KAMPALA, UGANDA – The leadership of Uganda’s national carrier, Uganda Airlines, faces imminent change, with an official announcement expected soon regarding the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The development follows prolonged scrutiny over the airline’s financial performance and recent accountability concerns involving its top executive, CEO Ms. Jennifer Bamuturaki.
Jennifer Bamuturaki, who had served as Acting CEO since 2021, was officially appointed by President Museveni in July 2022, succeeding a CEO dismissed for corruption and mismanagement.
However, her tenure has been consistently marked by the airline’s financial struggles and questions of accountability. Most notably, in September 2022, she was summoned before Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE), then chaired by Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi.
The committee demanded a clear explanation for a $12,750 advance paid to the CEO in June 2021 for an international multi-country trip that was subsequently cancelled.
It was revealed that the per diem, drawn for official travel, was neither used for its intended purpose nor refunded to the public coffers, raising significant concerns over financial stewardship.
Pressure on the CEO intensified following a September 2024 State House meeting, where sources allege the visibly displeased chair told Ms. Bamuturaki to “count her days” in the job over a series of managerial failures.
The airline’s financial records provide a contentious backdrop. Uganda Airlines reported a substantial loss of Shs 237.855 billion (approximately $63.4 million) for the 2023/24 financial year.
This marked a 26% reduction from the previous year’s loss, yet still underscored the airline’s significant financial challenges, which CEO Jennifer Bamuturaki attributed to high global fuel costs, crew allowances, and aircraft depreciation.
Amid ongoing losses, the carrier had shown operational growth. Preliminary 2024/25 figures indicate a 17% revenue increase to Shs 430.8 billion, driven by a 23% surge in passenger numbers, reaching 515,000.
Despite these pockets of growth, the combined weight of accountability questions and sustained financial losses appears to have precipitated a decision for change at the helm.
Highly placed sources confirm plans are underway to announce a new Chief Executive Officer, signaling a decisive government intervention to recalibrate the leadership of the strategic national asset toward stability and profitability.
The development marks a critical juncture for Uganda Airlines as it navigates the complex recovery of the global aviation industry and seeks to fulfill its role as a flagship carrier for the nation.
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