Uganda’s State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU), working jointly with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), has launched a fresh investigation into the operations of Uganda Airlines amid concerns over financial management and administrative processes at the national carrier.
Officials familiar with the matter confirmed that the inquiry is focusing on suspected abuse of office, possible mismanagement of public funds, and questions surrounding financial documentation linked to several transactions. They stressed, however, that the investigation is still at a preliminary stage and that no conclusions or criminal liability have been reached.
Sources at SHACU said investigators are collaborating closely with CID to establish the facts, while urging the public and media to avoid speculation as the process unfolds. Authorities indicated that formal communication will be issued once tangible progress is made.
As part of the probe, CID has formally asked Uganda Airlines’ management to avail a wide range of documents to aid investigations. The request, made in early January 2026, seeks certified records covering strategic and operational plans, approved budgets for the 2024/2025 financial year, procurement files, and other internal records.
Investigators are also examining documentation related to aircraft acquisition, contracts with service providers, internal audit reports, revenue accounting and ticketing systems, fuel expenditure, banking transactions, and procurement linked to the construction of the airline’s offices in Entebbe. Officials say the information will help assess the airline’s financial controls and decision-making processes.
Uganda Airlines, which was relaunched in 2019 and is wholly owned by the Government of Uganda, relies on public funding and falls under the oversight of statutory bodies such as Parliament and the Office of the Auditor General. In past years, audit and parliamentary reports have raised concerns about governance gaps, procurement practices, and internal controls at the airline, though authorities have repeatedly noted that audit queries alone do not constitute criminal wrongdoing.
Investigators emphasised that the current exercise is strictly fact-finding. No arrests have been made, and no individual has been charged. Those mentioned in connection with the inquiry are presumed innocent, and the scope and duration of the investigation have not been disclosed.
The probe comes as government intensifies scrutiny of state-owned enterprises, particularly those financed by taxpayers, in a broader push for accountability and value for money. Officials say the findings will guide whether administrative, disciplinary, or criminal action is warranted under the law.
Uganda Airlines has yet to issue a detailed statement on the investigation but has in the past maintained that it is open to cooperating with oversight and investigative agencies in line with legal requirements.
