On this day in 2019, Uganda received its first two Bombardier CRJ 900 aircraft, marking the formal return of Uganda Airlines after nearly 20 years of collapse and inactivity.
The aircraft, registered as 5X KOB and 5X EQU, landed at Entebbe International Airport following a delivery flight from Bombardier’s manufacturing facility in Mirabel, Canada.
The journey to Uganda involved multiple stopovers across northern Canada, Iceland, and Egypt before the final arrival at Entebbe, where the aircraft were welcomed with a water cannon salute and a state reception led by President Yoweri Museveni.
The two jets were configured in a dual-class layout with 76 seats, including 12 in business class and 64 in economy. They featured the then-new Atmosphère cabin design, offering larger overhead storage and improved passenger comfort compared to earlier regional aircraft.
The arrival formed part of a broader national plan to revive Uganda Airlines, which had collapsed in 2001. The move was widely viewed as a symbolic restoration of national pride, as Ugandans had relied heavily on foreign carriers for regional travel for nearly two decades.
The CRJ 900 fleet was intended to serve key regional routes across East and Central Africa, including Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, and Juba, with a strategy focused on frequency, efficiency, and connectivity through Entebbe International Airport.
The delivery also marked the beginning of a phased fleet expansion. Two additional Bombardier aircraft were later introduced the same year, followed by the addition of Airbus A330-800neo aircraft for long-haul international operations.
The revival of Uganda Airlines was widely celebrated as both an economic and symbolic milestone, restoring the country’s presence in regional aviation and re-establishing direct connectivity after years of absence.
