By President Yoweri Museveni has demanded a complete overhaul of Entebbe International Airport operations, blaming the rot at the country’s main gateway on the recruitment of incompetent and unqualified staff.
In a sharp rebuke to those overseeing airport management, Museveni said the continued employment of underqualified personnel had turned the airport into a breeding ground for corruption, inefficiency, and international embarrassment. He warned that urgent intervention was needed to restore order, professionalism, and the country’s global reputation.
The President’s directive, conveyed in a letter copied to key government leaders, comes after a string of bribery and extortion scandals involving airport workers made headlines and flooded social media. The most notorious cases include staff caught on video demanding hundreds of dollars from desperate travelers, with one reported to have illegally collected $10,000 to sneak a passenger out to Brazil.
The incidents ignited widespread public anger and prompted investigations that led to the dismissal or suspension of more than two dozen staff members. However, Museveni now says the core of the problem lies in how people were hired in the first place.
“People who don’t know what they are doing, or why they are there, are the ones managing our airport. That is where the problem starts,” a senior official familiar with the President’s concerns told this publication.
Earlier measures by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) and its partners included banning staff from using phones while on duty, enforcing the display of ID badges and uniforms, and cutting the number of passenger checkpoints to reduce delays and interference. But Museveni believes these stopgap measures will not be enough unless the leadership and staff structure are completely reset.
Public frustration has also grown over the newly refurbished Karibuni Lounge, unveiled as a premium waiting area for travelers. Instead of praise, the redesign drew ridicule online for its dull layout and cramped space. Many Ugandans saw it as yet another example of incompetence and poor oversight.
Now, with Museveni stepping in, senior figures at the UCAA and other agencies operating at the airport are expected to face increased pressure, particularly those linked to past recruitment and supervision practices.
Entebbe International Airport handles millions of passengers annually and serves as Uganda’s key air link to the rest of the world. For Museveni, it’s current state is not just a public service failure it’s a national shame.
The President’s message is clear: Uganda’s first point of contact with the world must reflect discipline, integrity, and competence — not a culture of shortcuts and kickbacks. The purge is coming, and no one who played a role in turning the airport into what it is today is likely to be spared.
