Works and transport minister Gen Wamala Katumba says Uganda Airlines is presently not eyeing abnormal profits.

"We didn't look at Uganda Airlines making money, but as an enabler to other sectors of the economy to grow," Katumba says. 

The minister’s remarks during an X, formerly Twitter, Spaces on a topic titled: Uganda Airlines opens routes to Mumbai and Lagos — What it means for Uganda. The spaces were hosted by Solomon Sserwanjja the executive director, the African Institute for Investigative Journalism.

According to Katumba, the entire process is meant to enable Entebbe to become a hub within the region.

"If any of you has been to West Africa, you know the pains of connecting to West Africa. In some countries, you need to fly to Europe before you come back to Africa. It gives me a lot of joy that the wings of the crane are not folding, but are spreading. I'm looking forward to our expansion in Guangzhou and to London," Katumba added.

Katumba added how the airline is preparing to get more assets so that they don't fail to meet the demands and the wishes of potential customers, but didn't mention how much would be spent by the Government.

Mumbai's potential medical tourism

Trusharkumar Upudhyay the advisor in Uganda of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries, says at one point a patient seeking medical care in India failed to make it because of the flight timelines and costs.

"Not less than 2,000 Ugandans every year get treatment from India. So there is also another 2,000 that cannot go for treatment every year," Trusharkumar told listeners.

Tushar argues it's not only one way for Ugandans to go but also Indian doctors are willing to come to Uganda to treat Ugandan lives.

"A good doctor makes $1,000 [about shillings 3.7 million] per day in India but due to the flight costs previously many doctors were unable to come this side in Uganda," Trusharkumar added

Indian middle class

According to Trusharkumar, the middle class in India spends a couple of billion dollars every year on tourism in 2022 and he argues a little marketing would certainly help Uganda.

"When you ask the middle class in India, they always put Africa as last preference, but if we market the Gorrillas, the right way then just like our neighbours with better infrastructure, we can attract India on this route," Trusharkumar said.

Uganda Airlines chief commercial officer Adedayo Olawuyi also believes there is room to tap into the growing Indian middle class.

"India has a lot of middle class who have a high propensity for travel, and recently we had large family coming in to have a wedding at Speke resort in Munyonyo," Olawuyi said.

Education tourism

Trusharkumar also estimated how education tourism has a potential in Uganda as he said  that 5000 to 7,000 students study in India but also universities are happy to exhibit and advertise but sometimes are looking for quick route to accomplish their goals and tasks with a lower cost.

Traders opportunity

Trusharkumar argues that many more traders in Kampala once sensitised will eventually choose the Mumbai route.

"A trader is estimated to save 20 per cent to 30 per cent in taxes and direct costs when they use the Mumbai route than when they previously bought items from Dubai which are most times made in China and India," Trusharkumar argued.

Trusharkumar called on Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) members to go to Mumbai and that they are ready to help them with where to go, to stay, and to buy items from.

Olawuyi says the Mumbai route will start operations on October 7, 2023.

Monday, Wednesday and Saturday will be the days the airline is expected to fly to Mumbai, while Lagos will be Monday, Thursday and Sunday.

"You can have dinner in Entebbe and breakfast in Mumbai, which will be a six-hour flight that will shorten the time for our travellers," Olawuyi said.

Lagos goldmine

According to Olawuyi the current  Oil and gas partnerships with Nigeria will enable more travel for the four-hour journey from Entebbe to Lagos

"Lagos has a population of 220 million people today, despite its ties with Uganda we have not been able to get the best out of it to Uganda. Which is why Lagos could be our next destination which will start on October 19, 2023," Olawuyi added.

Low Cargo costs

Olawuyi also predicted the potential for Airline revenue through cargo which is still charged expensively and can enable exporters to continue to trade.

"There is a charge of about $13 (about shillings 48,100) per Kg to import from Lagos to Uganda and this is something we will be able to do for as low as $2.50 (shillings 9,250) per Kg.

Imagine what this means for a Ugandan exporter. Which means we have larger markets we can look into and improve the economy of the country," Olawuyi said.

Uganda Airlines presently operates in 11 destinations. They include Dubai, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Mombasa, Daresalaam, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar, Kinshasa, Bujumbura, Juba and Mogadishu.