President Museveni has directed the Ministry of Works and Transport to take immediate action against rampant corruption and inefficiency within the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), citing the recruitment of unqualified personnel and resulting service failures at Entebbe International Airport.
In a letter dated June 25, 2025, addressed to Works Minister Edward Katumba Wamala, Museveni expressed concern over “massive corruption” at the UCAA and called for the immediate dismissal of 152 unqualified staff identified in an internal probe.
He also demanded that those responsible for recruiting them be fired.
“One glaring embarrassing problem,” the President noted, “was, for instance, Maama Maria Nyerere being trapped in an archaic lift for four minutes.”
He warned that the inefficiencies resulting from unqualified hiring practices had damaged the reputation of the country’s main airport and must be urgently addressed.
The directive comes months after a series of viral social media videos in late 2023 exposed airport staff soliciting bribes from passengers, some demanding up to $500 to allow travellers to proceed with their journeys.
One particularly egregious case involved a staffer allegedly pocketing $10,000 to illegally facilitate a passenger’s travel to Brazil.
The scandal sparked public outrage and triggered a wave of similar complaints, forcing the UCAA and its stakeholders to initiate reforms.
In early 2024, the UCAA—together with immigration, customs, handling agents and airline operators—announced a raft of measures to restore public trust.
These included a ban on mobile phones for on-duty staff, strict enforcement of uniforms and ID tags, tighter access control, and a reduction in passenger checkpoints from twelve to five.
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit and the Inspectorate of Government were also brought in, resulting in the suspension or dismissal of more than two dozen staff over extortion and misconduct.
Despite these measures, Museveni’s latest letter underscores lingering concerns over the institutional integrity of the UCAA.
The President’s call for a purge is likely to place further pressure on senior aviation officials and political appointees overseeing airport operations.
The directive has been copied to top government officials, including the Vice President, Prime Minister, and Education Minister, signalling the urgency and cross-sector implications of the issue.
President Museveni’s directive comes on the back of yet another storm at Entebbe International Airport, tuis week,—not only over corruption and extortion, but also over the controversial redesign of the Karibuni Lounge.
The revamped lounge, which was unveiled earlier this year, was widely panned on social media for its uninspiring design, cramped layout, and what many perceived as a poor reflection of Uganda’s image to international travellers.
The backlash over the lounge further fueled frustration with the UCAA’s management, setting the stage for the President’s scathing rebuke and demand for immediate reform.
