By Kazibwe Jamil
Our national carrier, the Uganda Airlines, is more than a transport business. It is a symbol of national pride, sovereignty, and economic ambition. A functional national airline like this connects Uganda to global markets, supports tourism and trade, lowers the cost of doing business, creates skilled jobs, and projects a confident national image abroad. For landlocked countries like ours, aviation is not a luxury; it is strategic infrastructure.
When Uganda Airlines was revived in 2019 after nearly two decades in the wilderness, many Ugandans welcomed the decision with optimism. The airline would quickly chalk up notable achievements, including reopening key regional routes, restoring Uganda’s direct long-haul connectivity with the introduction of wide-body aircraft, and re-establishing Entebbe as a growing aviation hub in the region.
The return of direct intercontinental flights reduced travel costs, improved convenience for business and leisure travelers, and signaled that Uganda was once again serious about competing in global air transport.
In its early years, the airline delivered hope. Passenger numbers grew, brand recognition improved, and the sight of Uganda’s flag on modern aircraft inspired confidence both at home and abroad. These gains demonstrated that with sound management and political discipline, a state-backed airline can succeed.
However, that promise is now under serious threat.
In recent months, the Airline has been engulfed in unending scandals, ranging from procurement irregularities and governance failures to persistent reports of gross corruption. At the center of these controversies is the administration led by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jennifer Bamuturaki.
Instead of headlines celebrating route expansion, improved service, or operational efficiency, the airline is increasingly associated with investigations, whistleblower claims, and internal dysfunction. This is not just an internal management problem; it is an existential crisis.
An airline operates on trust; trust from passengers, partners, financiers, insurers, and regulators. Continuous allegations of corruption and mismanagement erode that trust rapidly. Leasing companies become cautious, strategic partners hesitate, and passengers quietly look elsewhere. In the highly competitive aviation industry, reputational damage is often more lethal than financial loss.
Defenders of the status quo may argue that investigations should run their course—and they should. But leadership is also about accountability. When an institution repeatedly finds itself in scandal under the same management, resignation is not an admission of guilt; it is an act of responsibility. It allows the airline to reset, restore confidence, and refocus on its core mandate.
The continued stay of the current administration has become a liability. It prolongs uncertainty, deepens public suspicion, and suffocates the airline’s ability to regain momentum. Fresh leadership, appointed transparently and on merit, offers the last real chance to stabilise operations, clean up governance, and rebuild credibility.
Beyond the airline itself, the damage spills into national politics and diplomacy. Uganda Airlines carries the country’s name into every airport it lands. When scandals trail the airline, they trail Uganda. Investors, tourists, and international partners do not separate the carrier from the state that owns it.
This is particularly damaging for the ruling National Resistance Movement at a time when the country is heading into a critical election period. The NRM has long marketed itself as a steward of stability and economic recovery. A corruption-riddled national airline undermines that narrative, handing critics powerful ammunition and weakening public confidence in government oversight of strategic assets.
Uganda Airlines can still be saved. The aircraft are there. The routes exist. The demand remains. What is missing is decisive leadership action. Allowing the current administration to continue amid relentless controversy risks turning a promising national investment into a cautionary tale.
If our NRM government truly cares about protecting national pride, public resources, and international reputation, then the responsible course is clear: the current leadership should step aside, a credible restructuring should be undertaken, and Uganda Airlines should be given a chance to fly again—free from scandal, anchored in professionalism, and worthy of the flag it carries.
The writer is a Political Analyst and Concerned Citizen
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