Former E.African Airways Workers Petition Speaker Over Unpaid Benefits

Former employees of East African Airways Corporation (EAAC) have petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, for non-payment of their terminal benefits over a period of 40 years.

Richard Kaggwa, the lead petitioner said that when the airline collapsed in 1977, employees were promised terminal benefits following the loss of employment.

“Since the airways collapsed, the government has only paid us 60% of our benefits. We have been to court and a Mandamus was given to the Ministry of Finance in regard to the balance of the entitlements. 93 members have so far been fully paid and the remaining 530 have never been paid the balance,” he said.

Kaggwa further informed the Speaker that the Ministry of Finance had insisted that before any other former employee of EAAC is paid, those who have already received their payments should return, in person, to the Ministry of East Africa Community Affairs, with their bank statements to confirm payment.

Speaker Kadaga in her response said that the Ministry of Finance and the Attorney General should be tasked to explain why the payment had taken that long.

In a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Finance and Office of the Attorney General, the Speaker said; “Since 1977 when the Corporation collapsed the former EAAC Members were promised their benefits which they haven’t received. They have obtained judgment and the government only paid 60%. Please do something about it.”

“These are old people who worked for this country and they deserve their benefits,” she further said.