By Sadique Bamwita
ENTEBBE
The Management of Uganda Airlines has launched its flights to Abuja in Nigeria. The flights to Nigeria’s Administrative Capital come a year after Uganda Airlines launched services to Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub.
The first UR 900 service to Abuja departed Entebbe international Airport on September 12, and arrived on the same day at Abuja Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 18:15.
The State Minister for Works and Transport, Hon. Fred Byamukama who officiated the launch of the flight to Abuja, congratulated management of Uganda Airlines for launching its second destination to Nigeria having launched the first one to Lagos last year on October 19, 2023.
“This development and others that will follow validate the NRM government’s foresight and strategic vision in its decision to restart the National Carrier. Africa is severely disconnected, which makes cooperation and commerce very difficult and expensive.
‘In the absence of efficient and functional road, rail and waterways, air transport is the low-hanging fruit as member states move to implement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA),” he said.
‘There are many reasons to justify the investment in this flight. Abuja is a major economic and political centre in Nigeria that plays a crucial role in bilateral cooperation between Uganda and Nigeria. By establishing a route there, Uganda Airlines is enhancing connectivity between the two countries.
“Increasing air connectivity within Africa will help reduce travel times, lower costs, and improve accessibility across the continent. This will facilitate trade, investment, and economic cooperation, benefiting businesses and the overall economy in both Uganda and Nigeria, “Minister Byamukama stated.”
Minister Byamukama noted that Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and that having direct flights to Abuja will increase Uganda Airlines’ catchment area in the country and make it easier for tourists from Nigeria to visit Uganda and vice versa.
“This will boost Uganda’s tourism sector by increasing the flow of Nigerian visitors. Although Nigerian movies have already introduced Ugandans to Nigerian culture, the availability of flights will take cultural interaction between Ugandans and Nigerians to the next level, “Hon. Byamukama expressed optimism.
He further revealed that at the moment Africa is pursuing continental integration.
“Currently Africa has started with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the next step is for member states to know and talk to each other. Therefore, strengthening air travel connections between African countries supports this agenda by getting ordinary people to experience an integrated Africa. This new flight clearly shows Uganda’s commitment to delivering Africa’s continental integration agenda through enhanced mutual accessibility.
On the other hand, the Chief Executive officer Uganda Airlines, Ms. Jenifer Bamuturaki said the flights which will be tagged to the existing service to Lagos, will be available on Thursday and Sunday and will be operated using the airlines flagship Airbus A330-800neo aircraft.
“We are proud to be living up to our promise to take Nigeria to Uganda and bring Uganda to Nigeria, Abuja is now our 14th point as we embark on our expansion plan,” said Ms Jenifer Bamuturaki.’
She noted that the second flight to Nigeria is so crucial, arguing that it will address the connectivity gap between the administrative capital of Africa’s most populous nation and East Africa. She added that through this service, travelers from Nigeria’s central, northern, and northeastern regions can seamlessly connect to Uganda Airlines services to Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, Mogadishu, Mumbai, and Dubai, among others.
Meanwhile, it should be recalled that Uganda Airlines was revived in 2019 after it had collapsed in May 2001 due to alleged poor administration and incompetent staff. The Airline seems to go through the same situation despite expanding its routes and destinations to other countries.
