Uganda Airlines finance boss questioned over qualifications, reporting structure

What the report says

Uganda Airlines chief finance officer Allan Joel Kyeyune is under scrutiny over whether he meets the professional requirements for the job and over the way the airline handled reporting lines in its procurement unit, according to The Observer. The report says internal documents and correspondence suggest the procurement function was, at times, placed under the finance office even though Uganda’s procurement regulator has said the head of procurement should report to the airline’s accounting officer, typically the CEO.

The newspaper said the dispute surfaced after the airline opted not to renew the contract of former procurement director Alex Odwong. It reported that Odwong’s contract ended after earlier guidance from former CEO Jennifer Bamuturaki had the procurement function reporting directly to her, and that the airline’s company secretary later sought clarification from the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority. PPDA then restated that the procurement lead should report to the accounting officer.

The Observer also reported that Uganda Airlines’ human resources department considered extending Odwong’s contract but ultimately did not do so, later telling him to stay away from work, hand over company property and refund a salary payment made after his contract had expired. The article says he appealed, but management maintained the fixed-term contract had ended.

Separately, the report says the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda told the airline that Kyeyune is not listed as a member, raising questions about compliance with the Accountants Act and public-sector rules for finance heads. Uganda Airlines was not available for detailed comment in the report, and the developments add to broader concerns about governance and oversight at the state-owned carrier.