KALANGALA, Uganda — President Yoweri Museveni has compared the operational challenges facing Uganda Airlines to complaints about the MV Kalangala ferry, saying both services have struggled to maintain predictable schedules and reliable service for passengers.
The President made the remarks on Monday while campaigning for National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Idah Nabayiga in the Kalangala District Woman Member of Parliament by-election, where residents raised concerns about transport services linking the islands to the mainland.
Addressing a gathering in Kalangala, Museveni said he had received reports indicating that MV Kalangala was operating without a consistent timetable, creating uncertainty for passengers who rely on the vessel for transport between Nakiwogo and Lutoboka.
“I have received a report about your challenges. Here, you have MV Kalangala which operates the Nakiwogo to Lutoboka route, but there is a report that it comes and goes as it pleases. It is supposed to have a schedule,” Museveni said.
The President pledged government intervention to ensure the ferry adheres to a predictable timetable, arguing that reliable scheduling is a basic requirement for public transport services.
“I am going to intervene in that matter to ensure that the ferry has a schedule. When I was a kid, we had buses with known schedules. A ferry is supposed to have a known schedule,” he added.
Museveni cites Uganda Airlines experience
Museveni used the ferry complaints to draw parallels with operational concerns at Uganda Airlines, revealing that the national carrier’s recently appointed interim chief executive had raised similar issues regarding flight scheduling and reliability.
“Ugandans generally have a problem. Recently I brought in a CEO of Uganda Airlines from Ethiopia. He told me that the airline was also operating like this ferry here. Sometimes it departs at 1 p.m., sometimes at 7 p.m., inconveniencing passengers,” Museveni said.
The President was referring to Girma Wake, the veteran Ethiopian aviation executive appointed in February 2026 as interim chief executive and consultant for Uganda Airlines.
Wake is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most experienced aviation leaders, having previously served as chief executive of Ethiopian Airlines and later chaired the boards of both Ethiopian Airlines and RwandAir.
Leadership shake-up at national carrier
Wake’s appointment followed a management overhaul at Uganda Airlines ordered by Museveni amid concerns over the airline’s performance, operational efficiency and mounting financial losses.
The President tasked Wake with stabilising the airline’s operations and overseeing the recruitment of a substantive chief executive while implementing reforms aimed at improving service delivery.
He replaced Jenifer Bamuturaki, who left the position amid growing scrutiny over the carrier’s financial position and operational challenges.
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Prior to the leadership changes, Uganda Airlines had faced criticism from passengers over flight delays, cancellations, schedule changes and customer service concerns at Entebbe International Airport.
Industry reports also pointed to operational disruptions linked to fleet limitations and logistical challenges, prompting calls for reforms to restore public confidence in the national carrier.
Push for efficiency
The government views Wake’s appointment as part of broader efforts to improve operational discipline and strengthen Uganda Airlines, which was relaunched in 2019 after nearly two decades without a national carrier.
Museveni’s latest remarks suggest that predictable scheduling and service reliability remain key priorities not only for Uganda Airlines but also for public transport services across the country.
As authorities move to address concerns raised by Kalangala residents and airline passengers, the President signalled that transport operators must adopt stricter scheduling standards to improve efficiency and public trust.
“A service that people depend on must operate according to a known schedule,” Museveni said, underscoring what he described as a wider challenge affecting public service delivery.
The comments come as government seeks to improve transport connectivity, particularly in island districts such as Kalangala, where residents depend heavily on ferry services for access to education, healthcare, trade and other essential services.
