By Ben Musanje
The Deputy Inspector General of Government (DIGG), Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, has challenged the leadership of Uganda Airlines to use the current transition in management as an opportunity to rewrite the national carrier’s story by building a professional, resilient and accountable institution capable of earning and sustaining public trust.
Mrs. Muhairwe made the call on Thursday when she met the Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Airlines, Mr. Girma Wake, as part of the Inspectorate of Government’s activities to commemorate International Ombuds Day 2026, held under the theme, “Ombuds: Office of Options.”
The DIGG said the Inspectorate of Government (IG) had received complaints concerning the national carrier, including allegations of irregularities in recruitment and procurement, financial mismanagement and weaknesses in institutional culture.
She, however, stressed that the Ombudsman’s role is not simply to intervene after problems have escalated, but also to help institutions identify and resolve challenges early through dialogue, mediation, investigation, advice and recommendations.
“Our approach is not necessarily to wait until a problem has escalated into a major crisis. Where possible, the Ombudsman should help institutions identify problems early, resolve them and strengthen their systems,” Mrs. Muhairwe said.
She reminded the airline’s leadership that Uganda Airlines is more than a commercial enterprise, noting that as the country’s national carrier, it represents Uganda’s name and image across Africa and beyond.
She therefore urged the airline to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, fairness, transparency, accountability, value for money and quality customer service.
Mrs. Muhairwe also welcomed Mr. Wake’s arrival and assumption of responsibility for steering the airline, saying Uganda has confidence in his leadership and is rooting for the national carrier’s success.
Mr. Wake, in response, appreciated the DIGG for reaching out to Uganda Airlines and assured her that the airline is now well positioned to take off and fulfil its potential.
He said that, with time and the right support, Uganda Airlines would achieve greater heights, signalling the management’s commitment to strengthening the carrier and positioning it for sustainable growth.
Mr. Wake also pledged to organise a staff engagement with the DIGG to enable employees to better understand the Ombudsman’s mandate while providing an opportunity for staff to share their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing the airline.
The engagement comes as the Inspectorate of Government continues to emphasise early intervention, stronger institutional systems and accountability as key tools for preventing administrative injustices and safeguarding public resources.
The IG reaffirmed its commitment to working with public institutions to strengthen systems, address administrative injustices and ensure that public institutions and resources ultimately serve the public interest. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
