By Kabuye Ronald
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed the appointment of Girma Wake as Acting Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Airlines, in a decisive move aimed at addressing what he described as “current leadership and management weaknesses” at the national carrier.
In a letter dated February 13, 2026, addressed to Gen. Katumba Wamala, the Minister of Works and Transport, the President instructed that Wake be appointed as a Consultant and Advisor to support reforms within the airline’s management structures.
“In addition, he is to serve as Acting CEO until we appoint a new CEO by July 2026, as I had agreed with Ramadhan,” Museveni wrote.
Wake, a veteran aviation executive with extensive experience in airline management, will work closely with the Board of Directors until a substantive Chief Executive Officer is appointed.
The directive also orders the immediate stepping aside of the current CEO, Jenifer Bamuturaki. Museveni instructed that Bamuturaki hand over office to Wake and the Board without delay. The Board has been directed to organize and settle any emoluments due to her.
The changes signal a major leadership transition at Uganda Airlines as the government moves to stabilize and strengthen the carrier’s operations. The airline, which was revived in 2019 as part of Uganda’s broader economic and infrastructure development strategy, has faced operational and management challenges in recent years.
The appointment of Wake is widely seen as an effort to inject seasoned international aviation expertise into the airline’s leadership as the government works toward appointing a substantive CEO by mid-2026.
