This archive report was first published on 27 August 2019.
On Tuesday, Uganda marked a significant milestone in its aviation industry with the relaunch of its national airline, Uganda Airlines, after a two-decade hiatus. The airline's inaugural flight took off from Entebbe International Airport, bound for Nairobi, marking the country's return to the East African skies.
According to Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, the airline will initially operate flights to seven destinations, including Nairobi, Mogadishu, Juba, Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, Kilimanjaro, and Bujumbura. The airline's expansion plans come as East African nations seek to revive their aviation industries and capture a share of the booming market.
Uganda Airlines is set to compete with regional giants Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines, which dominate the skies. Transport Minister Monica Azuba emphasized that the airline is coming to compete in the market alongside other airlines.
The airline's revival is a significant development, given its troubled past. Founded by former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in 1976, the carrier was liquidated in 2001 after a failed bid to privatize the floundering company, plagued by corruption and mismanagement.
Uganda has acquired two new Bombardier CRJ 900 jets, with two more set to arrive in September. The addition of two Airbus A330-800 planes in 2020 will enable the airline to operate long-haul flights, including direct flights from Uganda to China and other countries.
According to Tourism Minister Ephraim Kamuntu, the airline will play a crucial role in achieving the government's goal of attracting four million tourists. Uganda welcomed 1.8 million tourists in 2018, according to official statistics.
Neighboring Tanzania has also invested heavily in reviving its airline, Air Tanzania, which has purchased six planes since 2016. Rwanda has also invested significantly in its national airline, Rwandair, which operates a fleet of 12 jets and flies 29 routes around the world.
