President Museveni has ordered the immediate termination of 152 Uganda Civil Aviation Authority workers who obtained positions through fraudulent academic credentials. The directive, issued on June 25, 2025, targeted what the president characterized as widespread corruption within the aviation agency. General Edward Katumba Wamala, the Works and Transport Minister, received the presidential mandate demanding swift action. The president cited safety concerns after Tanzania's former First Lady became trapped in a malfunctioning elevator at Entebbe International Airport. Aviation officials must remove all unqualified personnel and those who facilitated their hiring.
UCAA began credential verification in February 2024 following suspicious patterns during recruitment activities the previous year. Authority investigators examined 2,688 academic documents and discovered 82 current employees had submitted falsified qualifications. The practice appeared to span multiple years within the organization. Technical staff comprised 67 of the affected workers, encompassing aviation security screeners, air navigation officers, airworthiness inspectors, and air traffic management personnel. These positions require specialized training and carry significant operational responsibilities.
The aviation authority established a disciplinary committee that has already processed 54 of the 82 implicated employees. UCAA officials acknowledged the complexity of removing trained personnel from critical positions. The complete review process should conclude within one month. Security and transport ministry officials have joined discussions about potential protection of certain individuals. This presidential intervention signals heightened enforcement of merit-based hiring standards across government institutions.
UCAA began credential verification in February 2024 following suspicious patterns during recruitment activities the previous year. Authority investigators examined 2,688 academic documents and discovered 82 current employees had submitted falsified qualifications. The practice appeared to span multiple years within the organization. Technical staff comprised 67 of the affected workers, encompassing aviation security screeners, air navigation officers, airworthiness inspectors, and air traffic management personnel. These positions require specialized training and carry significant operational responsibilities.
The aviation authority established a disciplinary committee that has already processed 54 of the 82 implicated employees. UCAA officials acknowledged the complexity of removing trained personnel from critical positions. The complete review process should conclude within one month. Security and transport ministry officials have joined discussions about potential protection of certain individuals. This presidential intervention signals heightened enforcement of merit-based hiring standards across government institutions.
