This classic cartoon pic appeared in the Daily Monitor when the incident happened in March 2015.
A decade‑old diplomatic and aviation episode involving Kenya Airways (KQ) and Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has resurfaced in East African political discourse after a Ugandan politician revived the story on social media.
In February 2015, ahead of the 16th Ordinary Summit of the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State in Nairobi, President Museveni sought to be picked up en route by a Kenya Airways flight.
He had requested that one of KQ’s Kampala‑bound services divert to Mbarara Airport in western Uganda so he could travel with the airline to the summit.
Kenya Airways declined the request, citing operational limitations that made the diversion unfeasible.
As a result, Museveni flew to Nairobi on an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft for the summit chaired by then‑President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The refusal drew attention from Kenya’s National Assembly Foreign Relations and Defence Committee, which summoned Kenya’s Transport and Foreign Affairs cabinet secretaries and KQ management to explain why the carrier had not honoured the presidential request.
Lawmakers described the refusal as “embarrassing” given Uganda’s support for KQ’s regional operations. KQ’s then‑CEO Mbuvi Ngunze later termed the incident a “misunderstanding” that had since been addressed.
On Wednesday, December 30, 2025, Ugandan political figure Joseph Kabuleta revived the 2015 episode on X, framing it as a cautionary reflection on airline governance and national carriers.
Kabuleta wrote: “MORAL OF STORY: if they can make such outrageous demands from foreign airlines, imagine the abuse at Uganda Airlines.”
This commentary came amid ongoing public frustration over the performance and management of Uganda Airlines, which has faced criticism for delays, technical disruptions and service challenges in late 2025.
Kabuleta’s post sought to link historical frustrations with Kenya Airways’ decision to broader concerns about accountability and service quality at Uganda’s national airline.
The 2015 incident did not disrupt Kenya‑Uganda diplomatic relations, with Ugandan officials at the time describing the matter as minor.
However, it highlighted operational constraints faced by regional carriers and the complexities of accommodating bespoke requests outside scheduled operations.
As conversation around national aviation performance continues into 2026, the episode remains a reference point in public debates on airline governance, regional cooperation and service expectations among East African states.