The Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Henry Musasizi, has called on Uganda Airlines to adopt a private sector business model and implement reforms aimed at transforming the national carrier into a profitable, reliable and world-class airline.
Musasizi said the airline must strengthen its commercial focus, improve operational efficiency and position itself to deliver sustainable returns while supporting Uganda's tenfold economic growth strategy.
"The Board and Management of Uganda Airlines should implement key reforms to ensure that the airline becomes a profitable and reliable, world-class carrier and a major contributor to Uganda's tenfold growth strategy," he said.
He emphasised that adopting private sector business principles would be critical to improving the airline's performance and ensuring its long-term sustainability.
Uganda Airlines Acting Chief Executive Officer Girma Wake outlined the carrier's operational priorities and recent developments, saying the airline introduced a new schedule structure effective July 1, 2026.
Wake said the airline also plans to launch Accra and Kigali routes as part of efforts to expand its network and strengthen its regional and international presence.
He, however, noted that the airline continues to face operational challenges arising from regional conflicts that led to the suspension of Dubai flight operations, volatility in global fuel prices and the Ebola outbreak.
Wake called for the establishment of a specialised procurement framework tailored to the aviation sector to ease aircraft acquisition, leasing transactions and procurement of aviation-specific goods and services.
"The airline also requires a specialised procurement framework for aircraft acquisitions, leasing transactions and aviation-specific goods and services," he said.
Uganda Airlines Board Chairperson Priscilla Mirembe Serukka said the carrier requires recapitalisation to support aircraft acquisition, meet growing demand across its route network and improve operational reliability.
She said the airline has successfully transitioned from a market-entry startup into a regional competitor and now controls 27 per cent of the market share at Entebbe International Airport, reflecting its growing role in the regional aviation sector.
