Uganda Airlines seeks UGX 1.7 trillion to purchase 10 new jets

The Ministry of Works and Transport is seeking a UGX 1.696 trillion supplementary budget request, including UGX 422.264 billion as an initial payment for the purchase of 10 new aircraft for Uganda Airlines.

The request was presented by Minister of Works and Transport, Gen Katumba Wamala, while appearing before Parliament’s Budget Committee on 1 December 2025 during consideration of Supplementary Schedule Two, ahead of its tabling in tomorrow’s plenary sitting.

“Uganda Airlines is in the process of acquiring 10 aircraft comprising four mid-range or narrow-body Airbus models, four wide-body Boeing aircraft and two Boeing converted freighters for cargo. The supplementary budget is to cater for the projected initial requirements for the aircraft purchase for the 2025/2026 financial year,” Gen Katumba said.

He explained that the request includes pre-delivery payments at the time of signing the purchase agreement amounting to UGX 247.019 billion, and a cost-sharing component of UGX 275.245 billion required in January 2026 from both Boeing and Airbus.
According to Katumba, procurement of aircraft is highly competitive, making it necessary for Uganda to deposit funds in advance to secure production slots.

“We are buying just this, but when you look at companies like Qatar, they have made an order for 465 aircraft with Boeing. So if you don’t pay for your slot, then you’ll never get these aircraft,” he said. “Part of this is to pay to book our slot so that we keep paying as we get the money. But the most important thing is to secure our slot now.”

However, Paul Omara (Otuke County) asked the Uganda Airlines team to assure Ugandans that the new aircraft will not suffer the same fate as those bought during the airline’s revival.

“You remember the Bombardier we bought—later on, we soon discovered that there were no spare parts, they were no longer in production, and I don’t know what we are going to do with those aircraft,” he said. “We want assurance that this procurement will have future support for those 10 aircraft.”

Ibrahim Ssemujju (Kira Municipality) surprised the Committee by declaring himself an ardent supporter of a national airline despite reports of losses. He, however, criticised Minister Katumba for “shabbily” handling such a major purchase, questioning why it was not included in the 2025/26 national budget but instead brought as a supplementary request.

“I wanted to find out from the minister, knowing the law that governs supplementary budgets, where does this fall? Because it must be an emergency and unforeseen. So where does this fall?” Ssemujju asked. “Since when did this become an emergency? Were these things part of the airline’s budget or were they discovered along the way?”

Ssemujju, who also serves as Shadow Minister of Finance, added:
“I am a supporter of Uganda Airlines for different reasons. But make it look neat. Can I be helped to understand whether, in your judgment, this fits within the role of a supplementary?”

Kibedi Nsegumire (Mityana North) supported the aircraft purchase but raised concerns about Uganda Airlines’ management, citing persistent delays and cancellations.
“I wouldn’t have any problem with losing such amounts of money to purchase aircraft, but we are buying aircraft while losing customers. Uganda Airlines delays are delays. People are complaining,” he said.

Similar concerns were echoed by Maurice Kibalya (Bugabula North), who urged Gen Katumba to “fix” Uganda Airlines before the public’s growing goodwill is eroded.

“People have developed a love for Uganda Airlines, even on private trips they no longer want to use other airlines. But the management is not answering that love,” he said. “General Wamala, you are respected—fix Uganda Airlines. How can every time we meet them, the information is unclear and scanty?”

In response, Gen Katumba assured the Committee of the airline’s capacity to manage the incoming fleet, noting that the current aircraft are overstretched.
“Uganda Airlines right now manages 38% to 40% of the traffic through Entebbe, but with the aircraft we have, we are overstretched,” he said. “Sometimes they have to wait for an aircraft from another route to land and be worked on before it goes on another route.”

Uganda Airlines CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki told MPs that the persistent delays were not due to poor management but a mix of operational disruptions beyond the airline’s control, including unscheduled notices from airports.
“These delays and cancellations come from a cocktail of things,” she said. “Airports may close for cleanup or construction and issue what aviation calls ‘no-terms’. When you’re given a no-term, you have to change your schedules and that causes delays. For the last three weeks, we have been seeing no-terms in Entebbe, Bujumbura, Juba and Dar es Salaam.”