Former Uganda Airlines (UR, Entebbe) Chief Executive Officer Cornwell Muleya has been ordered to stand trial in a Kampala magistrate's court on October 7, 2022, on charges involving the mismanagement of public funds.
The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate's Court found that Muleya had disobeyed a lawful order of the Inspectorate of Government (IG) to appear before it on May 23, 2022, to present documents and answer questions regarding the allegations against him.
Consequently, magistrate Asuman Muhumuza found a prima facie case against Muleya, necessitating him to defend himself. "Accordingly, this court finds that the accused has a case to answer and orders him to prepare his defence."
The magistrate denied a request by Muleya for bail and to have his passport released to allow him to travel to Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone on October 15, 2022, to look for employment. Still, he promised the accused an expedited hearing.
Muleya was arrested on June 22, 2022, after he disobeyed orders by the IG to provide documents regarding the mismanagement of public funds, procurements, and recruitment of staff at Uganda Airlines reports The Observer.
On April 21, 2021, Works and Transport Minister Edward Katumba Wamala had placed Muleya and 12 other executives on forced leave on the orders of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to pave the way for investigations into allegations of financial mismanagement, collusion, and nepotism in staff recruitment.
In February 2022, Muleya's contract was terminated, whereafter he filed for UGX3 billion shilling (USD784,420) in damages with the Wakiso District labour office on April 4, 2022, citing unlawful termination of his contract. The labour office referred the matter to the industrial court.
