By Gabriel Erayu
The probe of the Uganda Airlines boss and the institution as a whole receive mixed reactions from the public as a whole, who believe that further investigations into the “rot” in the increasingly prestigious East African airlines are being sabotaged. But are we going in the right direction? What and how far can we achieve or lose at the speed and fragile manner in which the probe into the matter is happening?
In my own opinion, the success of the Ugandan airlines should be the primary reason for COSASE to conduct its mandate. The interest and focus should not be so much on an individual but the institution. Like many others have put it, specialization doesn’t guarantee results. Some people are specialized but end up achieving very little or no result at all despite their expertise.
I honestly feel what should be protected most is the institution. While conducting the investigation, the COSASE committee, in my opinion, should be mindful of the fact that openly exposing the “rot” or minor flaws in Uganda Airlines as an institution can have far-reaching consequences compared to allowing it to operate in its current state. I think it’s also worth noting that Uganda Airlines is very quickly regaining its lost glory. Perhaps now is the time to carry every business about it like a tray of eggs, lest it fall again and history repeats itself sooner than expected.
As much as I think the probe is necessary, it should be cautiously done to avoid making potential users of our growing airline lose trust in it.
Can the probe continue and be done “responsibly” like the deputy said the Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa requested? I think I am in agreement with the request to have this probe done responsibly without having to blow it out of proportion and without making it a stumbling block to the flourishing of prestigious airlines in the world lest it fails to compete with other airlines.
I also think, as of now, that the center of the probe shouldn’t be exposing merely an oversight but that practical, progressive, and even lasting solutions should be looked into rather than merely making rounds of comments on social media as proof of “hard work”. I guess the committee should make its findings, make its recommendation to the management of the institution, and continue the monitoring and general oversight role as Parliament. This would give Uganda Airlines a great deal of success in the many engagements the institution is having with the intent of favorably competing with other airlines in the world.
With every effort and attempt, let’s protect the bigger image of the airlines and not trash them, lest we lose it as a country. Let’s build it and not destroy it, lest we fail it again. Let’s also appreciate how far it has reached and constructively work towards its coming glory, not pull it down in exchange of mere cheap popularity.
Gabriel Erayu
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