By Our Reporter
NATIONAL
News reaching our DESK indicate that President Museveni has fired and or caused the resignation of embattled Uganda Airlines CEO, Jenifer Bamuturaki.
Bamuturaki who led Uganda Airlines since July 2022, is reported to have announced her exit to staff on February 2, 2026, as a probe by Uganda’s Criminal Investigations Directorate and State House Anti-Corruption Unit examines allegations of abuse of office, embezzlement, and false accounting.
The airline, revived in 2019, posted a Shs230.81 billion loss for 2024/25 amid cumulative shortfalls over Shs1 trillion, with auditors noting issues like unbanked fees and questionable ticketing. President Museveni refused to extend her contract and pushed for competitive hiring, while reactions range from calls to bring in Ethiopian Airlines executives to concerns over systemic patronage in state firms.
Renowned journalist, Andrew Mwenda also posted on his X-Handle today, 3rd February, 2026 thanking President Museveni for finally saving Uganda Airlines by firing its corrupt and incompetent CEO.
Mwenda, a close ally of CDF General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, also attributes the decision to the First Son who he says intervened decisively.
“I would like to thank @KagutaMuseveni for finally saving Uganda Airlines by firing its corrupt and incompetent CEO. I also thank
@mkainerugaba whose intervention was decisive. It will be great if former Ethiopian Airways CEO, Gilma Wake, takes over as chairman of the board and the current CEO of the same airline, whose contract in Addis Ababa ends this June, takes over as CEO. We also need a new much more competent board. Today is a day for Ugandans to celebrate. All the good, competent and patriotic staff of UA who had been fired will be returned. Those who were working inside and provided us all the needed information will be rewarded. And all those who colluded with the corrupt management to swindle our airline will be brought to book.” Writes Mwenda.
Additional Reporting by Bamwita Sadique
The decision to knife her followed a State House meeting that sat in September 2025 that reviewed piling governance failures, disputed aircraft procurement decisions and increased financial losses at the national airlines.
On Monday February 2,2026, embattled Bamuturaki internally communicated to her staff via email saying bye bye to them.
Bamuturaki bowed to pressure after the Uganda Police Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit intensified investigations against her over alleged abuse of office, embezzlement of funds and false accounting involving airline officials.
In an internal email circulated to her staff on Monday afternoon February 2,2026, Bamuturaki informed her juniors that the airline’s Board would soon advertise the position of Chief Executive Officer, a clear indication that her tenure is soon ending.
“The Board will advertise the position of Chief Executive Officer shortly, and you are all encouraged to apply if you meet the required qualifications,” Bamuturaki communicated to her staff.
It should be recalled that on January 7, 2026, the Deputy CID boss Fred Lumala penned a letter to Uganda Airlines demanding extensive procurement, revenue and banking records.The letter was copied to the Head of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, underlining the seriousness of the matter.
The letter dated January 7,2026, states:
“The Criminal Investigations Directorate in liaison with State House Anti-Corruption Unit is currently investigating a case of abuse of office, embezzlement of funds and false accounting against officials of Uganda Airlines relating to financial transactions,” the letter states.
In the letter , the CID requested, among other documents: contracts Committee minutes approving the purchase of Boeing aircraft, procurement files for fuel suppliers, aircraft leasing firms and ticketing agents; revenue accounting, banking and cash-receipt records and internal audit reports and expenditure linked to the launch of the London route.
Audit Report implicates Bamuturaki in causing financial loss
A special audit found that more than $9.2 million (about Shs35 billion) in service fees continued to be charged to passengers after management scrapped the levy in July 2023. Auditors reported no evidence the money was banked, raising concerns of possible misappropriation.
Ticketing operations were also flagged after audits showed that agencies linked to airline staff including Nyanza Tours and Travel controlled over 90% of deeply discounted ticket classes, potentially suppressing airline revenue and breaching conflict of interest rules.
Fuel procurement contracts and aircraft leasing arrangements were similarly raised as areas of concern.
