Reports indicate that Jennifer Bamuturaki has been named as the new CEO of Uganda Airlines.
Since the company suspended and eventually fired former CEO Cornwell Muleya, some board members, and other employees amid claims of corruption and poor management, Ms. Bamuturaki has been acting as interim CEO for more than a year.
In a letter dated July 5 to the head of the Uganda Airlines board, the works and transport minister, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, said that Yoweri Museveni, the president, had ordered the appointment of Bamuturaki.
The substantially redesigned national carrier must now be guided by Bamuturaki to greater heights in the congested East African airspace.
Bamuturaki had served as the airline’s commercial director when it had only recently resumed operations in 2019 but was fired by the board for alleged underperformance. She has more than 30 years of experience as a marketing consultant in the airline, hospitality, and leisure industries.
She completed her coursework at Makerere University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and Social Administration.
Along with training in revenue management, she also holds certifications in IATA sales training for airlines, hotel sales, and marketing.
She was appointed the airline’s Commercial Manager when Uganda National Airlines Company was established in 2019.
She is recognised with advocating for the establishment of new regional and international destinations as well as Dubai, London, and Guangzhou to the airline’s network.
Ms. Bamuturaki previously served as a country manager for East African Airlines and the commercial division of the now-defunct Air Uganda for seven years.
Cornwell Muleya, the former CEO of Uganda Airlines, was detained and charged with violating the Inspectorate of Government’s instructions two weeks ago. He was, however, freed on bond a few days later.
The Inspectorate of Government is looking into a number of instances of public officials at Uganda National Airlines Company (UNAC) misusing public monies between May and June of this year.
In 2019, Muleya was chosen to lead Uganda Airlines. His problems, however, began on April 21, 2021, when Works Minister Katumba Wamala compelled him and 12 other top employees to take a leave of absence.
On Yoweri Museveni’s direction, his employment as CEO of Uganda Airlines was terminated earlier this year.
This comes weeks after the Airlines were granted landing privileges at southern China’s Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.
Additionally, Uganda Airlines just obtained authorisation to begin operations to Heathrow Airport in London, UK.