Frederick Ochieng-Obbo
Frederick Ochieng-Obbo is a Senior Partner and Consultant with Frederick Francis & Associates Advocates and is a Graduate of the Institute of Air and Space Law at McGill University in Montreal, Canada where he obtained, a Diploma in Air and Space Law and a Masters Degree in Law in 1980 and 1981 respectively.
He holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree (Hons) from Makerere University in Kampala, and a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre, at Makerere.
Mr. Ochieng-Obbo is an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda, a member of the Uganda Law Society and an Associate member of the American Bar Association (ABA). He has extensive experience in the Aviation industry and a specialist knowledge of Aviation Law and has a wide commercial and management experience in corporate law and aero political matters. Mr. Ochieng-Obbo was until March last year the Chief Executive (CEO) of Africaone airlines, which suspended operations due to shareholder disagreements.
Before then he served as the Deputy Managing Director of SA Alliance Air, a regional Airline comprising South Africa, Uganda and Tanzania which post he has held since, December 1998. He was intimately involved in the negotiations for the privatisation sale of Uganda Airlines to South African Airways - which was politically blocked by Parliament and led to the withdrawal of South African Airways from the airline venture, and its closure.
Between 1995 and 1998, Mr. Ochieng-Obbo served as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for SA Alliance Air, providing a wide array of corporate legal advice to the Company. He was also responsible for the regulatory affairs of the company in the various countries where it operated and managed the international relations for the airline with IATA (International Air Transport Association) and other industry organisations.
Between 1992 - 1995, he worked with the Co-ordination Unit for the establishment of a regional Airline and has been instrumental in structuring, negotiating the constituting agreements which led to the establishment of SA Alliance Air between Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa. Mr. Ochieng-Obbo worked with Uganda Airlines Corporation between 1981 - 1992, rising from the positions of Legal Officer, Assistant Corporation Secretary and Manager Legal and Government Affairs, to that of Ag. Corporation Secretary.
Mr. Ochieng-Obbo was responsible for aero political, regulatory and international affairs. He is computer literate and possesses excellent writing and editing skills. His leisure pursuits include a keen interest in motor sports. Mr. Ochieng-Obbo is married with three children.
Experience Record
April 2003 to Date: Senior Partner and Consultant at Frederick, Francis and Associates, Advocates
Concentrating mainly on the consulting, corporate and company law practice of the firm. Assignments handled include:
- In October 2003 – February 2004 the Firm was retained as Consultants by the SPEED Project to develop the Board Policy and Staff Policy Manuals for Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU)
- In July 2003 – October 2003, the Firm was retained as Consultants by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to carry out a Review Study for the Medium Term Competitiveness Strategy Thematic Area on Commercial Justice Reform Sector.
- Between December 2000 and February 2002 was responsible for the formulation and implementation of a Business plan for the “Africaone” airline including the raising of capital and applications for and obtaining all the necessary regulatory approvals, from various countries, for the operations of the airline which he subsequently headed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
February 2002 to March 2003: Chief Executive Officer for Africaone Airlines
- Was charged with the overall management and performance of the airline and led the company through a difficult start up period in a highly challenging and highly competitive environment.
- Responsibilities included overseeing the implementation of the business plan, setting performance targets and evaluating achievement, formulation and implementation of procedures for all aspects of running the company, managing the cost base and finances of the company operations and driving the achieving of the revenue projections of the company.
- Responsible for the corporate Governance of the company and operations of its Board of Directors.
December 1998 to date: Deputy Managing Director for SA Alliance Air
- Shared responsibility for Executive Management of the Company with the South African Appointed Managing Director.
- Director Alliance Express - Rwanda Subsidiary of SA Alliance Air.
- Served on the South African Airways “Africa Strategy” Team that formulated the networking Africa Strategy for SAA.
- Led the negotiating team from South African Airways / Alliance Air that successfully negotiated the purchase of Uganda Airlines from the Uganda Government. The deal was blocked by Parliament for political reasons.
1995 to 1998: General Counsel and Corporate Secretary - SA Alliance Air
- Chief Legal Advisor to the Company and including all responsibility for shareholder relations. Corporate governance of the Company, and the regulatory affairs of the company.
- Relationship manager for IATA (International Air Transport Association) and a member of its legal Committee
1992 to 1995: Member of the Co-ordination Unit - African Joint Air Services (AJAS)
- Legal resource person to the Co-ordination Unit which prepared and steered to implementing the joint multinational Airline – AJAS - which eventually operated as SA Alliance Air.
1981 to 1992: Assistant Corporation Secretary and Manager Legal and Government Affairs, Corporation Secretary - Uganda Airlines Corporation
- Legal Advisor to the Corporation
- Responsible for Regulatory and Industry Affairs of the Corporation as Manager Legal and Government Affairs.
Education
- 1980 - 1981: LLM (Air and Space law), McGill University Montreal, Canada.
- 1979 - 1980: Diploma in Air and Space law, McGill University Montreal, Canada.
- 1977 - 1978: Diploma in Legal Practice, Makerere Law Development Centre, Kampala, Uganda.
- 1973 - 1977: LL.B Makerere University, Kampala - Uganda
Courses
- International Negotiations Skills – IATA (Geneva)
- Airline Contract Management – IATA (Geneva)