By Our Reporters
The governing board for Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) has written to the Minister Ephraim Kamuntu asking him to endorse their extension of MD Stephen Asiimwe and DMD John Sempebwa’s contracts by another two months. The board argues this is meant to enable the new office holders (Lilly Ajarova and Bradford Ochieng) prepare to wind up at their former places of work. The much-disputed Ajarova has been heading the Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Lake Victoria and Ochieng has been Corporate Affairs Director at UCDA. The board correspondence reached Kamuntu late Monday evening and by press time, it remained unclear how he intended to act. Some technocrats at the Ministry were of the view that two months was too long especially for Sempebwa who has already dragged Kamuntu to court accusing him of acting improperly in the way he appointed Ochieng and Ajarova. The biggest contention is on Ajarova who majority of the other applicants say was unsuitable because she scored less than 50% at the interviews. Indeed the report Public Service interviewing panel gave to Kamuntu indicated the best for MD job was Ochieng followed by Andrew Seguya with Ajarova trailing in a distant position. For the DMD still Ochieng was the best followed by veteran journalist Simon Kasyate who has since moved on indicating in a social media message there isn’t more he can do about the situation. He is determined to try next time. Kamuntu, who interrupted his leave to come and sign Ajarova and Ochieng’s instruments of appointment, says he is empowered by the Tourism Act to appoint whoever he pleases because he is the sector Minister. This implies the outcome of the interview process by Public Service isn’t binding to him. Kamuntu also says Ajarova’s appointment was important to achieve gender balancing at UTB where men have always called shots. He also preferred Ajarova because of her longevity of service in the tourism sector having previously worked as a senior manager at UWA. Kamuntu may not say but it’s also a fact that Ajarova is the one State House preferred ostensibly to reciprocate the great political support her late husband Dr. Salim Bachu rendered the Museveni nascent NRM government in mid 1980s. He was among the first Museveni ministers and hailed from Nebbi.
NOT UNPRECEDENTED
This UTB saga isn’t the first time the State House wish is carrying the day even at the expense of respecting the outcomes of professionally conducted public service interviews. The position of PPDA ED remains vacant up to this day because Angela Kiryabwire Kanyime, the candidate State House prefers, is yet to emerge the best at public service interviews. But being the smart octogenarian Professor he is, the 74-year old Kamuntu consulted his boss Premier Ruhakana Rugunda on the prudence of his decision to overlook the best candidate Ochieng and giving the job to Ajarova who wasn’t even among the best two finalists for the CEO job. Sources say Rugunda commended Kamuntu’s hard work seen in his readiness to interrupt his leave to come and finalize the appointments and gave his no objection to the Ajarova appointment. Relentless Sempebwa, silently backed by many other unsuccessful applicants, has contracted city lawyer Fred Muwema and he is determined to teach Prof Kamuntu a lesson he will never forget. He is angry all his written protestations to Kamuntu have gone unheeded and considers it right to seek remedy in court which he wants to invalidate the entire recruitment exercise at UTB. For comments, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755.
