Senators on Tuesday, October 8, unanimously approved the nomination of 55-year-old civil engineer Jules Muheto Ndenga as CEO of Aviation Travel and Logistics Holding Limited (ATL), and backed his plan to advance Rwanda’s aviation industry. This was during a Senate plenary that deliberated on his nomination to the position that he had been holding in acting capacity – as an interim CEO – for about seven years since 2017. Ndenga was nominated by the Cabinet to the senior position on Monday, September 30. ATL is a holding company established by the Government of Rwanda in 2015 with the mission of managing aviation related activities including travel, logistics, ground, freight and cargo handling, as well as charter services. It has five subsidiaries that the government said help position Rwanda as a regional aviation hub for tourism, cargo and logistics-related activities. The subsidiary companies are: RwandAir, the national airline, Rwanda Airports Company, the airport management company, Akagera Aviation, the general aviation and training entity, Rwanda Tours and Events, the flagship of the tourism sector, and Rwanda Links Logistics, a cargo and freight handling firm. Ndenga has the responsibility to coordinate the operations of those subsidiaries under ATL. ALSO READ: RwandAir records 80% revenue growth in 2023 The senatorial Committee on Economic Development and Finance that analysed his nomination file concluded that it realised he has the knowledge, capacity, competence, expertise, as well as commitment to help him fulfill his responsibility at the helm of the firm. Targets and pledges on how company can progress While presenting the committee analysis report of Ndenga’s nomination, the Chairperson of Committee on Economic Development and Finance, Senator Fulgence Nsengiyumva, said that Ndenga told legislators that as Qatar Airways has a partnership with Rwanda, and holds about 49 per cent of shares in RwandAir, he will work closely with the Middle Eastern country’s national airline as a partner that is experienced in aviation, and enable the exchange of expertise in better airline management. His plan also includes building the capacity of staff in terms of transporting people and goods by aircraft, use of modern technology in preparing and submitting financial reports [statements] on time, and fast-tracking the construction of the new international airport in Bugesera District such that it will start being operational in 2028. It also features working with other partners to replace the old fleet by purchasing new aircraft to help provide good services to customers and flying to different destinations in the world - with Qatar Airways also being among the partners, Nsengiyumva said. Again, Nsengiyumva indicated, activities expected to be carried, include encouraging regional countries to embrace ATL services, such that Rwanda can be an aviation services hub. Senator Laetitia Nyinawamwiza, the committee Deputy Chairperson, said that Ndenga told legislators that a new strategic plan for ATL was developed. “Another thing to appreciate is that the country looked for a major partner as Qatar,” she said, indicating that for Qatar Airways to become the company it is today, it was a result of the merger of 13 companies. Senator John Bonds Bideri said that Rwanda being a landlocked country, “the leadership of our country invested a lot of efforts in building aerial transport [capacity].” “When we look at the five subsidiary companies comprising ATL, it shows us that the leadership of our country is very visionary,” he said, citing investments made such as in the expansion of Kigali International Airport, and fleet. For him, having established an academy for offering similar trainings in Rwanda [developed under Akagera Aviation Ltd], “is a good and long-term investment so that that the airport in Bugesera which will be among very large airports in Africa, we will be able to provide those services, predominantly by Rwandans.” ALSO READ: Senate backs new ATL CEO Ndenga’s aviation growth plan Senators’ recommendations To ensure better performance, senators advised Ndenga to devise a long-term plan that can help ATL to earn profits in the transport of people and goods. There is also improving services with a view to keep up the country’s good image, as well as continuing marketing ATL to enhance its reputation so that people know about its services for it to get significant profit from it. Senators recommended effective implementation of recommendations by the Auditor General of state finances for proper preparation of financial statements, compliance with laws, and improvement in ATL operations and corporate governance.
