President Yoweri Museveni has allowed MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Wim Vanhelleputte, who was deported from Uganda in February days after his four juniors were sent packing to return to Uganda, Don Wanyama, a senior presidential press secretary announced on Twitter Thursday evening.
According to Wanyama’s tweet, Vanhelleputte will resume his duties as CEO. Gordian Kyomukama, the telco’s chief technology officer, has been the acting CEO.
“Following discussions with MTN Group top management, President @KagutaMuseveni has exercised his executive discretion and allowed @mtnug CEO, Wim Vanhelleputte, back into the country. He is expected to resume his duties. @newvisionwire @nbstv @ubctvuganda,” reads the tweet.
Following discussions with MTN Group top management, President @KagutaMuseveni has exercised his executive discretion and allowed @mtnug CEO, Wim Vanhelleputte, back into the country. He is expected to resume his duties. @newvisionwire @nbstv @ubctvuganda
— Don Wanyama (@nyamadon) May 30, 2019
As already reported by this website, President Museveni on May 13 met with MTN Group Chairman Phuthuma Nhleko and Rob Shuter, the Group CEO to discuss wide-ranging issues that have plagued Uganda’s largest telecommunications company.
It was this year that the situation got worse when four senior officers were deported and the company is still struggling to have its license renewed.
But the recent meeting, according to reports, cast a brighter future for the telco after the president who had questioned the decisions taken by authorities to renew MTN Uganda’s license finally decided to remove himself from the negotiations and handed over the remaining part to the Ministry of Finance and Uganda Communications Commission.
The speculations about Wim Vanhelleputte’s return started emerging when MTN Uganda advertised posts of other deported officials and left out that of CEO.
Commenting on his return on Twitter, MTN Group CEO Rob Shuter said: “We are very grateful for the support and goodwill that has made this possible. We are so pleased that Wim can be reunited firstly with his wife and family and secondly with his @mtnug family. Welcome home Wim.”
We are very grateful for the support and goodwill that has made this possible. We are so pleased that Wim can be reunited firstly with his wife and family and secondly with his @mtnug family. Welcome home Wim.
— Rob Shuter (@ShuterRob) May 30, 2019
