Exclusive: Minister Fred Byamukama Rejects Shs 1bn Bribe in UCAA Cleanup Drive
Kampala | State Minister for Works and Transport, Fred Byamukama, has reportedly rejected a Shs 1 billion bribe allegedly offered by individuals seeking to interfere with the government’s ongoing crackdown on irregular staffing within the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA).
According to reliable sources, the bribe was intended to persuade the minister to slow or soften the implementation of President Yoweri Museveni’s directive aimed at cleansing UCAA of top officials implicated in illegal staff recruitment.
Efforts to get a direct comment from Minister Byamukama were unsuccessful, but insiders say he was approached last week by stakeholders concerned that their business interests might suffer as a result of the anticipated shake-up.
The move comes on the heels of a strong directive by President Museveni, who recently ordered the dismissal of all UCAA staff irregularly recruited, along with those responsible for hiring them. This decision followed internal investigations that unearthed widespread irregularities in recruitment practices at the authority.
Among those implicated is UCAA Director General Fred Bamwesigye, who formerly served as the authority’s Human Resource Manager and is believed to be responsible for a significant number of the unauthorized hires.
In a letter to the President two weeks ago, Works and Transport Minister Gen. Katumba Wamala reportedly raised concerns that a hasty purge could destabilize operations at UCAA, which plays a critical role in ensuring aviation safety and compliance with international standards. However, Museveni firmly insisted on full implementation of his directive, telling Katumba to act “without compromise.”
With pressure building, sources say a group of individuals with vested interests in the authority’s current leadership offered Byamukama a Shs 1 billion bribe to ease or delay the process.
“Minister Byamukama made it clear he’s not interested in their money and wants the authority cleaned up,” said a source familiar with the discussions.
Documents reviewed by this publication reveal the extent of the irregular appointments, with 82 individuals hired without proper documentation. Of these, 45 were appointed by Bamwesigye, 13 by R.E.N. Gidongo, 11 by Jabe Pascal Osinde, 6 by Dennis Katwijuke, 5 by M.H. Thenge, and 2 by Penelope Namukwaya.
The incident has further exposed the deep-rooted patronage and abuse of office that has long plagued the country’s civil aviation sector, even as efforts intensify to restore transparency and credibility to UCAA.
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