Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has appointed veteran aviation executive and former CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Girma Wake, as interim CEO and advisor of Uganda Airlines, following the departure of former CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki earlier this month.
Wake, 82, is expected to lead the national carrier on an interim basis until July 2026 as part of efforts to stabilize the airline’s operations and management. In addition to overseeing day-to-day leadership, he will guide the recruitment and vetting process for the next CEO.
Bamuturaki, who assumed the role in 2022, stepped down amid mounting scrutiny over the airline’s financial performance and persistent losses. The carrier has also faced public criticism over operational challenges, including missed flights, repeated schedule changes and limited passenger support at Entebbe International Airport.
In a Feb. 13 directive to Works and Transport Minister Gen. Katumba Wamala, Museveni referenced “current leadership and management weaknesses in Uganda Airlines” and instructed the minister to formalize Wake’s new appointment.
“I hereby direct that you go ahead and appoint Girma Wake as a consultant/advisor to assist in rectifying a number of management weaknesses in the airline,” Museveni said in the directive.
Uganda Airlines, which was revived in 2019 after nearly two decades of inactivity, operates two 258-seat Airbus A330-800 widebody aircraft for long-haul routes and four 76-seat Bombardier CRJ900 jets for regional services.
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