When Girma Wake was appointed acting Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Airlines last week, it marked what many in aviation circles described as a high-stakes return to leadership for one of Africa's most decorated airline executives.
Often referred to as the "Godfather of the African Sky," Wake brings more than six decades of aviation experience to a carrier grappling with management turbulence and financial strain.
Born on June 23, 1943, in the Yeka district of Addis Ababa, Wake is 82 years old at the time of his Uganda appointment. He attended Dejazmatch Wondiyirad School and later studied at Kotebe Teacher's College before enrolling at the University College of Addis Ababa.
His path into aviation began unexpectedly. During his second year at university, he was recruited by Ethiopian Airlines the institution that would define much of his professional life.
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Wake joined the airline in 1965 as a trainee aircraft maintenance engineer. Over time, he transitioned into management, sales and marketing roles, steadily rising through the ranks in a career that would span continents.
Wake's defining chapter came between 2004 and 2011, when he served as Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines.
Under his ambitious "Vision 2010" strategy, the airline underwent sweeping transformation. The fleet expanded from 12 jetliners to 37 aircraft, making it one of the youngest fleets globally at the time. Annual passenger traffic grew from 1.2 million to 3.2 million.
He also initiated the process that led to Ethiopian Airlines joining the Star Alliance in 2011 the first carrier in Middle Africa to enter the world's largest airline network.
Wake is widely credited with instilling financial discipline and shielding the airline from political interference, a governance model often cited as a gold standard in African aviation.
Beyond Ethiopia, Wake has held senior roles across the industry. From 1993 to 2003, he led cargo operations at Gulf Air and worked with DHL in logistics management.
He later chaired the board of RwandAir from 2012 to 2017 and has advised several African carriers, including Air Tanzania and Air Djibouti.
In recognition of his contribution to aviation, the AviaDev Africa conference established the "Ato Girma Wake Award," a lifetime achievement honor presented annually to leaders who have made outstanding contributions to African aviation.
Wake's appointment at Uganda Airlines was not a conventional executive hire. On February 13, 2026, President Yoweri Museveni directed the Minister of Works and Transport to appoint Wake as Consultant/Advisor and Acting CEO.
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He replaces Jennifer Bamuturaki, who stepped aside following scrutiny that included a May 2025 board audit and a December 2025 Criminal Investigations Directorate probe into alleged mismanagement.
Wake's mandate extends beyond day-to-day management.
He is expected to oversee the recruitment of a substantive CEO and assemble a "qualified, competent management team" by July 2026 a role some industry observers describe as that of a "kingmaker."
For Wake, the Uganda Airlines assignment represents both a challenge and a capstone to a storied career. Having transformed Ethiopian Airlines into a global aviation powerhouse, he now faces the task of stabilizing and repositioning a younger carrier seeking credibility and sustainability.
At 82, the veteran executive's return underscores the enduring influence of experience in African aviation and the weight of expectation resting on his shoulders as Uganda Airlines charts its next chapter.
