In July 2025, Uganda Airlines Chief Executive Officer Jenifer Bamuturaki circulated an internal memo announcing plans to lead a delegation to the United States for negotiations with aircraft manufacturer Boeing.
Her selected team included Chief Commercial Officer Adedayo Olawuyi, his aide Brenda Ninsiima, and two other officers. Notably absent were technical experts such as engineers, maintenance staff, or pilots.
Bamuturaki later wrote to Boeing requesting an official invitation letter to facilitate visa applications through the U.S. embassy in Kampala. But Boeing’s response raised eyebrows: the manufacturer questioned why a delegation sent to discuss multi-million-dollar aircraft acquisitions lacked any technical personnel.
The letter soon leaked to State House and the airline’s board, which swiftly blocked the trip.
For many in Uganda’s aviation sector, the incident reinforced long-standing concerns about mismanagement, inflated contracts, and alleged corruption at the national carrier under Bamuturaki’s leadership.
The Boeing Push
Confidential correspondences seen by Bossip Ug show that whistleblowers petitioned the Inspector General of Government (IGG), accusing Bamuturaki of attempting to push Uganda Airlines away from its Airbus strategy in favour of Boeing aircraft—contrary to the airline’s 2018 Cabinet-approved Business and Implementation Plan.
That plan endorsed Airbus for both long-haul and mid-range routes, citing cost-efficiency, operational optimisation, and fleet commonality.
Minutes of a June 17, 2025 meeting at the Ministry of Finance reveal deep divisions between senior technical staff and Bamuturaki’s executive team over new aircraft proposals.
Technical directors, including the Chief Pilot, Head of Flight Operations, and Director of Maintenance, have consistently recommended Airbus A320-321neo jets as the best fit for Uganda Airlines’ expansion.
Despite these views, insiders say Bamuturaki—backed by Olawuyi, the Head of Human Resources, and the Chief Finance Officer—pushed for Boeing acquisitions. These allegedly included a 22-year-old Boeing 737-800 cargo plane priced at USD 31 million, about USD 11 million above earlier valuations, along with proposals for four Boeing 787 passenger jets and several 737 Max aircraft.
Technical staff warned that the cargo jet’s engines were nearing mandatory replacement, but their advice was ignored. Aviation experts caution that a mixed Boeing-Airbus fleet would burden Uganda Airlines with higher training, maintenance, and operational costs.
Proponents of the shift reportedly argued that President Yoweri Museveni had directed the consideration of Boeing—though ChimpReports has seen no evidence of such a directive. Boeing has, however, promised extensive after-sales support, including specialised pilot training and simulators.
Bamuturaki Responds
In written responses to ChimpReports, Bamuturaki denied wrongdoing, insisting that the airline is still operating within the 2018 business plan and that no procurement decision has been finalised.
“The BIP made recommendations of fleet types, and management is working within those recommendations,” she said.
On claims that Airbus was sidelined for offering no commissions, she replied: “The allegation is not true. A due process will be followed in procurement and fleet acquisition. The airline is also subject to annual audits by the Office of the Auditor General.”
Still, aviation experts warn that the airline risks repeating the mistakes of RwandaAir and Air Tanzania, whose Boeing-heavy fleet decisions left them with high operating costs and reduced competitiveness.
