Kampala, Uganda: President Yoweri Museveni has turned to veteran Ethiopian aviation executive Girma Wake to temporarily take over as head of national carrier, Uganda Airlines, signalling a decisive shift toward professional, hard-nosed airline management after years of losses, governance failures and political turbulence.
Wake is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most accomplished aviation executives. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines from 2004 to 2011, presiding over the airline’s transformation into Africa’s most profitable, disciplined and globally competitive carrier.
Under Wake’s stewardship, Ethiopian Airlines executed an ambitious but carefully sequenced expansion strategy that combined fleet modernisation, route diversification, and strict corporate governance. The airline inducted modern wide-body aircraft, expanded long-haul routes to Europe, Asia and North America, and entrenched Addis Ababa as a continental aviation hub.
Crucially, Wake insulated airline management from political interference, enforcing performance-based decision-making, cost control and long-term planning — a model that later became the backbone of Ethiopian Airlines’ sustained success.
Why Museveni is Turning to Wake
Museveni’s recent engagement with Wake comes after Uganda Airlines slid deeper into crisis despite massive public investment. Since its revival in 2019, government has injected nearly Shs2 trillion into the national carrier, yet the airline continues to post annual losses exceeding Shs200 billion, according to recent Auditor General reports.
The airline has also been rocked by a series of weak internal controls and audit red flags, questionable procurement and fuel contracting practices, uncontrolled salary structures and staffing gaps and leadership instability and anti-corruption probes
The exit of former CEO Jennifer Bamuturaki left the carrier exposed at a time when Uganda’s oil-driven logistics ambitions and regional competition demand operational credibility.
Against this backdrop, Museveni’s decision to engage Wake reflects a clear calculation: Uganda Airlines does not need another political manager; it needs a turnaround specialist.
What Wake Brings to Uganda Airlines
Wake is expected to serve as interim executive and consultant, while also playing a key role in identifying a substantive CEO. Sources say he will, among other roles, conduct a forensic assessment of governance and operations, recommend a lean, technically competent management team, enforce commercial discipline over political accommodation and help to rebuild credibility with financiers, suppliers and regulators.
His reputation alone sends a powerful signal to investors and creditors that Uganda Airlines may finally be entering a professional reset phase.
Why His Age Is Not the Issue
At 82, Wake’s age has attracted commentary. However, the role envisioned for him is strategic and corrective, not operational micromanagement. His value lies in judgment, institutional memory and zero-tolerance governance standards, rather than day-to-day administration.
In Ethiopian Airlines’ culture, elders with proven records often serve as stabilisers and mentors during periods of transition, a model Museveni appears keen to replicate.
The Bigger Picture
Uganda Airlines was conceived as a strategic instrument to boost tourism, trade and national prestige. The fleet, including Airbus A330-800neos and Bombardier CRJ900s, positioned Entebbe as a regional hub, but weak execution has undermined the vision.
Museveni’s outreach to Wake suggests growing impatience with excuses and a willingness to import competence where local systems have failed.
If Wake is granted real authority and shielded from political interference, his involvement could mark the most serious attempt yet to rescue Uganda Airlines from becoming a permanent fiscal burden.
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