Uganda’s biggest telco MTN have welcomed back their deported chief executive officer Wim Vanhelleputte almost three months since his unceremonious departure.
The Belgian returned to Kampala on Wednesday, sources stating that Mr Vanhelleputte made a written commitment that he would “never be involved in politics again” in Uganda.
In a statement issued yesterday, Mr Shuter said: “MTN confirms that the President has exercised executive discretion to permit MTN CEO Wim Vanhelleputte’s unconditional return to Uganda.”
Mr Museveni’s senior press secretary, Mr Don Wanyama, in a tweet confirmed the development.
“Following discussions with the MTN Group top management, the President has exercised his executive discretion and allowed the MTN CEO, Wim Vanhelleputte, back into the country. He is expected to resume his duties,” Mr Wanyama said.
Mr Vanhelleputte departure followed the deportation of the telecom company’s chief marketing officer, Mr Olivier Prentout (French), Italian Elsa Mussolini, the general manager for mobile money and Annie Tabura (Rwandan), the general manager for sales and distribution in January over what government called activities that undermined national security.
Mr Vanhelleputte later petitioned court challenging his deportation and the process used by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to ship him out.
He contended that he was never accorded a fair hearing.
