ENTEBBE – A staff of the Civil Aviation Authority-CAA was on Friday arrested and suspended on allegations of extortion.
On Thursday, social media was over flooded with allegations from Ugandans – claiming how some immigration officers were demanding bribes before sanctioning their respective flight trip through Entebbe International Airport.
The CAA Deputy Director, Olive Birungi Lumoonya told a press conference on Friday that one of their employees, whose identity she couldn’t reveal, was arrested following a review of the videos that had gone viral on social media.
Lumoonya said that as one of the measures to curb the vice of extortion – a ban on the use of mobile phones had been reinstated – allegedly because its usage had been discovered to be fuelling the evil.
She also said that under a new arrangement, the names of staff will be embroidered on the staff corporate wear.
Lumoonya added that management had resolved that CAA staff can no longer take a passenger off a plane after boarding.
“A passenger will be offloaded with only the express permission of the director of airports and aviation security or General Manager for UCAA,” she said.
Gen Kasita Gowa – the Director of Immigration said that some of the social media posts were informative and had helped in the correction and disciplining of errant staff while others were simply sensational.
The Director of Airport and Aviation Security, Eng Ayub Soona reminded all intending travellers the processes one goes through from arrival at the airport until the time of boarding a plane.
In March last year, three officials were arrested by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit after a refugee missed a flight ending up spending another $1800 for another air ticket. CAA discouraged travellers from paying money to staff for any favours, adding that the traveller could equally be held liable.
