President Museveni has formally appointed Ethiopian aviation executive Girma Wake to take charge of Uganda Airlines in an interim capacity, in a decisive move aimed at stabilising the national carrier amid mounting governance and management concerns.
In a February 13, 2026 directive to Works and Transport Minister Gen. Katumba Wamala, the President referenced “current leadership and management weaknesses in Uganda Airlines” and instructed the minister to immediately formalise Wake’s appointment as Consultant/Advisor.
“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,” Museveni wrote.
The President further directed that Wake serve as Acting Chief Executive Officer until July 2026, when a substantive CEO is expected to be appointed.
“In addition, he is to serve as Acting CEO until we appoint a new CEO by July, 2026,” Museveni stated in the letter, adding that Wake will work hand in hand with the Board until a permanent chief executive is in place.
In the same directive, Museveni ordered the immediate stepping aside of the current CEO, Jenifer Bamuturaki.
“I also direct that the current Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ms. Jenifer Bamuturaki be enabled to step aside immediately and handover to Mr. Girma Wake and the Board of Uganda Airlines,” he wrote, instructing the Board to organise “whatever emoluments are due to her.”
Wake’s appointment comes at a critical juncture for Uganda Airlines, which has faced persistent financial losses and scrutiny over governance standards since its revival in 2019 as a flagship national project to boost tourism, trade and connectivity.
The airline invested in Bombardier CRJ900 and Airbus A330-800neo aircraft to position Entebbe as a regional hub, but reports from the Auditor General and investigations by state agencies have raised concerns about procurement processes, staffing structures and management qualifications.
Wake is widely credited with transforming Ethiopian Airlines into Africa’s most profitable carrier during his tenure as CEO from 2004 to 2011.
Under his leadership, the airline modernised its fleet, expanded its global route network and strengthened corporate governance systems.
Sources within government and the aviation sector say his appointment signals a renewed push to insulate Uganda Airlines from operational inefficiencies and restore commercial discipline as the search for a substantive CEO gets underway.
With the President now directly intervening in the airline’s leadership, Uganda Airlines enters a transitional phase that government officials hope will reset management structures and chart a more sustainable path for the national carrier ahead of July 2026.
