After several attempts by the Junior Finance Minister for Investment and Privatisation, Evelyn Anite to have to interim Administrator of Uganda Telecom removed for refusal to be audited, the matter was reported to President Yoweri Museveni by the same minister so he could give the last word.
Little did Anite know that Museveni would vote for a completely different party in the standoff that has lasted about seven months.
In a letter to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Gen Kahinda Otafiire, President Yoweri Museveni has directed In a letter to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Gen Kahinda Otafiire, Twebaze Bemanya, the Registrar General, Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), will remain the administrator of Uganda Telecom and continue with the process of identifying an investor to partner with government to revamp it.
“As I have guided on several occasions, given the strategic importance of UTL to the economy, Government gas been in the process of identifying a suitable investor/s to partner with to revamp UTL as opposed to divesting it. The above position was also taken by Cabinet,” President Museveni’s letter reads in part, “Therefore, no actions contrary to Cabinet’s position should be taken. Further, Cabinet must always be consulted on any investment or related decisions concerning UTL before they are taken,” the letter reads in part.
Upon receiving this letter, Otafiire says he wrote to Bemanya yesterday on July 4, 2019, to communicate the President’s directive.
“As an administrator of the company, you are requested to expedite the process of sourcing a strategic investor. You are required to continually update me on the progress to enable me report to cabinet accordingly,” the minister’s letter read.