Deported MTN Uganda CEO Vanhelleputte set for a return after presidential pardon

Deported MTN chief executive officer Wim Vanhelleputte is expected to return to the country following a presidential pardon, the Nile Post has learnt.

Wim Vanhelleputte was deported back to Belgium on February 15th, 2019. According to his deportation letter and documents at the Ugandan citizenship and immigration department, Wim was declared an undesirable immigrant by virtue of section 52(g) of the Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control Act and he had since became a prohibited immigrant in Uganda till further notice.

Reports reaching our editorial desk at Nile Post now indicate that President Museveni has pardoned him and he has ordered the Immigration department to scrap him off the restricted list.

According to a letter from the the office of the Internal Affairs Minister to the Director of Citizenship and Immigration Control that has been accessed by The East African News paper, the President directs that Wim should be allowed to return to Kampala.

"This is to direct that he is immediately removed from the immigration stop list and accordingly be allowed into the country,"the letter reads in part.

"The in charge Immigration/security at Entebbe Airport are accordingly asked to allow him access an immigration clearance through Entebbe VIP lounge."

This however raises questions about the fate of other MTN Uganda employees that included Mobile financial services manager Elsa Muzzolini, Chief Marketing officers Olivier Prentout among others, who were also deported over related matters.

MTN Uganda chiefs were accused by security forces of spying for Rwanda in Uganda although subsequent investigations exonerated them.

Wim Vanhelleputte is married to a Ugandan national and he will be expected to return to  his position as the CEO of the  telecom giants.