By Frank Mulekwa
The recent article by Christopher Lubogo, known for his relentless fault-finding and pessimistic takes on national progress, is less a parable of governance and more a case study in selective outrage. Beneath its surface lies discomfort with progress led by unfamiliar faces and those outside traditional power circles.
Let us begin with the obvious. Comparing Uganda Airlines, reborn just a few years ago, to Ethiopian Airlines, a company with over half a century of uninterrupted growth and state investment, is both dishonest and misleading. Ethiopian Airlines has had decades to build its fleet and refine operations. Uganda Airlines is still laying the foundation for long-term sustainability in a competitive, capital-intensive industry.
Critics ignore that national airlines are not designed solely for short-term profit. They are strategic tools that connect nations to global markets, attract tourism, facilitate trade, and project national identity. No one expects a new highway to generate profit, yet we understand its value. Uganda Airlines plays a similar role, opening direct routes to Dubai, Johannesburg, Kinshasa, and recently to Mumbai and London, showcasing Uganda’s potential to the world.
The fixation on the CEO’s salary is another example of misplaced scrutiny. Claims that she earns more than her Ethiopian counterpart lack credible basis. Previous Uganda Airlines CEOs, including Cornwell Muleya and Ephraim Bagenda, earned significantly more. Muleya reportedly earned UGX 120 million monthly, and Ephraim UGX 87 million, despite not holding a degree at the time. Ironically, some of these individuals are now suspected of sponsoring negative publicity to reclaim lost influence. A good-faith inquiry would reveal that the current CEO earns less than the airline’s own pilots, undermining the narrative of excessive executive pay.
Criticism of her academic background is equally misplaced. She holds a degree in Social Work and Social Administration and a Master’s in Public Administration and Management, qualifications that have proven vital in managing a complex national airline. Aviation leadership demands more than technical know-how. It requires vision, coordination, reform, and the ability to lead diverse teams. Under her leadership, Uganda Airlines has expanded from 11 to 17 destinations, increased passenger numbers, and launched international flights to Dubai, Mumbai, and London. These are structural milestones, not symbolic gestures.
Uganda’s aviation revival has unsettled entrenched interests. As new routes open and market share shifts, resistance has grown. The airline’s rise has disrupted monopolies and long-standing commercial arrangements. Insiders aligned with former leadership, particularly Cornwell Muleya, are suspected of working with external actors to regain access to procurement commissions. They are actively fueling media negativity to destabilize the current leadership.
We must not ignore sabotage from those who lost lucrative deals when procurement was cleaned up. One major reform has been streamlining fuel procurement, eliminating commission-based outflows. With that loophole closed, attention has shifted to aircraft payments, where some actors now lobby for commissions. The CEO’s refusal to entertain such practices has made her a stumbling block to those who previously benefited from Airbus deals. It is no surprise she is now labeled difficult, not a team player, or unable to work with colleagues, accusations that conveniently serve those who lost access to easy money.
The idea that Uganda Airlines is uniquely struggling is false. Ethiopian Airlines reported a 28 million dollar domestic loss in recent years. Kenya Airways has posted consecutive multi-million-dollar losses, and South African Airways required a bailout. Even legacy carriers like Lufthansa and British Airways have faced turbulence. Aviation is volatile, and losses are part of the growing pains of building a national carrier.
What is troubling is how some commentators weaponize these growing pains to discredit a national project. This is not about accountability but optics, politics, and personal vendettas. Uganda deserves institutions that are accountable, yes, but also protected from cynicism disguised as analysis. Criticism must be rooted in facts and guided by a desire to build, not destroy. Let us not allow envy, misinformation, or nostalgia for the past to clip the wings of a carrier that is steadily rising to meet its potential.
Frank Mulekwa is a Patriotic Ugandan and staunch supporter of The National Resistance Movement -NRM
