Uganda Airlines has officially opened the search for a new Chief Executive Officer after President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni declined to renew the contract of outgoing CEO Jennifer Bamuturaki, setting the stage for a major leadership shake-up at the national carrier.
In an internal communication to staff, Bamuturaki announced that the airline’s board had resolved to re-advertise the CEO position, encouraging qualified internal and external candidates to apply. Her message, circulated alongside her official portrait and company details, signals the end of her tenure at the helm of the airline.
Sources indicate that the President’s decision followed a damning audit report that flagged several operational and management weaknesses within Uganda Airlines. The findings reportedly raised concerns at the highest levels of government, prompting a rethink of the airline’s leadership direction.
Bamuturaki’s exit marks a dramatic turn, especially given that her 2020 appointment was made without an open competitive process, a move that sparked controversy and criticism from governance watchdogs at the time.
The fresh advertisement of the top job is being widely viewed as a reset moment for Uganda Airlines, with authorities keen to project transparency and meritocracy in the selection of senior leaders at state-owned enterprises.
Meanwhile, speculation is already rife within aviation and political circles, with some insiders hinting that an experienced foreign aviation executive possibly from Ethiopia could be considered, reflecting the region’s strong aviation track record.
As scrutiny intensifies around the performance and governance of parastatals, the unfolding changes at Uganda Airlines could set a powerful precedent for how public institutions are run going forward.
