13 CAA Officials Remanded to Kigo as Lawyers Decry Detention Conditions

What the report says

Thirteen employees of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority have been remanded to Kigo Prison after appearing before the Entebbe Chief Magistrate’s Court over separate allegations involving negligence, theft of electrical materials and interference with infrastructure at Entebbe International Airport. According to Nile Post, the officials denied the charges before Chief Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis, who ordered their remand until November 18, when bail applications are expected to be considered.

The accused include staff linked to airport information technology, engineering and electrical systems. The prosecution says one group is connected to an alleged security lapse in the airport server room, another is accused of interfering with and removing electrical wiring, and a third case involves claims that a senior engineer failed to provide adequate protection for lightning arrester equipment and did not promptly report vandalism. The reported incidents are said to have affected airport operations, including check-in systems, flight information displays and aircraft movement.

Defense lawyers Bruno Sserunkuma and Tonny Tumukunde asked the court to grant bail, saying some of the detainees had been kept in poor conditions and that transfers between detention locations were making it harder for lawyers and families to reach them. The report says the arrest followed an unannounced visit to the airport by the Minister of Works and Transport last week, which raised concerns about operations and management.

The case is drawing attention to security, maintenance and accountability issues at one of Uganda’s main transport hubs. More broadly, it reflects the pressure on airport operators to protect critical infrastructure, though any wider conclusions will depend on the court process and the evidence presented.