Bamuturaki Appointed Substantive CEO of Uganda Airlines

President Yoweri Museveni has ordered the appointment of Jenifer Bamuturaki as the substantive Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Airlines.

In a letter dated April 24th, 2022, Museveni made a directive on her appointment to  General Katumba Wamala, the Minister of Works and Transport.

As a result, Katumba wrote to  Priscilla Mirembe Serukka the Chairperson of the board of directors of the airline to implement the presidential directive. Katumba authored the letter on July 5.

Since it started operating commercial flights in 2019,  the (revived) Uganda National Airlines Company Ltd, trading as Uganda Airlines has been managed by Ephraim Bagenda, Cornwell Muleya and  Jenifer Bamuturaki. All three however have been acting CEOs. Bagenda, currently the   Director of Engineering and Maintenance at the airline was appointed acting CEO from January 2018 to October 2019 and was replaced by Muleya  whose contract was terminated in February this year over allegations of financial mismanagement, collusion, and nepotism in staff recruitment.

Bamuturaki replaced Muleya last May after he and 12 other top airline officials were suspended on corruption and mismanagement allegations on orders of President Yoweri Museveni. Museveni also ordered the disbandment of the board of directors chaired by Pereza Ahabwe.

Bamuturaki now becomes the first substantive CEO of the national carrier.

When our reporter called Bamuturaki about the appointment, she was upbeat about the news and pledged to give a more detailed response after attending a meeting she was chairing on Wednesday evening.

Bamuturaki has worked in the aviation and hospitality sectors for ten years including as the Commercial Director at Uganda Airlines. She also worked previously at Air Uganda and other start-up airlines and hotels.

The airline is being marketed as Uganda's flagship national passenger and cargo carrier, having been set up to enhance Uganda's competitiveness by reducing the cost of air transport and easing connectivity to and from Uganda, to support faster harnessing of opportunities in main tourism, agriculture, oil and gas and minerals.

The airline currently operates flights to ten regional destinations namely Johannesburg, Juba, Nairobi and Kinshasa and one international route; Dubai. It is expected to expand this network by next year to include London and Guanghzou.