Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama has directed Uganda Airlines to terminate the contract of its Chief Finance Officer (CFO), Allan Joel Kyeyune, over concerns that he does not meet the statutory professional requirements for the position, escalating scrutiny of recruitment and governance practices at the national carrier.
In a letter dated November 6, 2026, addressed to Uganda Airlines Acting Chief Executive Officer Girma Wake, Mr Byamukama instructed the airline to immediately terminate Mr Kyeyune’s employment and re-advertise the CFO position. He also demanded an explanation of who was responsible for recruiting the finance chief despite questions surrounding his professional credentials.
The directive follows confirmation from the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) that Mr Kyeyune is not registered as a member of the professional body, a requirement for heads of finance in entities of public interest under Ugandan law.
“I have also done my underground check and I am informed that for someone to become a chief finance officer at Uganda Airlines, they must be a certified professional accountant here in Uganda,” Mr Byamukama wrote.
He further questioned the circumstances surrounding Mr Kyeyune’s appointment, demanding accountability from those involved in the recruitment process.
“If it is true that it (ICPAU) was a requirement and he does not have the qualification, let me know who recruited him. Putting in mind that Ugandan laws do not work backwards or forward, Kyeyune should be terminated, and the vacancy readvertised immediately,” the minister stated.
The letter was copied to the two ministers of state in the Ministry of Works and Transport, the ministry’s permanent secretary and the chairperson of the Uganda Airlines board.
The matter had previously been raised by ICPAU in a letter dated August 10, 2026, referenced MDA/029, in which the institute’s Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Derrick Nkajja, informed Uganda Airlines management that a review of its membership register had established that Mr Kyeyune was not a registered member.
ICPAU said the requirement was provided for under Section 34(2) of the Accountants Act, Cap. 294, which requires heads of accounts, finance and internal audit in public and private sector entities of public interest to be registered members of the institute.
The institute’s communication followed a report published in The Observer’s July 22–28, 2026 edition that questioned Mr Kyeyune’s professional standing and eligibility to occupy the position.
The distinction between academic training and professional registration is central to the dispute. While reports indicate that Mr Kyeyune has undergone accountancy training, ICPAU has maintained that academic qualifications alone do not satisfy the legal requirement for membership when heading a finance function in an entity covered by the Accountants Act.
The minister’s directive also raises questions about the airline’s internal recruitment controls and the response of its management after the regulator first communicated its findings in August.
Byamukama’s demand to establish who recruited Mr Kyeyune suggests that the matter could extend beyond the individual finance officer to the officials involved in the appointment process.
The development comes as Uganda Airlines continues efforts to stabilise its operations under Girma Wake, who was appointed acting chief executive in February 2026 by President Yoweri Museveni following the departure of former chief executive Jenifer Bamuturaki.
Mr Wake, a veteran aviation executive and former chief executive of Ethiopian Airlines, took over leadership as the national carrier faced persistent questions over its governance, financial performance and management capacity.
The latest directive adds to the scrutiny facing the airline as it works to strengthen its management and operational structures.
Uganda Airlines had not publicly responded to the minister’s directive by press time. The airline is expected to terminate Mr Kyeyune’s contract and re-advertise the CFO position in accordance with the minister’s instructions.
