President Yoweri Museveni has received the first two of the four Bombardier CRJ900 regional Aircrafts which were ordered by Uganda National Airlines Company in July 2018.
In 2017, government signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus Company and bombardier to deliver two airbuses (A330-800neo) and four CRJ900 regional jets at a cost of US $800,00M and US $48M respectively.
Speaking at Entebbe International airport, Museveni, said the word Uganda Airlines died and in the African culture when people die, they are buried. “When old people die, new ones are born, so this is the new baby. I’m among the midwives delivering a new baby.”
“I want to thank the ministry people, the board members, young pilots, and the cabinet for helping us sort out all sorts of confusion on whether we should buy new planes or rent,” he said adding that Uganda is moving forward.
He said upon reviving the airline business, he is still dreaming of the East Africa Airlines.
“Uganda is already a medium income country, however, we don’t use the purchasing power parity method, and we use the foreign exchange method. Therefore, by starting an airline, we are going to reduce the foreign exchange expenditure.”
The third jet will be delivered in July 2019 and the fourth plane is expected in September 2019. The commercialization of the airline will start in July to various destinations in Kenya, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Zanzibar.
Established in May 1976, Uganda Airlines was the flag carrier of Uganda, started operations in 1977 and was liquidated in May 2001 after efforts to privatize the company failed.
According to Minister of Works and Transport Eng. Monica Azuba, the revival will promote Uganda’s tourism, trade and enhancing Country’s competitiveness in air transport and easing connectivity to and from Uganda.
She said 12 Ugandan pilots and 12 co-pilots have been trained and certified to operate the airline. The airline will operate in dual-class configuration with 76 economy and 12 first class seats.
