Aviation expert Capt Francis Babu has cautioned that replacing the Chief Executive of Uganda Airlines will not be sufficient to address the national carrier’s persistent challenges, calling for the appointment of a specialised task force with strong technical expertise and industry experience.
Speaking amid leadership uncertainty at the airline, Babu said Uganda Airlines’ problems are structural and strategic, tracing back to its relaunch in 2019, and require deeper reforms beyond executive changes.
“A change of the CEO alone is not a solution,” Babu said. “What Uganda Airlines needs is a small, highly skilled task force with experience in aviation operations, fleet management and route planning to revamp the national carrier.”
Uganda Airlines was relaunched in 2019 as the country’s flag carrier after decades of absence but has since grappled with financial pressure, operational setbacks and internal management disputes. The airline’s board has recently initiated a process to replace its top executive, citing the need for a new strategic direction.
Babu argued that many of the airline’s challenges were embedded at inception, pointing to what he described as poor strategic decisions that weakened its competitiveness in the regional aviation market.
“These gaps cannot be solved by credentialism,” he said. “You do not fix an airline by appointing people because of their status. You fix it with experience, technical knowledge and an understanding of how airlines actually work.”
He also highlighted Uganda Airlines’ small fleet size and high maintenance costs as major constraints, urging management to prioritise aircraft leasing over outright ownership.
“With the current fleet, maintenance costs are extremely high,” Babu said. “Leasing aircraft would significantly reduce these costs and give the airline flexibility as it grows.”
Babu further advised that the airline should refocus on profitable regional routes before pursuing further expansion, arguing that regional traffic provides the most reliable passenger volumes.
“You must understand and prioritise regional routes first,” he said. “That is where consistent passenger traffic is, and that is how airlines in this region survive and grow.”
He criticised the appointment of senior executives without aviation backgrounds, warning that such decisions have led to inefficiencies and wasted public resources.
“Appointing personnel from the business world without aviation skills and experience is a waste of resources,” Babu said. “An airline is not run like a general business. It is a highly technical operation.”
Uganda Airlines has not publicly responded to Babu’s remarks, but the comments add pressure on government and the airline’s board as they consider the carrier’s next leadership and long-term strategic direction.
