Earlier this year, the cabinet of Uganda passed a resolution to revive the airline in order to boost the country’s air transport system.
Speaking in a meeting on Saturday, the President of the Republic of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni convinced that, the Uganda Airlines once revived will succeed mainly for the direct travel opportunities that it will offer to the Ugandans in the Diaspora, tourists, business community and the vast domestic travel opportunities. The meeting was held with Patrice Bauebo, a representative of Airbus Group, at the State House in Entebbe.
Air bus Group is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services, a European leader based in Netherlands. It offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners from 100 to more than 600 seats. It also provides tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft.
“I am convinced,” said the president, “that Uganda Airlines will obviously be a success strongly because of six factors; Ugandans in the Diaspora, business men, tourists, the Indian community, regional traffic and internal travel.”
The president explained further saying that Ugandans in the Diaspora, majorly in countries like; South Africa, the United States of America and Canada, are inconvenienced by other Airlines that have it as a must to pass through their capitals during the travel. But, once the Uganda Airlines is revived, they will benefit from the direct travel.
“Uganda has a massive traveling population. Most people prefer a flight schedule that suits them, yet many of the airlines consider nationalism and must go through their countries of origin first,” said President Museveni.
He explained that, due to the many developing industries in the country, the airline will help to export their products much faster, hence its survival.
Museveni disclosed that, the Airline would help in increasing on the number of exports and reducing imports, thus earning Uganda foreign revenue. In this manner, he urged the regional travel and the internal travel to ensure that the airline succeeds as planned.
“Many Ugandans travel exporting their products to Bunya in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Juba in South Sudan, Nairobi in Kenya, Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and Lagos in Nigeria. Therefore, the Airline would make their travel much faster and direct,” Museveni explained.
“Although Uganda is not geographically big, there is an improvement in road networks. Nevertheless, there 
is a strong need among Ugandans to spend less time travelling, and the airline will ensure that happens,” he added.
And talking of tourism, the president informed that no country would compete with Uganda with the airline that will help to promote the country’s nice weather, wildlife and other tourist attractions.
The meeting was also attended by Ugandan Ambassador to France, Nimisha Madhvani, Minister of Works and Transport, Azuba Ntege and other government officials.
Bauebo commended Museveni to ensure that the airline will also have internal country flights.
“What makes success out of an airline market is the feeder market. You need nationals flying into the country, and not only abroad,” he advised.
Correspondent: Shamirah Abdallah
