Uganda news update – Lack of board appointments blamed in part for lacklustre performances

APPOINT NEW BOARDS, MINISTRY TOLD
Pressure is growing on the Ministry of Tourism to appoint boards for various institutions under the auspices of the ministry, in particular for the Uganda Wildlife Authority, now that the albeit hugely controversial probe report by a special commission of enquiry has been presented to the Minister. While in this case it remains uncertain, what if any steps are being taken over the few credible scraps of facts within the report, as after all the current minister too came unexpectedly and unreservedly into the cross hairs of commission chairman Kanyeihamba, the overdue appointment of a new board is now a matter of urgency and growing national concern, seeing how the once mighty UWA has been dismembered and uprooted.
No comments were preferred by regular sources within the ministry, or those close to the ministry, as they themselves appear baffled over the extraordinary period of time it seems to take to make relevant appointments. The last chairman, a personal friend of the former tourism minister, was subsequently sacked by a court order for being patently unqualified to hold the position as he failed to meet the criteria for appointment, inspite of being a medical doctor, as were several of the board appointments made by the same minister, leaving a glaring gap on supervisory level of the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
That said, it is understood that the terms of office of the boards of the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre in Entebbe and of the Uganda Tourism Board too have expired for a while now, raising yet more questions of just what it will take to fill these statutory appointments and make the respective organizations fully operational on all levels.
In a related development it was also established that the Hotel and Tourism Training Institute in Jinja still lacks an enabling law since the rushed transfer of the institute some years ago from the Ministry of Education and Sports to the Ministry of Tourism, leaving that institution also without a board. Questions galore and yet few answers so far, so watch this space for upcoming developments and subsequent reports.

3 Responses

  1. Uganda’s Ministry of Tourism needs people who makes things Happen other than those who only see things happen. it is unfortunate that with abundant professional in the country the Minister is still unable to appoint a genuine board that can manage the different Department under Ministry. It is unfortunate that since 2007, HTTI has not got any board without which the institution can not be legitimate. As a former student of the Institute, I feel very saddened that we are not working towards the recorgnition of this important sector that even without the Oildiscovery, can enable Uganda turn into a Developed country. Our tourism pottential can not match any country in Africa. Which other Country has the Source of the Nile, Largest number of Endermic Birds on the albertine rifts, Rainforests, Gorila, Culture the National Parks, Very frienly people like what Uganda has?

    I know HTTI has missed the likes of you Dr. who were working towards the promotion of the industry for sustainability but unfortunately your struggle was cut short by the transfer of the Institution to the Ministry of Tourism.

  2. Uganda’s Ministry of Tourism needs people who makes things Happen other than those who only see things happen. it is unfortunate that with abundant professional in the country the Minister is still unable to appoint a genuine board that can manage the different Department under Ministry. It is unfortunate that since 2007, HTTI has not got any board without which the institution can not be legitimate. As a former student of the Institute, I feel very saddened that we are not working towards the recorgnition of this important sector that even without the Oildiscovery, can enable Uganda turn into a Developed country. Our tourism pottential can not match any country in Africa. Which other Country has the Source of the Nile, Largest number of Endermic Birds on the albertine rifts, Rainforests, Gorila, Culture the National Parks, Very frienly people like what Uganda has?

    I know HTTI has missed the likes of you Dr. Wolfgang who were working towards the promotion of the industry for sustainability but unfortunately your struggle was cut short by the transfer of the Institution to the Ministry of Tourism