Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has fired the CEO of Uganda Airlines and named a replacement to take over the operations of the national carrier on an interim basis.
In a directive addressed to General Katumba Wamala, the Minister of Works and Transport, Museveni directed a leadership shift that will see Girma Wake, former CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, take over as interim CEO.
Jeniffer Bamuturaki, who had been serving as the Airline’s CEO, will exit and immediately hand over to Wake, according to the directive by President Museveni.
According to Museveni, Girma Wake will be onboarded as a consultant to assist in rectifying the management shortcomings in the Airline.
“I hereby direct that you go ahead and appoint Mr. Girma Wake as a consultant/Advisor to assist in rectifying a number of management weaknesses in the airline,” the directive read.
Girma will serve as the acting CEO until a new CEO is appointed in July.
“Mr Girma Wake will work hand in hand with the Board until a substantive Chief Executive Officer is appointed,” the letter signed by President Museveni read in part.
The Board of Uganda Airlines was authorized to organize and provide emoluments for Jeniffer Bamuturaki.
Uganda Airlines Management under investigation
The leadership and management changes at Uganda Airlines were prompted by an investigation into abuse of office, embezzlement of funds, and false accounting by officials at the airline.
Uganda Airlines faced fleet limitations due to a lack of spare parts, leading to flight cancellations and delays during Jeniffer’s tenure.
In a letter dated January 7, 2026, Uganda’s Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) confirmed that it was investigating the alleged abuse of office involving the Uganda Airlines officials.
Deputy CID director Fred Lumala signed the official statement on the investigation into Uganda Airlines management.
The letter, referenced as CID/ACU/395/25, was addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Airlines and demanded certified copies of key documents to aid the investigation.
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Key documents required for the investigation
CEO Jeniffer Bamuturaki was to provide the following documents:
- National Airline Business
- Implementation plan
- Budget for the 2024/2025 Financial Year
- Contracts Committee minutes showing approval of the purchase of Boeing aircraft
- Procurement Files for Mixjet Flight Support Services, Associated Energy Group, Nyanzi Tours and Travel, Aircraft Leasing Services Limited, and the construction of Uganda Airlines offices in Entebbe
- Internal audit report for FY 2024/2025
- Revenue accounting
- Banking and cash receipts
- Fue l expenditure transactions
- List of companies that supported the launch of the Uganda Airlines London route.
- Ticketing records
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The probe into the criminal investigation was conducted as the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority separately planned to investigate Uganda Airlines over flight cancellations and delays, particularly during the December period.
The approval of 422.26 billion Ugandan Shillings (KSh15.37 billion) in supplementary funding for the 2025/26 financial year to expand the airline’s fleet had sparked a debate in parliament in December 2025.
Member of parliament of Kira Municipality, Ibrahim Ssemujju, requested a detailed acquisition plan.
Uganda Airlines currently operates a fleet of seven aircraft, comprising two Airbus A330-800neo wide-body jets, four Bombardier CRJ-900LR regional aircraft, and a wet-leased Airbus A320-200 to augment capacity.
It serves about 17 regional and international destinations.
About Jeniffer Bamuturaki
Jeniffer Bamuturaki is the former CEO of Uganda Airlines, a position she has held since July 2022.
She held the position first as an acting CEO before the formal appointment.
She began her professional career as a country manager at Imperial Botanical Hotel in July 1995, then moved to the Sheraton Hotel between 1996 and 2000.
At the Kampala Sheraton Hotel in 1998, she worked as Assistant Manager before rising to the position of Group and Banquet Coordinator in 1999, and later a sales manager.
Her first role in the airline industry was at East African Airlines, where she served as Country Manager from September 2000 to September 2003. Between 2006 and 2007, she served as Sales Manager of iTravel Agency in Kampala.
About Girma Wake
On his part, Girma Wake is an experienced and respected airline executive, closely tied to the rise of Ethiopian Airlines and the current acting CEO of Uganda Airlines.
He was born in 1943 in Addis Ababa and joined Ethiopian Airlines in 1965 as an aircraft maintenance engineer.
In 2004, he was appointed chief executive officer of Ethiopian Airlines, a position he held until 2011.
Later, he returned to Ethiopian Airlines as board chairman until 2023.
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