ENTEBBE.
President Museveni has appointed former Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr Girma Wake, as a consultant and acting Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Airlines.
A Monday evening statement from the State House revealed that Mr Girma had been appointed to fill management gaps at Uganda’s struggling national carrier following the exit of Jenifer Bamuturaki.
“Reference is made to the current leadership and management weaknesses in Uganda Airlines. 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. In addition, he is to serve as Acting CEO until we appoint a new CEO by July 2026, as I had agreed with Ramadhan,” Mr Museveni said in a February 13, 2026 letter addressed to the Minister of Transport and Works, Gen Katumba Wamala.
According to the President, Mr Wake will work hand in hand with the Board until a substantive Chief Executive Officer is appointed.
“I also direct that the current Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ms Jenifer Bamuturaki, be enabled to step aside immediately and handover to Mr Girma Wake and the Board of Uganda Airlines. The Board should go ahead and organise whatever emoluments are due to her,” he said.
The development comes days after Mr Museveni met Mr Wake and a Ugandan pilot based in Canada, Robert Kateera, at State House on February 4, 2026, following the exit of embattled Bamuturaki, who had been at the helm of the airlines since July 2022.
Ms Bamuturaki’s tenure, which has been characterised by scandals, coupled with the airline’s continuous losses, will end in July this year.
Mr Wake previously served as CEO of Ethiopian Airlines (2004–2011), where he played a pivotal role in transforming the carrier into the global powerhouse it is today.
He is widely respected for transforming Ethiopian Airlines into Africa’s most profitable and globally competitive carrier through disciplined management, fleet modernisation, and strategic route expansion.
In a November 2018 interview with this publication, Mr Wake advised the Ugandan government not to meddle in the day-to-day operations of Uganda Airlines if the national carrier is to succeed.
He said the new management team at the time required is relevant manpower, adequate resourcing and proper regulation and operational framework.