Uganda Airlines to expand its network with new flights to Rwanda

This decision is a significant step forward in the normalization of bilateral relations between the two countries, which have experienced setbacks since 2017.

General Odongo made this announcement on the final day of the 11th Joint Permanent Commission (JPC), which was established to follow up on mechanisms aimed at restoring bilateral relations to normal.

“Uganda welcomes the acceptance of the designation of our national carrier -Uganda Airlines by the Rwanda authorities, which will lead to its commencing of direct flights from their hub in Entebbe to Kigali. This will further boost trade, enhance connectivity, and contribute to strengthen people-to-people exchanges,” said Gen Odongo.

IGIHE has learned that Uganda Airlines has been asked to fulfill additional requirements after approval, although the date for the inauguration of the new flights has not been announced.

Uganda Airlines had announced plans to conduct direct flights from Kampala to Kigali in December 2019.

The current Uganda Airlines is a revival if an older version of the airline that operated from 1977 to 2001. The airline recommenced commercial operations in August 2019, with a flight to Nairobi, Kenya.

In December 2019, Uganda Airlines announced plans to conduct direct flights from Kampala to Kigali. The airline, which had operated from 1977 to 2001, was revived in August 2019 with a flight to Nairobi, Kenya. However, mismanagement and losses have delayed the implementation of envisioned projects.

According to Uganda’s Auditor General Report for 2021/2022, Uganda Airlines incurred a loss of 164.5 billion shillings (US$43.9 million) at the end of the financial year 2020/2021. This loss reportedly increased to 266 billion shillings in the following year. As reported by Chimpreports recently, the airline has experienced a loss of 532 million shillings in the past three years.

Although the airline initially planned to operate flights to 19-21 destinations, it has only reached 11 so far.

Currently, Uganda Airlines conducts flights to various destinations, including Bujumbura in Burundi, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar in Tanzania, Johannesburg in South Africa, Kinshasa in the DRC, Mogadishu in Somalia, Nairobi in Kenya, and Dubai.