Uganda Airlines revival was an implementation of NRM Manifesto - Bageya

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) decided to include the revival of the national airline in its 2016 manifesto after a feasibility study indicated it was worthwhile.

The revival of the Uganda Airlines that was in limbo for almost 20 years and the eventual purchase of four bombardier planes and the first A330neo Airbus aircraft was the implementation of the NRM 2016 Manifesto, said Bageya Waiswa, the ministry of works and transport permanent secretary.

Bageya, who was part of the Uganda delegation led by Gen. Katumba Wamala to Toulouse in France to receive the brand new A330neo (new engine option) aircraft that was later on December 22, 2020, commissioned by President Yoweri Museveni at Entebbe International Airport, said he is a happy man after fulfilling this dream.

He was recently speaking to the New Vision during an interview when he said the A330neo would enable Uganda Airlines to launch long-range operations, with non-stop intercontinental flights to the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

PS Bageya

"I have been part and parcel of the team, which has been processing the receipt of the brand new aircraft. I am extremely happy with the furthest we have reached remembering where we came from," he stated.

According to Bageya, the journey started in 2016 when the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) and the National Planning Authority (NPA) commissioned Ernst and Young to carry out a study on how the country could revive the national airlines.

He said the organisation came up with a feasibility study which was approved by the Government. 

"That is when NRM decided to put in its manifesto of 2016 the revival of national airlines and it is indeed in the manifesto, which we are implementing," he stated.

According to Bageya, during the President's New Year of 2017 address, he emphasized that he would revive the national airlines.

"That is when we swung into action to try and implement the presidential directive," he explained, adding that as they moved on, they encountered a number of arguments.

"Everybody thought was he was an expert on the matter. There were hot arguments of whether we should buy our own carrier or lease one, but eventually, a decision was taken to buy our own."

Bageya attributed their success to President Museveni, whom he credited, saying he weighed in thrice when things were not moving.

"The President weighed in when he identified we had capacity gaps to do the assignment of procurement. He appointed a task force on August 2, 2017 comprised of aviation experts and former pilots, who, as cockpit fellows unfortunately had differences with us the technocrats. But eventually, we worked together," he explained.

On December 22, 2017, Bageya said, the task force had the business and implementation plan ready, which he said was approved the same day by Cabinet.

The approval gave the roadmap, and according to Bageya, on January 30, 2018 the Uganda Airlines was registered as the ‘Uganda National Airlines Company and eventually it took shape.

"I was one of the directors of finance and I drove the process until where we reached to constitute the company management," he said.

The second weigh-in by the President, according to Bageya, was when the task force had issues of procurement, having worked and reached a ‘level of virtually concluding the procurement before going through the contracts committee', which he said the task force thought was a big problem'.

"But the President weighed in and said this is a specialised procurement that cannot follow the normal procedures. With that confidence we moved to do a direct procurement for the two companies; the four Bombardier CRJ-900 for regional fliers and the Airbus for long routes," he said.

The President also helped the taskforce, according to Bageya, to identify resources for the procurement, which was approved by the finance ministry and a contract was signed by the Solicitor General.

"That is why we are finally here. Personally, I am happy for this achievement," Bageya said, looking back through the
struggles to have the national carrier back online, which was targeted to have the balance of trade as per the Uganda Vision 2040.

The Vision sets the long term aspirations of transforming Uganda from a predominantly peasant to a modern and prosperous country within 30 years.

Fred Bamwesigye, the acting Director-General of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority described the acquisition of A330neo Airbus as an extraordinary achievement.

"This is not an ordinary achievement. It is a historical contribution to the revival of the national airlines that had gone in limbo for over 25 years," he said.

According to Bamwesigye, the addition of the new Airbus "to add to our fleet of four planes is a historical moment for us and for the transport sector, civil aviation sector and indeed for the country".

He applauded Bageya and the entire ministry for making sure Airbus was finally handed to Uganda.

The same sentiments were expressed by Godfrey Ahabwe Pereza, the board chairman of Uganda National Airlines Company Limited, who was also part of the delegation to France.

"I am proud to be associated with the achievement as the first-ever chairman of the board, formally constituted by the ministries of works and finance, which follows the receipt of four CRJ-900 Bombardiers in April 2019. 

"This is yet another achievement we are proud to be associated with, thanks to President Museveni for the wisdom of refurbishing the national airlines that had been disbanded in 2001," he stated.

Mikail Houari, the Vice President of Airbus for Africa, described the acquisition of the aircraft as "a unique happening for Uganda and Uganda Airlines".

"I believe it is the first time that the company receives a new plane of that size. It is a major achievement for the government and people as well as an important step towards further development of the connection to Uganda. It will allow people to easily come and visit Uganda a wonderful country," he indicated.