Byamukama urges Uganda Airlines to strengthen operations, finances

What the report says

Uganda’s Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama has called on Uganda Airlines to pair its fleet growth with stronger operations, better finances and higher commercial returns. According to Nile Post, he made the remarks after meeting the airline’s board to review expansion plans, future operations and how the carrier can benefit from new aircraft and routes.

Byamukama said the government wants the additional aircraft to improve connectivity, raise passenger and cargo capacity and create wider business opportunities for the national carrier. He also emphasized that service delivery and operational efficiency must improve as the airline grows, and that the board should provide stronger oversight during the expansion period.

The report says Uganda Airlines is preparing to launch new routes to Kigali, Rwanda, and Accra, Ghana. Byamukama framed those routes as part of a broader effort to build a reliable, commercially sustainable airline that can support trade, tourism and investment. The article adds that the government sees stronger air links as important for reaching regional and international markets.

More broadly, the minister’s comments reflect the challenge facing many state-owned carriers: expanding networks can increase reach, but profitability depends on disciplined management, load factors and operational control. In this case, Nile Post reported that the focus is on turning Uganda Airlines’ growth into a stronger national asset for the economy.