By Spy Uganda
The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has been rocked by a sweeping wave of dismissals, with more than 80 employees officially terminated on Thursday in the first phase of a dramatic purge triggered by President Yoweri Museveni’s recent directive.
The action follows a scathing letter from the President in late June, in which he ordered the removal of 152 UCAA staff members over alleged forgeries of academic documents and irregular recruitment procedures. Thursday’s dismissals represent a serious escalation in the fallout, and insiders warn that this may be just the beginning.
According to sources within UCAA, the affected employees were drawn from a broad cross-section of departments—including aviation security, operations, engineering, and human resources.
“It was a somber day,” said one official who spoke on condition of anonymity. “People were called in, handed letters, and told they were among those affected. The list cut across departments—aviation security, operations, engineering, HR—you name it.”
The purge comes in the wake of internal investigations led by UCAA’s Director of Human Resources, Sabah Ahmed Kakooza, with support from State Minister for Works, Fred Byamukama. The probe uncovered extensive irregularities in hiring practices, including cases where individuals held top-tier positions without possessing the requisite qualifications.
Although UCAA Director General Fred Bamwesigye had earlier urged for procedural fairness, forming a disciplinary committee to evaluate the cases individually, this week’s mass terminations suggest the administration is now moving quickly to execute the President’s orders.
The President’s letter had expressed frustration with what he termed “endemic malpractice” in the authority’s recruitment processes, calling for an urgent cleanup to restore credibility and professionalism in one of Uganda’s most strategic institutions.
The latest dismissals come at a time when UCAA is already grappling with internal unrest linked to a controversial insurance scheme allegedly pushed by the board under the leadership of retired Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma.
Sources within the organization say staff are resisting the proposed insurance arrangement, which is rumored to involve kickbacks and coercion. The combination of ongoing investigations, internal tensions, and abrupt dismissals has left the authority in a state of heightened anxiety and uncertainty.
With more than 70 additional staff members still expected to be dismissed in line with the President’s total target of 152, observers say the worst may yet be ahead for the embattled civil aviation body.
As of the time of publishing, UCAA management had not issued an official statement regarding Thursday’s dismissals or the broader implications of the ongoing purge.
This sweeping action marks one of the most significant shake-ups in the history of UCAA, a critical institution overseeing Uganda’s aviation sector. With trust in the authority shaken and its leadership under pressure, questions remain about how the agency will rebuild public confidence and institutional integrity in the months ahead.
For now, employees and stakeholders alike are watching closely, as the full impact of the President’s directive continues to unfold.
