Authorities at Entebbe Airport have reinstated the ban against the use of private mobile phones by the staff while handling travelers. This is part of the measures being undertaken by the aviation body to ensure proper customer care services and curb extortionist tendencies.
Authorities have also reportedly arrested one of its staff whose names are yet to be revealed, on charges of extortion. This was revealed on Friday by Olive Lumonya, the deputy director general for Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA).
During a press briefing held at the Airport VIP lounge, Lumonya noted that 26 staff from various agencies working at Entebbe airport, have so far been suspended, terminated or subjected to other disciplinary measures since 2020 to date.
Since the start of this week, extortion claims have rocked Entebbe Airport with several members of the public taking to social media claiming to have been asked up to as much as US$1,000 before they could be allowed to depart the country and that, on refusal to pay, many had been stopped from boarding the plane.
“This was a staff of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority but in the video, he was doing it outside the airport. He has however been arrested. We have clear procedures on what to be followed to punish him,” Lumonya intimated.
Maj. Gen Apollo Kasiita Gowa, the Director Citizenship and Immigration Control at the ministry of Internal Affairs said, more stringent measures are being effected to ensure customer satisfaction. He further noted that all staff at the airport will be required to wear their name tags for easy identification but also as one of the ways to curb such vices like extortion.
According to the UCAA deputy Director General, all the circulating videos have been reviewed as part of investigations into the allegations, noting that whereas some of them were found to be authentic, others are fake.
“We would like to re-assure the public that all cases and complaints submitted to UCAA with evidence will be thoroughly investigated and action taken,” Lumonya appealed.
According to Lumonya, it has also been resolved that after a passenger has gone past immigration on departure, recalling them or offloading them for any reason would only take place with express permission of the director of airports and aviation security or General Manager for UCAA.
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