By Vianney M. Luggya

I wish to make it categorically clear that the allegation that Entebbe Airport has been given away for cash is false. Government of Uganda can’t give away such a national asset. We have said it before and repeat that it has not happened. There isn’t an ounce of truth in it.

It is true that Uganda CAA opened up a Sales Collection Account in Stanbic Bank where all the Authority’s revenues are deposited in line with the Escrow Account Agreement terms, but it does not mean that anyone is to control our finances.

The Authority enjoys the freedom & liberty of spending what is collected (as per the budget). The lender’s monitoring of the account is only similar to what happens when one gets a salary loan or any other loan, & the bank requests that the salary is channeled through their bank.

It does not mean that lending bank takes over your salary. The loan terms provide a grace period of 7 years, and we are still within that grace period during which only interest is paid, and government has not defaulted on those obligations.

The writer is the Spokesman of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority.