How Girma Wake steadied Uganda Airlines in seven months!

What the report says

Watchdog Uganda reports that Uganda Airlines has made a marked operational turnaround since Girma Wake took over as consultant and acting chief executive in February 2026. The piece says he was brought in after a period of heavy disruption, when aircraft were grounded, maintenance relationships had broken down and delays and cancellations had damaged the carrier’s reputation and finances.

According to the report, Wake is an experienced aviation executive with past leadership roles at Ethiopian Airlines and RwandAir. The article describes him as a short-term rescue appointment intended to stabilize the state-owned carrier while a permanent successor is identified. It also notes that he later appeared before Parliament’s COSASE committee alongside former chief executive Jennifer Bamuturaki, where he outlined efforts to reopen maintenance channels, restore aircraft serviceability and tighten operational discipline.

The reported changes include fewer cancellations, more reliable regional and long-haul service, improved punctuality and better on-board service. The story also says passenger and cargo demand on some routes has strengthened, including Entebbe–London, and that airport operations now appear more orderly. Watchdog Uganda frames the development as significant because Uganda Airlines is still rebuilding and needs stronger technical, commercial and maintenance capacity to become financially sustainable.

The article adds broader context about the airline’s past image and management problems, while cautioning that long-term success will depend on whether Uganda can retain capable leadership and build on the current recovery.