The start of 2019 was not that ‘walk in the park’ you’d expect for a big telco like MTN Uganda. What started as an uncertain license renewal process turned into a manhunt of sorts for the company’s top executives, which resulted in a series of arrests, questioning, and deportations. You can read more on the timeline Of MTN Uganda’s battles with the authorities.
Among the affected was the then Chief Marketing Officer, Olivier Prentout – who was arrested and deported to France, the then Head of Sales and Distribution, Annie Bilenge Tabura – who was also arrested and sent home to Rwanda, as well as the then General Manager Mobile Financial Services, Ms Elsa Musolini – who was also sent back to Italy after an intense period with the Police.
The MTN Uganda CEO, Wim Van Halleputte would then join them a fortnight later, with a deportation notice tagged to his name on “similar circumstances of national security”. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Gen. Jeje Odongo, declared Mr. Wim to be “an undesirable immigrant by virtual of section 52(g) of the Uganda Citizenships and Immigration Control Act” adding that he was a prohibited immigrant.
Three months later, the decision has been overturned with reports indicating that President Yoweri Museveni has pardoned Mr. Wim and ordered the Immigration Department to remove him from the Stop List.
In a letter from the office of the Internal Affairs Minister to the Director of Citizenship and Immigration Control, he has been allowed back in Kampala and is likely to jet in soon.
“This is…to direct that he is immediately removed from the immigration Stop List, and accordingly be allowed into the country. By copy of this letter, the In-Charge Immigration/Security at Entebbe Airport are accordingly asked to allow him access and immigration clearance through Entebbe VIP lounge. Treat as urgent,” reads the letter dated May 29, stamped “Very Urgent.”
It is believed that MTN top executives, including the MTN Group’s CEO Rob Shutter, have been engaging the President actively to woo him into resolving the company’s issues – especially in regards to the license renewal.
Read About: MTN Uganda will have to pay $118m in licence renewal fees
The other MTN Uganda deported staff?
According to close sources, Mr. Wim will resume his duties as the MTN CEO, a position which has been filled by Mr. Gordian Kyomukama in the acting capacity since the February incident. For the other deportees, there is still a question mark on whether they are to be pardoned too or not.
The sources have revealed to us that, apart from the Chief Marketing Officer, the other positions of the other deported staff were advertised internally and replacement is likely to be effected. The ex-CMO, Olivier Prentout had dual citizenship and there is a possibility that talks between the European Union and President Museveni are on-going to resolve his fate.
It is yet to be clear whether the CEO’s pardon has anything to do with the crimes that all the company’s top executives were charged with.
