This archive report was first published on 27 August 2019.
On Wednesday, Uganda Airline made its inaugural flight to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, a day ahead of its scheduled resumption date. The airline has lined up four Bombardier Aircrafts and placed two orders for air buses expected next year.
According to Uganda's transport ministry, the airline will focus on regional routes before expanding to other destinations. Engineer Monica Azuba Ntege, minister for transport and public works, emphasized the importance of regional integration, stating, "We saw it fit to launch the flight to Nairobi in the spirit of East African integration, this flight will boost trade and boost Uganda's tourism and agricultural activities."
Kenya's East African Community Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohammed noted that the launch was a milestone in achieving some of the EAC goals. Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, representing President Yoweri Museveni, described the moment as joyous and historic, given that the carrier had earlier collapsed in 2001.
President Museveni, in his speech read by Rugunda, highlighted the benefits of the airline, stating, "Each year, Ugandans were donating 450 million U.S. dollars to other countries through foreign travel. Besides, there was a lot of inconvenience to travelling Ugandans by not having direct flights and even being charged discriminatively air fares."
The airline will initially fly to seven destinations in the region, including Nairobi, Mogadishu, Juba, Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, Kilimanjaro, and Bujumbura. President Museveni emphasized Uganda's strategic position, stating, "Uganda plays a critical role in the geopolitical and economic stability of East Africa as a region and as a nation, we are strategically placed to serve our neighbors."
The country has recently received two new CRJ900 Bombardier aircraft, with two more expected next month, and two airbuses in 2020.
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