Uganda Airlines is getting bigger. On Wednesday at State House, the national carrier signed a commitment with Boeing to buy 10 new aircraft.
President Yoweri Museveni witnessed the signing alongside government officials, US Embassy representatives, Uganda Airlines board members, and Boeing executives. The order is split into two parts.
Uganda Airlines will add eight new passenger planes to carry more travellers across Africa and beyond. It will also take two cargo planes: a Boeing 767 converted freighter and a Boeing 737 Boeing Converted Freighter, or BCF. That means the airline can now move more goods by air, not just people.
Airline officials say the new jets will do three things at once. First, they will increase flight capacity so Uganda Airlines can open more regional, continental and international routes.
Second, they will strengthen cargo transport for exports like flowers, fish and fresh produce. Third, they will support Uganda’s long-term plans under Vision 2040 by making trade, tourism and investment easier.
More cargo planes help farmers and exporters get products to market faster. More passenger planes support tourism and services, two sectors the government is betting on for economic growth.
“This is a strategic investment in Uganda’s future and a major step towards establishing Uganda as a leading aviation hub in the region,” Uganda Airlines said in a statement after the signing.
The deal also starts a long-term partnership with Boeing, one of the world’s biggest aircraft manufacturers.
Uganda Airlines returned to the skies in 2019 after being grounded for almost 20 years. Since then it has been adding routes and planes step by step.
