MTN Uganda has appointed Gordian Kyomukama, currently Chief Technology Officer, as acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
This follows a confirmation from MTN that Wim Vanhelleputte, CEO of MTN Uganda, has been deported from Uganda.
Mr Vanhelleputte, a Belgian national, was deported from Uganda last evening.
In a letter signed by Internal Affairs Minister Gen Jeje Odongo, the MTN Uganda boss is to stay outside Uganda indefinitely.
In a statement released on Friday morning, MTN said it has not been notified of the grounds for the deportation and is working hard to establish precise reasons for the deportation.
“We are understandably concerned about these developments and are engaging with the authorities to seek understanding that would lead us to resolving this matter. To ensure business continuity, we have appointed Mr. Gordian Kyomukama, currently Chief Technology Officer, as Acting Chief Executive. Our focus continues to be on delivering the best quality products and services to our customers,” reads part of the statement issued by MTN group Corporate Affairs.
But police spokesperson Mr Fred Enanga yesterday said the deportation was related to threatening ‘national security.’
The incident followed earlier deportations of French Cameroonian Olivier Prentout, Rwandese Annie Bilenge Tabura, and Italian Elza Muzzolini, over national security concerns.
The three were linked to activities of supporting subversive activities backed by a foreign government using MTN Mobile Money (MOMO) and numerous unregistered SIM cards.
MTN said they were “understandably concerned about these developments and are engaging with the authorities to seek understanding that would lead us to resolving this matter.”
