Uganda Airlines spreads wings to Europe-Milestone to celebrate as a country

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OPINION

By Samson Tinka

On May 18, 2025, at 9:25 am, Uganda Airlines will leave Entebbe International Airport for Gatwick, London at exactly 16:55hrs. The Airbus A330-800 NEO will touch down unless there is a change in schedule. This maiden flight has tilted the landscape of aviation in Uganda. The journey from Entebbe to London, which has been hitherto 18 or 18, sometimes 22 hours, depending on the flight booked has since changed to 9 hours and 30 minutes.

As a country, this is a plus on the scorecard. And for the Ministry of Transport and Works, this is a dream come true. For the Uganda Airlines leadership, this is a bunch of roses delivered.

In August 2019, Uganda Airlines launched its first flight to Nairobi; before that day, a number of naysayers said that the Uganda Airlines project was a hoax. It's President Museveni and a few other leaders who worked tirelessly to ensure that the airline was revived. Even after its launch, a number of Ugandans prophesied doom. The four CRJ900s were deployed to handle regional flights. A few months in the sky, COVID-19 set in and the small birds were grounded in Entebbe apart from a few chartered flights. The doubters smiled and seemed to have settled their bet on Uganda Airlines. Sooner rather than later, it was back in the skies.

As a semblance of all is well was registered, some of the senior management and the board were suspended and later dismissed. This still cast a shadow on the future of Uganda Airlines. Jenifer Bamuturaki Musiime was brought in with Capt. Wegoye and others to lead the teams. Before Jenny could settle in, she was welcomed by a baptism of fire from COSASE led by Hon. Ssenyonyi. Things never looked good at all. The lady, Jenny, was bartered by this committee. The rest is history. 5 and a half years, the crane is still in the sky and crossing continents.

The doubters can now swallow the bitter pill. Whereas there have been challenges within the airline, it's important that we take a record of the achievements and even celebrate them. It's those small accomplishments that, when compounded together that matter most.

Ugandans like to see failure, and this is almost everywhere across the country. Good news has limited space both in social, electronic and print media in Uganda. False and fictitious news will eat up space and jam people's phones and laptops. 2,243,014 is the record passengers that passed Entebbe airport in 2024 compared to 1,932,094 passengers in 2023. This is a record set. Out of these passengers, Uganda Airlines contributes a bigger percentage.

Why celebrate the Uganda Airlines London route?

Before we look into the London route, it's important to record the silent and loud achievements, benefits associated with Uganda airlines. Some benefits are tangible, others silent.

Employment. Over 500 employees, 99% skilled, are Ugandans. From heads of departments, to pilots, engineers, dispatchers, load controllers, etc. These are largely young Ugandans who earn a living for their families. The multiplier effect is big.

Conduit for Ugandan goods to the world

Every flight destined to Dubai has almost 5 tons of only Matooke. These matookes are grown in Bukomasimbi, Kitagata in Isigiro, Bulambuli in eastern Uganda etc. There are a group of young boys in Baita Ababiri that pack a box of matookes of 30kgs that is sold 60kgs, and the same box is sold for sh160,000 in Dubai just on arrival. That’s why the cost of matooke in Uganda, especially in the Kampala metro area, has been sh30,000 and above. The biggest beneficiary is the peasant in the country side. Minus matooke, fresh fish, beans, flour, etc, all find their way in the UAE courtesy of Uganda Airlines,

Training

Most aviation institutions look to Uganda Airlines for placements of their students as interns. Uganda Airlines always has between 100-200 interns every month. These interns get hands-on training in areas like ground operations, cabin crew, dispatch-flight operations, passenger services, engineering, etc.

Market for Uganda goods- BUBU

60% of the supplies in Uganda Airlines are Uganda-based. From beverages, to food, stationery, constructions, transport, fuel for vehicles, furniture, etc, are all outsourced locally. In this way, suppliers fetch some income and Uganda as a country taps taxes.

Promoter of tourism

85% of the foreign passengers who use Uganda Airlines carry tourism visas. Tourism has its associated benefits like forex earnings, etc. For the last 12 months, dollar and other foreign currencies have been stable and as a largely import economy, forex stability is associated with goods and services pricing. Stable forex, stable price, low inflation.

Stabilised ticket fares

Before Uganda Airlines came, the ticket pricing, especially for regional destinations was so high. It was common for passengers to pay $600 for a 45-minute flight to Nairobi. This has since become a thing of the past. Frequent fliers make realistic savings when compounded together. But also, the frequency of flights improved. Uganda Airlines, for example, flies to Nairobi thrice a day. It's possible for a person to work in an office up to 5:00 pm, dash to the airport, depart at 8:10 pm to Nairobi, attend a meeting at 9:00 am, be at the airport at 1:00 pm and return to Entebbe at 2:00 pm and pick children from school at 5:00 pm.

The benefits of Uganda Airlines to Ugandans and Uganda as a country can be listed and fill a 300-page booklet. Of course, there are challenges which can be gradually handled. The board and management need more support than pullbacks. They need advice, they need resources, especially money to support internally generated funds, they need collaborations, but not sick social media reviews that are so negative and unnecessary. Minus after the London launch, some Ugandans deployed their time and effort on social media on how the landing permission at Gatwick London had been revoked. Imagine?

If any Ugandan has something good, an idea or any form of resources, quietly reach out to CEO Jenny. One attribute of her is that she listens and she practices an open-door policy. You don’t need any form of appointment to reach her. As long as she is in office, you knock and enter. Alternatively, write to her in any form, and she will receive your message and respond.

I was in Asia a few months ago, I spoke to many associates on how they have been able to build their countries, 98% of respondents gave me two answers, discipline and love for their countries.

Ugandans, no one will build our country, its you and me together that will take on that task. Don't fight Uganda Airlines, add a brick to its journey to total growth so that in 30 years from now we shall all celebrate that finally we made it.

As for me and my family, we shall travel with Uganda Airlines. We shall remain patriotic, supportive and patronage.

Looking forward to May 18, 2025, to be part of the London Journey either physically or psychologically. Whichever side I will be on, it will be a day to celebrate. I know that my coffee, milk, and fish will be in Corydon, Southampton, Liverpool, central London, etc.

Uganda Airlines board and management plus staff, toss to the Gatwick break through. See you soon in the cabin. Prepare my banange beer and a cup of Mukwano Tea.

The writer is a frequent flyer with Uganda Airlines