Africa-Press – Uganda. Daily Monitor journalist Joel Mukisa has said that recent developments at Uganda Airlines demonstrate the growing influence of public opinion in shaping decisions at key national institutions.
Speaking during NBS Media Roundtable on Friday, Mukisa argued that sustained public scrutiny and debate were central to the changes now unfolding at the national carrier.
“I don’t think we would have had changes at Uganda Airlines without the people of Uganda speaking,” Mukisa said.
His remarks come as Uganda Airlines enters a critical transition period following the departure of Chief Executive Jenifer Bamuturaki, whose tenure ended amid investigations by the Criminal Investigations Directorate and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit.
Bamuturaki stepped aside after President Museveni ordered probes into alleged mismanagement at the state-owned airline, reigniting public debate over whether Uganda Airlines’ struggles stem from individual leadership failures or deeper, systemic governance weaknesses.
In recent days, speculation has circulated over the possible appointment of a former Ethiopian Airlines chief executive to lead Uganda Airlines.
However, the Office of the President moved to clarify that no appointment has been made, following a wave of social media posts that prematurely announced a leadership change.
The clarification followed a high-profile meeting at State House Entebbe, where former Ethiopian Airlines CEO Girma Wake met President Museveni to discuss aviation management and share insights from his decades-long experience in the sector.
After the meeting, some government officials shared photographs with Wake and suggested he had been appointed, prompting a formal correction from the President’s office.
Bamuturaki’s exit comes after years of sustained scrutiny of Uganda Airlines’ operations. Auditor-General reports have repeatedly flagged weak governance structures at the airline, including the absence of an approved staff establishment, salary disparities, and persistent financial losses.
In 2024, Bamuturaki appeared before Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises, where she was asked to present her academic documents as part of parliamentary oversight of public entities.
Despite the controversy, Uganda Airlines continued operations under her leadership until the latest developments.
Analysts and industry experts caution that leadership changes alone may not resolve the airline’s challenges, warning that without stronger governance frameworks and insulation from political interference, any incoming management team could face the same structural problems.
Revived in 2019 as a symbol of national pride and economic ambition, Uganda Airlines operates a fleet of seven aircraft across 17 regional and international destinations from its hub at Entebbe International Airport.
The airline now faces a defining moment as government weighs reforms aimed at restoring public confidence and achieving financial sustainability.
Source: Nilepost News
