summons of the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), sources within Police say.

Munira Ali, the IGG spokesperson, confirmed the arrest and said Cornwell is expected to be produced in court on tomorrow on Wednesday 22^nd June 2022.

According to the charge sheet signed by Deputy IGG Patricia Achan Okiria, between May and June 2022, Cornwell Muleya deliberately refused to obey an order of the Inspectorate of Government that was dated May 23, 2022.

The order required Mr Muleya to give evidence and produce documents, regarding, “mismanagement of public funds, procurements and recruitment of staff at the Uganda Airlines.”

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on July 17^th, 2021, directed the Inspector General of Government (IGG) to investigate and prosecute Uganda Airlines bosses who were implicated in corruption scandals. The July 17^th letter was addressed to the Minister of Works and Transport, Gen Katumba Wamala and copied to IGG and other high-ranking government officials.

In the communication, the head of state, President Museveni ordered the dissolution of the board of directors of the national carrier following an investigation that revealed widespread corruption, collusion and mismanagement.

President Museveni also 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.

This comes as Muleya, a Zambian national, battles the Government of Uganda for compensation after he was sacked in February 2022.

Last year on 29^th April 2021, Cornwell Muleya was sent on forced leave by the then Uganda Airlines board that was later suspended and eventually dissolved in August.

A month later, on 21^st May, 2021, Muleya was suspended for three months, which was further extended for another three months, pending an investigation into serious allegations of mismanagement, before he was eventually sacked on February 15, 2022.

Through his legal representatives, Muwema & Co. Advocates and Solicitors, Muleya petitioned the Wakiso District Labour Office to declare that the Ministry of Works permanent secretary, Bageya Waiswa,  acted illegally by terminating his contract as the Uganda Airlines chief executive officer without according him (Muleya) a fair hearing.