ENTEBBE — Premier Ruhakana Rugunda says that Uganda Airlines will enable neighboring countries among other nations Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, and South Sudan easily access the market and connect to their destinations.
The Prime Minister who on Tuesday morning represented President Museveni as the Chief guest at the launch of Uganda Airlines ahead of the Inaugural flight said the airline presents gigantic opportunities across all sectors and its success will lead to the development of the Country.
Addressing the guests at Entebbe Airport he said following the delivery of the first two aircraft the other two will be delivered, adding that today is historic as the national carrier takes to the sky.
“Fellow Ugandans, our proud national carrier presents opportunities across all sectors. As you have been told, the airline will first fly to 7 destinations starting with Nairobi, Juba, Mogadishu and Der el Salaam Therefore, its success will lead to the development of Uganda.” Rugunda said.
Dr. Rugunda said the two of the four Bombardier aircraft were successfully delivered and approved to fly and that the other two will be delivered next month as scheduled.
The airbuses will be delivered later in 2020.
“Today, we stand here as witnesses to this historic moment were our national airline takes to the skies. I am glad some of us have had the honour to be associated with this great day. The country will always remember it,” he said.
Uganda plans a critical role in the geopolitical and economic stability of East Africa as a region.
As a nation, he added: “we are strategically placed and with our airline, our neighbours will easily access our market and connect to their destinations.”
Minister for Works and Transport, Hon. Monica Azuba has assured the airline’s officials that the Government will give all the necessary support required to see the successful operation of the national carrier.
She made the statement during the ceremony to launch the airline’s commercial flights.
Uganda Airlines will give travelers on the busy Nairobi route options, and will also have the only direct flight to Mogadishu, in Somalia.
As revived national carrier Uganda Airlines prepares to take to the skies for commercial flights on Wednesday, for the first time in nearly 18 years, its most booked route out of its four initial destinations is Mogadishu.
Mogadishu is currently followed by Nairobi, whose bookings are fast coming in and are expected to peak as the flight date draws closer.
The national carrier will start with flights to Nairobi, Dar-es Salaam, Juba and Mogadishu.
The first flight is expected to leave Entebbe at 6.00am and land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi at 7.15am.
The Mogadishu flight will leave Entebbe at 5.37pm and land at Aden Adde International Airport at 8:00pm.
