President Yoweri Museveni has appointed 83-year-old Girma Wake as the acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Uganda Airlines.
In a directive dated 13 February 2026 to the Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala, the President cited “current leadership and management weaknesses” at the national carrier and instructed the minister to immediately formalise Wake’s appointment as a consultant and adviser.
“I hereby direct that you go ahead and appoint Mr Girma Wake as a Consultant/Advisor to assist in rectifying a number of management weaknesses in the airline,” Museveni wrote.
He added that Wake will serve as Acting CEO until July 2026, when a substantive head of the airline is expected to be appointed.
In the same directive, the President ordered the immediate stepping aside of the current CEO, Jenifer Bamuturaki.
“I also direct that the current Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ms Jenifer Bamuturaki, be enabled to step aside immediately and hand over to Mr Girma Wake and the Board of Uganda Airlines,” he wrote, adding that the Board should organise “whatever emoluments are due to her.”
Uganda Airlines was revived in 2019 to promote tourism, boost trade and restore national pride. The government invested heavily in the airline, purchasing Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft for regional routes and Airbus A330-800neo jets for long-haul flights, with the aim of turning Entebbe into a regional aviation hub.
However, despite this investment, the airline has continued to make losses and has faced criticism over governance, procurement and human resource management.
Who is Girma Wake?
Girma Wake, born in 1943, is one of Africa’s most respected aviation executives. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines from 2004 to 2011, a period during which the airline expanded rapidly and remained profitable.
During his tenure, Ethiopian Airlines focused on long-term planning, fleet modernisation and staff training, while developing Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport into a major continental hub.
He also oversaw the early introduction of modern aircraft such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and strengthened the airline’s position within the Star Alliance, expanding its global network.
Wake is widely credited with promoting strong corporate governance. Ethiopian Airlines operates on a commercial basis with a professional board, steady government support and limited political interference in daily operations—an approach often cited as the reason for its continued profitability.
After leaving the CEO role, he remained active in African aviation, serving as chairman of the Ethiopian Airlines Group board, sitting on several continental aviation bodies including RwandAir, and advising governments and airlines seeking to replicate Ethiopia’s success.
