President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed a leadership restructuring at Uganda Airlines, ordering the appointment of veteran aviation executive Girma Wake as acting chief executive officer to address what he described as management weaknesses at the national carrier. The directive was issued in a February 13, 2026 communication to Works and Transport Minister Gen Katumba Wamala.
In the directive, Girma Wake is expected to serve as consultant and interim CEO until a substantive chief executive is appointed, with government targeting July 2026 for completion of the recruitment process. The President said the move is intended to stabilise management and strengthen operational efficiency at the airline.
The communication also orders current CEO Jennifer Bamuturaki to step aside and hand over leadership responsibilities to the interim arrangement. She has led the national carrier since July 2022, following an earlier stint as acting chief executive.
Ms Bamuturaki is a Ugandan corporate executive with experience in aviation, hospitality and marketing, having previously served as commercial director at the airline and worked with Air Uganda and other regional aviation businesses. She holds academic qualifications from Makerere University and industry certifications, and has been associated with route expansion and commercial strategy at the carrier.
Her tenure has nonetheless faced scrutiny over governance, financial performance and operational challenges at the airline, which has continued to post losses and attract parliamentary oversight. These issues have kept the national carrier under sustained public and legislative attention.
Such oversight has largely been conducted by Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), chaired by Joel Ssenyonyi. The committee is mandated to scrutinise financial management, governance practices and accountability in public institutions, including state-owned enterprises.
Mr Wake, who previously led Ethiopian Airlines between 2004 and 2011, is widely credited with helping transform that carrier into one of Africa’s most competitive airlines through fleet expansion, route growth and disciplined management. His appointment signals government’s intention to draw on regional aviation expertise.
Analysts say leadership stability will be critical as Uganda Airlines seeks to consolidate regional routes, expand international connections and improve financial sustainability amid stiff competition from established African carriers. The airline remains a strategic national investment aimed at boosting tourism, trade and connectivity.
The latest directive therefore marks a significant transition for the national carrier, with government signalling renewed focus on governance reforms and operational efficiency as Uganda positions its airline within an increasingly competitive continental aviation market.
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