Museveni Appoints Ethiopian Aviation Veteran as Uganda Airlines Acting CEO
President cites management weaknesses, orders current CEO to step aside immediately
KAMPALA, UGANDA — President Yoweri Museveni has appointed veteran Ethiopian aviation executive Girma Wake as Consultant/Acting Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Airlines, effective immediately, according to a presidential directive dated February 13, 2026.
The directive, addressed to Minister of Works and Transport Gen. Katumba Wamala, cites “current leadership and management weaknesses in Uganda Airlines” as the basis for the leadership change.
“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. In addition, he is to serve as Acting CEO until we appoint a new CEO by July, 2026,” Museveni wrote.
The President also ordered that current CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki “be enabled to step aside immediately and handover to Mr. Girma Wake and the Board of Uganda Airlines.” The Board has been instructed to organize her emoluments.
Wake brings extensive aviation experience to the role, having served as CEO of Ethiopian Airlines from 2004 to 2011, where he led the carrier’s transformation into Africa’s largest and most profitable airline. His interim appointment comes amid reported probes into procurement irregularities and approximately $9 million in untraced fees at the national carrier.
The state-owned airline, relaunched in 2019 to boost Uganda’s tourism and trade sectors, has faced significant financial challenges, reporting losses of $62 million last year despite substantial fleet investments including the acquisition of Airbus A330-800neo jets.
Officials view Wake’s appointment as critical to implementing reforms ahead of Uganda’s anticipated oil production surge, which is expected to increase demand for air transport services.
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