Several Ugandans are still skeptical about the planned revival of Uganda Airlines, and its impact on the aviation industry in the region.
This comes as the country awaits the arrival of the first two of four Bombardier CRJ-900 (CRJ9) planes, to launch the revival of the national flag carrier, at the end of this month.
Works and Transport Minister Eng. Monica Azuba Ntege has already confirmed that
pilots of the Aircraft were sent to Canada for training. Eng. Azuba said they
are supposed to meet with manufacturers to iron out a few issues in relation to
the process.
Uganda airlines, which had started operations in 1977, was liquidated in 2001
after all potential bidders pulled out of an earlier process for the
privatization of the corporation.
Prior
to this, Uganda has leased out some its aircraft to air Zimbabwe to operate
routes to Bujumbura, Kigali, South Africa ad Tel Aviv, and discontinued all
routes to Europe.
Government is now making efforts to revive the airline. Last week, the
government has submitted a request to parliament for the disbursement of an
additional 280 billion Shillings (USD7.53 million) for the purchase of two
CRJ-900s for Uganda Airlines. Once here, the regional jets will service
destinations across East, Central, and Southern Africa.
But some of the former employees of Uganda Airlines have expressed reservations
on the revival of the airlines and its sustainability. Justine Nakawombe,
one of the former employees of the Uganda airlines says that the airline will
not survive if factors that led to its collapse and cancellation of its Air
Operating Certificate are not addressed.
Among other reasons, Uganda Airlines ceased operations because the government
had found it unnecessary to fund the corporation and thus could not operate.
The corporation at the time it ceased operations had more than 400 employees.
Badda Fred Williams, another former employee of the corporation says that
whereas it is important to have a flag carrier as a country, it would be
difficult for Uganda airlines to break even if Ugandans do not own it.
Badda’s reactions have been re-echoed by
Sembabule Female District representative Anifa Kawooya, a former employee of
Uganda airlines, who is equally pessimistic that the revived Uganda airlines
would celebrate its first anniversary.
Fred Bamwesigye, the Deputy Director of the Civil Aviation Authority says the
government is not looking at the airline as a profit-making business but rather
a transport infrastructure that would help in Marketing Uganda’s vast potential.
State minister for works Katumba Wamala has often times rallied Ugandans to
support the airline.
Credit: URN
