The national carrier, Uganda Airlines, under the stewardship of Ms. Jennifer Bamuturaki as Chief Executive, is facing a growing crisis, characterised by rampant flight disruptions and a parallel stream of financial mismanagement scandals that are eroding both passenger confidence and taxpayer investment.
Recent reports have revealed multiple last-minute cancellations and severe delays, prompting public commentators to question the airline’s viability and operational capacity.
The situation is worsening, and as of today, social media is flooded with videos of several passengers stranded at Entebbe International Airport as a result of the operational challenges that Uganda Airlines is experiencing.
Uganda Airlines Operates Like a Taxi
The most immediate concern is the airline’s inability to maintain a reliable schedule, particularly on its critical regional and long-haul routes.
For instance, frustrated passengers have reported arbitrary and repeated cancellations of flights to Zanzibar.
Sudhir Byaruhanga, a renowned journalist, wrote on the social media platform X, citing a Wednesday flight to Zanzibar being pushed to Thursday, followed immediately by the Wednesday return flight from Zanzibar being delayed until midnight, only to be rescheduled again to the following day.
According to Byaruhanga, such unpredictable changes force passengers, including budget travellers, to incur high and unbudgeted costs for accommodation and extended stays.
Fleet Immobilisation
The operational crisis, according to Andrew Mwenda, also a veteran journalist, appears linked to a strained fleet and technical issues.
“The tragedy happening at Uganda Airlines is far beyond even my 2019 doomsday predictions. One plane is stuck in Lagos, another in London, passengers stranded, airline rapidly falling apart as top management loot with impunity. Even God cannot save this airline,” Mwenda wrote on X (formerly Twitter) today.
Reports indicate that one Airbus A330-800neo aircraft was grounded at London Gatwick in September 2025 due to a technical fault.
While the airline blamed global supply chain challenges for delays in sourcing spare parts, the grounding led to the cancellation of the London-Entebbe flight and subsequent disruptions on other long-haul routes like Mumbai and Dubai.
Overstretched Resources
Aviation observers point out that the small long-haul fleet, consisting of only two Airbus A330-800neos, is being overworked with minimal turnaround time. This lack of fleet depth means any single technical hiccup instantly translates into widespread delays and cancellations, affecting not just long-haul, but regional flights like those to Lagos and Abuja as well.
The airline previously admitted to crew shortages and insufficient pilots to maintain scheduled flights in early 2025, further contributing to the cancellations.
Deep-Seated Financial and Management Scandals
The operational woes are compounded by continuous exposure of financial and management irregularities in 2025, drawing intense scrutiny from the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE).
Besides the financial mismanagement, despite an increase in revenue in 2024, the airline reported a staggering net loss of Shs237.9 billion for the 2023/2024 financial year. The accumulated losses since its revival now stand at over Shs1.02 trillion, despite substantial government investment.
Ticket Manipulation Fraud
COSASE’s inquiries, based on the Auditor General’s report, revealed alarming levels of alleged fraud. The airline reportedly lost Shs140 billion due to ticket fare tampering and an additional Shs170 billion from ticket price manipulation involving airline staff and travel agencies.
Contingent Liabilities and Lawsuits
The airline faces mounting legal risks, with contingent liabilities estimated at Shs11.9 billion arising from contract terminations, negligence claims, and, most frequently, lost or delayed baggage lawsuits.
Passengers have lodged widespread complaints about severe luggage mishandling, particularly on the Johannesburg route, which the airline attributes to being “overwhelmed.”
Questionable Fleet Choices
Lawmakers have also grilled management over the initial decision to acquire the four Bombardier CRJ900 regional jets, which are now facing costly maintenance and spare parts scarcity due to the manufacturer ending the aircraft program. While Parliament recently approved supplementary funding of Shs422.26 billion for fleet expansion, including potential Boeing and Airbus acquisitions, critics demand greater transparency and accountability.
Given the airline’s current state, the combination of operational failure and alleged financial mismanagement threatens the very survival of the national carrier and the long-term viability of the significant investment made by the Ugandan government.
Please note that efforts to secure a comment from Uganda Airlines were futile as our incessant calls to their offices hadn’t been answered by press time.