The State Minister for Works, Fred Byamukama, has announced that the government is preparing to purchase six additional commercial aircraft, including four mid-range and Dreamliner planes. This initiative aims to enhance trade, investment, and economic cooperation, benefiting businesses in Uganda, Africa, and globally.
The announcement came during the launch of Uganda Airlines’ new flights to Abuja, their second destination in Nigeria. The minister highlighted that President Museveni had approved the acquisition of more aircraft due to the impressive performance of Uganda Airlines. He noted that the airline’s success had driven the decision to invest in its growth.
At the launch event, Byamukama emphasized that direct flights to Abuja would expand Uganda Airlines’ reach and simplify travel between Nigeria and Uganda, boosting tourism. He pointed out that while Nigerian movies have familiarized Ugandans with Nigerian culture, direct flights would further enhance cultural exchanges and strengthen continental integration efforts.
Uganda Airlines CEO, Jenifer Bamuturaki, shared that the company had managed to reduce losses, attributing the improvement to the expansion of its flight routes, now covering 14 destinations. She explained that the airline would use an Airbus for the two combined routes, with flight number UR900, and expressed pride in fulfilling their commitment to both Uganda and Nigeria.
Bamuturaki also stressed that the new aircraft additions would improve connectivity across Africa, promoting business, trade, tourism, and cultural interactions. The national carrier, which recently completed its maiden flight to Abuja with over 162 passengers, will operate flights every Thursday and Sunday, departing from Entebbe at 16:00 and arriving in Abuja at 18:15, using an Airbus A330-800neo.
In addition to the Abuja route, Uganda Airlines will introduce four weekly flights to Lusaka, Zambia, and Harare, Zimbabwe, using CRJ-900 aircraft. These expansions are part of the airline’s broader 10-year strategy to connect East, West, North, and Southern Africa.