The Uganda Tourism Board is charged with marketing and promotion of Uganda’s tourist attractions across the world.
However, over the years, the board headed by Stephen Asiimwe has been peddled with in-fighting and scandals.
The latest scandal has seen UTB disband and ask all staff to re-apply for their jobs leaving the CEO as the only worker who isn’t affected.
Other staff believe their jobs are being advertised and were not sure they will not be laid off. A leading daily carried adverts from UTB for various job positions
When reached out for a comment on the alleged staff firing, Stephen Asiimwe said it was not true and that there was no need to panic
“It is not true that we are throwing out any staff. We only advertised vacant positions that need to be filled. All the other staff are working and there is nothing to worry about” Asiimwe said.
Pressed for further comments, Asiimwe said he was in a meeting. “I am in a meeting right now, call me later”.
This year alone,1.6 million tourists are expected to visit Uganda bringing in about $1.5 billion.
Last year, Edwin Muzahura the long serving Marketing Manager at the board threw in the towel and resigned.
Muzahura had been previously suspended after a fist fight with John Ssempebwa the deputy CEO over budgets and power struggles.
According to Muzahura, the decision to resign had been triggered by the difficulty in serving under the prevailing circumstances both at managerial and strategic levels.
The latest disbanding of staff at the tourism board is one of the initiatives to rid UTB of the many hurdles that have rocked them over the years.
