Police investigating death threats to Joel Ssenyonyi over Uganda Airlines probe

Police are looking into death threats made against the chairperson of Parliament’s Committee on State Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase) Joel Ssenyonyi in connection with the Uganda Airlines investigation.

Ssenyonyi reported being threatened by a "powerful minister," according to Kampala Metropolitan police deputy spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire.

Owoyesigyire told Nile Post that police detectives had taken Ssenyonyi's statement and that investigations into his claim had begun.

The COSASE Chairperson, who also serves as the spokesperson for the National Unity Platform (NUP), later revealed in a tweet that he had received a phone call from Minister of Tourism Tom Butime threatening him over his investigation into Uganda Airlines.

"Yesterday, I got a call from Tourism Minister Tom Butime, threatening and intimidating me over Uganda Airlines probe," Ssenyonyi stated. "Because apparently Jennifer Bamuturaki is his relative. I've reported this at CPS,Ref GEF 60/2022 for it to be on record."

He vowed not to back down from his investigation into the National Airline, saying no one could intimidate him.

Ssenyonyi's committee is expected to meet with Uganda Airlines officials again on Tuesday this week, following three meetings last week.

The Uganda Airlines investigation was prompted by the Auditor General's report for Fiscal Year 2020/2021, which revealed that the Uganda Airlines administration had a number of flaws.

The Uganda Airlines CEO shocked COSASE on Thursday when she stated that she graduated from Makerere University in 1994 with a degree in Social Works and Social Administration (SWASA) but has never received her academic transcript 28 years later.

Bamuturaki, who insists she is qualified for the top national airline position, also claims she misplaced her UCE result slip and no longer has it.