Uganda Airlines to start domestic flights in 2026/27 FY

____________________

The national carrier, Uganda Airlines, is set to start domestic flights in the next financial year of 2026/2027.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jennifer Bamuturaki, revealed the development while appearing before the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) on Thursday, August 14, 2025.

The meeting revolved around the Auditor General (AG) Edward Akol’s report on the entity for the year ended December 2024.

Her brief assurance followed a question by Kashari South MP Nathan Itungo (Independent).

“In my constituency, Nyakisharara airstrip is ready for you,” Itungo pointed out.

“During Obote’s time, Nyakisharara was a cash cow for the airlines,” he added.

To several lawmakers, including Bukimbiri County’s Eddie Kwizera (NRM), the earlier this happens, the better.

“From here to Kisoro, we pay $320 and wouldn’t they find it profitable to have internal flights because from here to Kenya, you may find it’s the same money,” Kwizera cited.

The development eases pressure on upcountry routes, many of which are slowly deteriorating. One being the Pakwach-Karuma section, which in October last year prompted regional lawmakers, including Dr. George Didi Bhoka (Obongi county, NRM), to hold an urgent press conference in the chief whip’s board room at Parliament.

At the time, they wanted the Government to reach an understanding with bus companies that had hiked fares. Warning that failure to do this would cripple trade and the movement of people and goods.

“West Nile used to be connected from Port Butiaba to Nimule. There were steamships. We urge the ministry of transport to reconsider revitalising water transport apart from railway and road transport to be able to move goods from the West Nile using water transport,” Bhoka argued.

According to official information, Uganda boasts of forty-seven airstrips. With six having paved runways and 42 having unpaved runways. Thirteen of these airstrips are managed by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA).

Routes

Uganda Airlines operates seventeen routes, with London being the newest.

“We operate two sets of routes. We fly to Nairobi, Mombasa, Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Juba, Mogadishu, Bujumbura, Johannesburg, and Kinshasa. Those routes are operated by the CRJ (Bombardier). Then there is Lagos, Abuja, Lusaka and Harare. These are operated by a mix of a CRJ and an A320 aircraft and sometimes an A330, which is the Airbus,” she disclosed.

For the long hauls, they fly to Mumbai, Dubai and London. Two years ago, Uganda Airlines made its maiden flight to Saudi Arabia after 40 years, carrying 250 Muslim pilgrims going to the Hijja.