On May 18th at 9:25am, it is planned that Uganda Airlines will depart Entebbe International Airport for Gatwick London. the Airbus A330-800 Neo will touch down at exactly 16:55hrs.
Depending on the flight booked, the journey from Entebbe to London has been hither to 18 or 18 sometime 22 hours however will now be only 9 and a half hours. As a country this is a plus on the scorecard – a dream come true.
Uganda Airlines launched its first flight to Nairobi in Aug 2019. Before that day, a number of naysayers said that Uganda Airlines project was a hoax. To ensure that the airline was revived, President Yoweri Museveni and a few other leaders nevertheless worked tirelessly.
A number of Ugandans prophesied doom even after its launch.
For over a year Covid-19 set in, and the small birds were grounded in Entebbe soon after the four CRJ900 planes were deployed to handle regional flights.
Some members of senior management and the board were suspended and later dismissed amidst all this. This cast a shadow on the future of Uganda Airlines.
Jenifer Bamuturaki was brought in together with Captain Wegoye but the new team faced the baptism of fire from COSASE led by Joel Ssenyonyi that questioned the whole venture.
The Crane is still in the sky and crossing continents about five years now.
Doubters can now swallow the bitter pill. It’s important that we take a record of every achievement and celebrate them despite the challenges within the airline. It is those small accomplishments that when compounded, matters most.
Ugandans often amplify any upsets or failure. Good news has limited space both in social, electronic and print media.
In 2024, news that states that so far, 2,243,014 are the record passengers that passed Entebbe airport compared to 1,932,094 passengers in 2023, does not get much space. This is a record set, and a big percentage of these passengers were using Uganda Airlines.
Why celebrate.
From heads of departments to pilots, engineers, dispatchers, load controllers, many more, the new route will ensure continued employment of over 500 employees.
Every flight destined to Dubai has almost 5 tones of Matooke. This matooke is grown in Bukomansimbi, Kitagata in Isingiro and Bulambuli in Eastern Uganda. A box of matookes of 30kgs that is sold here at sh60,000, is sold for an equivalent of sh160,000 in Dubai.
In Kampala, this business has affected the price of Matooke, and the biggest beneficiary is the peasant on the countryside.
60% of the suppliers to the airline are Ugandan relatedly. Locally beverages, food, stationery, constructions, transport, fuel for vehicles, and furniture, are all outsourced.
For placements of institution students as interns, most aviation institutions now also depend on Uganda Airlines. Evey month, Uganda Airlines always have between 100-200 interns. These interns get hands on training in areas like ground operations, cabin crew, dispatch-flight operations and passenger services.
Tourism promoters.
Up to 85% of the foreign passengers that use Uganda Airlines carry tourism visas. forex earning is one of the associated benefits of Tourism. For the last 12 months dollar and other foreign currencies have been stable thus leading to stabilized ticket fare fees.
It was common for passengers to pay $600 for a 45-minute flight to Nairobi. This has since become a thing of the past. Uganda airlines for example flies to Nairobi thrice a day. It’s possible for a person to work in an office up to 5 pm, dash to the airport, depart at 8:10pm to Nairobi, attend a meeting at 9am, be at airport at 1pm and return to Entebbe at 2pm and pick children from school at 5pm.
As Jenifer Bamuturaki Jenny-CEO practices and open-door policy in management of the entity, the future of the airline can only be brighter. That ensures she listens to everyone who can get to her.
She was in Asia a few months ago. While there she found out from many associates how they have been able to build their countries.
The majority told her to focus on two things: discipline and love for country.
She said that dear Ugandans, no one will build our country, it is me and us together that will take on that task. Add a brick to its journey to total growth by promoting it in whatever way you are able to, so that in 30 years from now we shall all celebrate.
She added saying that her and her family will always travel with Uganda Airlines. She sees that as he humbles contribution to its success.
