The Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has called current and former top managers of Uganda Airlines to appear before it regarding unresolved questions contained in the Auditor General’s report for the financial year ending 30 June 2025.
Committee chairperson Muwada Nkunyingi instructed that new summons be prepared after the airline’s officials did not attend a scheduled meeting on Monday, despite earlier invitations.
Nkunyingi ordered police officers to deliver the summons, requiring the officials to report to COSASE on Thursday, 27 August, at 8:00 a.m.
“I want to move and guide that this committee shall accordingly issue summons to Uganda Airlines to appear before the committee on Thursday at 8 a.m.,” Nkunyingi stated.
Those to be summoned include the airline’s accounting officer, Chief Finance Officer, Contract Committee Chairperson, Manager of Corporate Affairs, and both the current and former Chief Executive Officers.
The committee has also instructed the officials to bring all necessary documents that can help clarify the findings and remarks in the Auditor General’s report.
Nkunyingi explained that the summons aim to ensure attendance so the committee can thoroughly examine Uganda Airlines’ management over the audit concerns.
“We want to have the accounting officer of Uganda Airlines, the Chief Finance Officer, the Contract Committee Chairperson, the Manager Corporate Affairs, and the two chief executive officers, the current and the former chief executive officer,” he added.
He further required police officers to supply evidence that the summons had been served, cautioning that failure to do so might result in a request for their replacement.
“Our summons have to be delivered by police officers, and you must come back with the proof,” Nkunyingi said.
He stressed that the committee would not accept delays in carrying out its summons, recalling an earlier assurance from the Director of the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) to assist the committee in its work.
Nkunyingi cautioned that COSASE might summon the CID director if police officers did not help enforce the summons.
The committee is seeking answers from Uganda Airlines management on various points raised by the Auditor General in the 2024/25 audit report, as Parliament proceeds with its review of the national carrier.
These latest summons occur as pressure mounts on Uganda Airlines management to explain the matters outlined in the Auditor General’s report.
An internal audit at Uganda Airlines identified financial irregularities totaling Shs1.6 billion in the 2024/25 financial year.
The audit revealed shortcomings in planning and needs assessment that led to funds being directed to unnecessary areas.
It also pointed out additional problems, such as payments for undelivered items, expenditure exceeding approved budgets, unjustified costs, and payments made without purchase orders.
The report further shows that some procurements were carried out without valid contracts, prompting questions about the handling of public funds.