Museveni Orders Immediate Sweeping Purge at Entebbe Airport Over Corruption, Ghost Workers

President Yoweri Museveni has ordered an urgent purge at Entebbe International Airport, citing rampant corruption, bribery, and the hiring of unqualified staff that have embarrassed the nation and frustrated travelers for years.In a strongly worded letter dated June 25, 2025, addressed to the Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, Museveni expressed deep concern over what he called “massive corruption” within the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA).

The President directed that 152 unqualified staff be immediately dismissed and that the officials responsible for recruiting them face similar action.

“One glaring embarrassing problem,” Museveni wrote, “was, for instance, Maama Maria Nyerere being trapped in an archaic lift for four minutes.”

This incident, though brief, symbolized the rot that has plagued Uganda’s main gateway to the world.

The directive comes on the heels of a series of social media exposés in late 2023 that revealed airport staff demanding bribes as high as $500 from passengers.

In one notorious case, a staffer allegedly collected $10,000 to illegally facilitate a traveler’s journey to Brazil. These shocking revelations triggered widespread public anger and forced authorities to launch reforms.

In response, the UCAA introduced measures such as banning on-duty staff from using mobile phones, tightening access controls, enforcing stricter uniform policies, and reducing passenger checkpoints.

The State House Anti-Corruption Unit and the Inspectorate of Government also stepped in, resulting in the suspension or dismissal of dozens of staff implicated in extortion schemes.

Despite these efforts, Museveni’s latest directive suggests deep-rooted problems persist.

The uproar comes as the newly redesigned Karibuni Lounge at Entebbe, meant to showcase Uganda’s hospitality, faced public ridicule for its cramped design and uninspiring decor.

Many Ugandans felt that the lounge was a poor representation of the country’s image, further fueling resentment towards airport management.

By ordering this sweeping cleanup, President Museveni has signaled his intent to restore Entebbe Airport’s integrity and repair its battered reputation