Uganda has appointed veteran African aviation executive Ato Girma Wake as interim head of Uganda Airlines as government launches a search for a new substantive chief executive officer in a bid to stabilise the national carrier.
The leadership changes follow an audit that flagged governance and management weaknesses at the airline and come as government commits fresh funding to restructure and stabilise the carrier.
Wake’s appointment comes as the airline’s board advertised the CEO position across national and regional media, kicking off a recruitment process expected to conclude by June 2026.
The move draws a line under a difficult period for Uganda Airlines marked by governance concerns, management infighting and operational disruptions, after a board-commissioned audit completed in June 2025 identified management lapses and systemic weaknesses.
The CEO position is open to both Ugandan and non-Ugandan candidates below 60 years of age.
Applicants must possess at least a bachelor’s degree in administration, public administration, aviation management, engineering, finance, law or another business-related field, while a master’s degree, aviation-specific training and a minimum of 10 years’ senior executive experience in aviation or a related sector will be added advantages.
State Minister for Transport Fred Byamukama said the audit findings were submitted to President Yoweri Museveni last year, with management given a one-year window to address the issues raised.
“The board submitted its audit report and recommendations to the President last June,” Byamukama was quoted by local media as saying. “The President advised that management be given one year to address the issues. That period ends this June, and we have now begun the process to identify a new CEO.”
Byamukama cited persistent internal conflicts and leadership challenges as factors behind the leadership reset, noting that further accountability measures could follow as government moves to clean up the airline.
Uganda Airlines has faced criticism over flight cancellations, reputational damage and planning weaknesses, particularly after one of its Airbus A330-800neo aircraft was grounded for several weeks, disrupting long-haul operations.
Wake, 82, will serve as interim executive and consultant to the airline, subject to vetting. He met President Museveni at State House Entebbe shortly after the CEO vacancy was advertised.
In his interim role, Wake is expected to steer the airline through the transition, participate in the recruitment of a substantive CEO and help rebuild the top management team.
He is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most experienced airline executives, credited with transforming Ethiopian Airlines into a leading continental carrier.
Sources familiar with the process say Wake is expected to assemble an interim team, assess management capacity and recommend a leadership structure aimed at restoring professionalism, commercial discipline and stakeholder confidence.
Revived in 2019, Uganda Airlines was positioned as a strategic vehicle to boost tourism, trade and national prestige, backed by significant state investment in six Bombardier CRJ900 regional jets and two Airbus A330-800neo aircraft intended to position Entebbe as a regional hub.
However, the carrier has struggled to balance political expectations with commercial sustainability, drawing scrutiny over procurement, governance and human resource management.
The leadership changes come as government commits additional funding for fleet expansion, including a recently approved Shs446 billion supplementary budget.
Analysts say the airline’s success will depend more on professional management, disciplined route planning and credible corporate governance than on fleet growth alone.
By appointing Wake to guide the transition and launching an open search for a new CEO, government is signalling a more interventionist approach to stabilising the national carrier while attempting to reset its trajectory in an increasingly competitive African aviation market.
