According to the president, the staff members in question secured their jobs through corruption, which has led to “serious inefficiencies” at Entebbe International Airport.
“I have received information that there is massive corruption in the UCAA in terms of a number of aspects, including recruiting unqualified People for employment there. As a consequence, serious inefficiencies cause problems that must not be allowed to continue. One glaring, embarrassing problem was, for instance, for Maama Maria Nyerere, being trapped in an archaic lift for four minutes. Some investigation was carried out, and 152 unqualified staff were identified. All these must be sacked, and so should those who recruited them. I demand immediate action,” President Museveni’s letter addressed to Works and Transport Minister, Gen Edward Katumba Wamala reads.
The President specifically cited an incident in which Maama Maria Nyerere, the widow of former Tanzanian president Julius Nyerere, was trapped in an archaic lift at Entebbe Airport for four minutes, describing it as “glaring” and “embarrassing.”
“Some investigation was carried out, and 152 unqualified staff were identified. All these must be sacked, and so should those who recruited them. I demand immediate action,” the letter, also copied to Vice President Jessica Alupo, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, and First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni, among other senior officials, further reads.
Extortion, Missed Flights, and Mounting Criticism
President Museveni’s directive comes amid intensifying public complaints about extortion, incompetence, and missed flights at Entebbe International Airport, despite UCAA’s claims of increasing passenger traffic and infrastructure upgrades.
While the UCAA has dismissed some of the extortion allegations or promised internal investigations, it has yet to comment directly on the President’s latest directive.
In earlier statements, UCAA said it “does not condone acts of extortion,” and where they occur, they are “highly regrettable and unacceptable.”
“It is important for the public to know that while UCAA facilitates operations at Entebbe International Airport, this is done in liaison with several independent providers of key services,” the Authority noted, listing Immigration, handling agents (NAS and DAS), airlines, URA Customs, and external labour agents as among the service providers involved in airport operations.
Public Backlash Over New Airport Lounge
Just last week, UCAA came under fresh scrutiny following the unveiling of the Karibuni Lounge, a new facility meant to enhance passenger comfort at Entebbe.
While the Authority said the lounge was designed to modernize the airport and improve amenities, frequent travelers criticised the new facility as substandard and “an embarrassment to the Pearl of Africa.” “Stop embarrassing Uganda with cheap, poor facilities,” one traveler posted on social media in reaction to photos of the new lounge.
Despite the backlash, UCAA Director General Fred Bamwesigye reported a rise in airport usage. In May 2025 alone, Entebbe International Airport handled 198,052 passengers, with an average of 6,388 arrivals and departures per day.
Cargo traffic for the same month included 4,085 metric tonnes of exports and 1,797 tonnes of imports, according to the Authority.