Uganda Airlines hit with stalled Shs 3bn media probe

What the report says

The Observer reports that Uganda Airlines is facing internal unease after leadership changes and an apparent halt to a Shs 3 billion inquiry into spending meant to improve the national carrier’s public image. The outlet says the turmoil followed the February 2026 departure of former chief executive Jennifer Bamuturaki, with current CEO Girma Wake now leading a management team said to be dealing with boardroom and staffing tensions.

According to The Observer, sources inside the airline described disputes over the non-renewal of contracts for people viewed as Bamuturaki allies, as well as concerns about the recruitment of Uganda National Oil Company staff into key roles at the airline. The report also says some insiders believe Wake is strongly focused on performance targets, while other internal manoeuvres have contributed to mistrust within the organisation.

The central issue is a procurement-related probe that Bamuturaki reportedly ordered in January 2026 into how Shs 3 billion allocated for public relations and media image management was used. The Observer says the inquiry was assigned to a senior internal audit official and was expected to produce a report within three months, but stalled after Bamuturaki left office the following month.

The newspaper cites sources alleging that officials who had handled the funds benefited from her removal and worked to stop the inquiry, including by pressuring the audit official before his contract renewal in April 2026. The Observer says no progress report has since been issued, and that attempts to contact airline spokesperson Shakilah Lamar were unsuccessful. The claims matter because Uganda Airlines is a state-owned carrier whose governance and spending remain matters of public accountability.