Uganda Airlines has been placed under fresh scrutiny after the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU), working alongside the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), launched an investigation into the management and financial operations of the national carrier.
Officials familiar with the probe say investigators are assessing a range of issues, including suspected abuse of office, possible mismanagement of public resources, and inconsistencies in financial documentation tied to several transactions.
Authorities emphasised that the inquiry is still in its initial phase and has not resulted in any findings of wrongdoing.
As part of the investigation, CID has formally requested Uganda Airlines to hand over extensive documentation to aid the inquiry. The request, issued in early January 2026, seeks certified records covering the airline’s strategic and operational plans, approved budgets for the 2024/2025 financial year, and procurement processes.
Investigators are also examining records related to aircraft acquisition, contracts with suppliers and service providers, internal audit findings, revenue and ticketing systems, fuel expenditure, banking transactions, and procurement linked to the construction of the airline’s offices in Entebbe.
Sources say the documents are meant to help investigators establish how decisions are made and how financial controls are applied within the airline.
SHACU officials confirmed that the probe is being conducted jointly with CID and urged the public to avoid speculation as inquiries continue. They noted that updates will only be issued once investigators make substantive progress.
Uganda Airlines, which was revived in 2019 and is wholly owned by the Government of Uganda, relies heavily on public funding and is subject to oversight by Parliament and the Office of the Auditor General.
Past audit reports and parliamentary reviews have raised red flags over governance gaps, procurement procedures, and internal control weaknesses at the airline, though authorities have repeatedly cautioned that audit concerns do not automatically translate into criminal conduct.
Investigators stressed that the current exercise is strictly fact-finding. No arrests have been made, no charges preferred, and all individuals and institutions linked to the inquiry remain innocent unless proven otherwise. The scope and duration of the investigation have also not been disclosed.
The probe comes at a time when government is tightening oversight of state-owned enterprises, particularly those funded by taxpayers, in a broader push to improve accountability and value for money. Officials say the outcome of the investigation will guide any administrative, disciplinary, or criminal action under the law.
Uganda Airlines has not issued a detailed statement on the investigation but has previously said it will cooperate fully with all lawful oversight and investigative processes.
, working alongside the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), launched an investigation into the management and financial operations of the national carrier.){kind=link}