How A Closed Door State House Meeting Sealed The Fate Of Uganda Airlines CEO Bamuturaki

What began as a routine briefing at State House in September 2025 quietly evolved into a defining moment for Uganda Airlines, setting in motion leadership changes that would later ripple through the national carrier.

According to multiple officials familiar with the meeting, the session brought together President Yoweri Museveni, members of the airline’s board and senior management to review the airline’s performance amid rising concern over finances and governance.

Those present say the discussion quickly shifted from broad operational updates to specific accountability questions, including unresolved audit issues, procurement decisions around aircraft and fuel, and growing losses at the state funded airline.

The situation, described by one participant as tense and unusually direct, reflected mounting unease at the highest level of government over the airline’s direction.

According to our inner sources, President Museveni expressed dissatisfaction with explanations offered by management and indicated that he had already received intelligence reports and a special audit highlighting serious weaknesses.

While details of the exchange remained tightly held, insiders say the President’s response made clear that confidence in the leadership had been eroded. One official recalled that the President emphasised the airline’s strategic importance and the need for discipline in managing public resources, warning that persistent governance lapses could not be ignored.

From that point, those familiar with the matter say, the continuation of Jennifer Bamuturaki’s tenure as chief executive became increasingly uncertain.

Although no immediate announcement followed the meeting, subsequent decisions pointed to a shift. In the weeks that followed, President Museveni reportedly declined to approve any extension of Bamuturaki’s contract and instead directed that the position of chief executive be opened to competition, with a call for a competent Ugandan to steer the airline forward. That directive has since been taken up by the board.

On Monday, Bamuturaki confirmed the impending transition in an internal communication to staff, indicating that the board would soon advertise the chief executive position and encouraging qualified employees to apply. The message effectively marked the close of her leadership chapter at the airline, even as formal processes unfold.

The leadership changes are taking place against the backdrop of active investigations by the Criminal Investigations Directorate working alongside the State House Anti Corruption Unit.

It should be noted that in January 2026, investigators formally sought extensive documentation from Uganda Airlines, including procurement records, contracts related to aircraft acquisition and leasing, fuel supply agreements, ticketing arrangements and revenue accounting linked to the launch of the London route.

Audit findings reviewed during the State House engagement reportedly highlighted losses running into millions of dollars, including passenger charges that continued to be collected after being scrapped and ticketing practices that raised conflict of interest concerns.

Officials say these issues deepened the sense that decisive intervention was needed to protect public funds and restore confidence in the airline.

Neither Uganda Airlines nor Bamuturaki has issued a detailed public response to the investigations, though she has previously maintained that management decisions were guided by the airline’s growth strategy.

As inquiries continue, the episode underscores the challenges facing a national carrier expected to balance commercial viability with the weight of public accountability, and signals a renewed push from State House to tighten oversight of institutions funded by taxpayers.