KAMPALA. The State House Anti-Corruption Unit has instituted investigations into the operations of Uganda Airlines .
In a letter dated January 7 and addressed to Uganda Airlines chief executive officer Jenifer Bamuturaki, the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), working jointly with the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, formally requested extensive financial and procurement records from Uganda Airlines.
The inquiry centres on alleged abuse of office, embezzlement of funds, and false accounting linked to the airline’s financial transactions.
Investigators are seeking board-approved business plans, budgets for the 2024/25 financial year, contracts linked to the acquisition of Boeing aircraft, and procurement files covering key suppliers, including fuel, ground handling, travel, and aircraft leasing services.
The letter, signed by Fed Lumala on behalf of the CID deputy director economics fraud and anticorruption, also asks for detailed banking records, ticketing accounts, expenditure reports, and a list of companies involved in supporting the launch of the London route—one of the airline’s most high-profile and capital-intensive ventures.
The request underscores intensifying scrutiny of Uganda Airlines, which has struggled to balance its strategic national role with mounting financial pressure.
Since its revival in 2019, the state-owned carrier has relied heavily on government support to fund fleet expansion, route launches, and operational costs.
While officials have consistently defended the airline as a long-term investment in tourism, trade and connectivity, critics have raised concerns about persistent losses, governance weaknesses and opaque procurement processes.
Government has, since its revival, invested close to Shs1 trillion, but mounting losses, despite improved income margins, have remained a spotlight on the operations of the airline.
Operational disruptions, route suspensions and questions around aircraft utilisation have periodically fueled public debate about whether the airline is delivering value for money.
The London route, in particular, was launched amid optimism but has remained under the spotlight due to high operating costs and stiff competition on the long-haul market.
Ministry of Works and Transport Permanent Secretary Waiswa Bageya said on Saturday that he would not comment on the investigation, referring our inquiries to the chairperson of the Uganda Airlines Board.
However, repeated attempts to reach her through her known phone contacts remained unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, Ms Natasha Mariam, confirmed the authenticity of the investigation, saying: “It is genuine. That is what I can say for now.”
The latest investigation does not in itself establish wrongdoing. Still, it places Uganda Airlines at the center of a broader government push to tighten oversight of public enterprises and curb financial mismanagement.
The inquiry comes at a delicate moment when the airline is seeking to stabilize operations and justify continued public investment, which could inflame an already fragile operational environment.