2023 projects bright future for Uganda Airlines after shaky start 

After decades in abyss, the revival of Uganda Airlines was met with a lot of pomp and grandeur in 2019. However, the timing couldn’t have been any worse as the Covid-19 pandemic and administration hiccups derailed the revitalization process of the national carrier.

Matters were not helped by intrigue within the entity, which saw several top officials accused of corruption and influence peddling. In that process, the stock of the national carrier took a hit. However, as we look towards 2023, there is a ray of hope that Uganda Airlines could be on the right path to succeed as a business entity, writes ERNEST JJINGO.

In fact, its first line of opportunity is in the new initiative to handle cargo through interline partnerships. The second bit surrounds structures. According to Jennifer Bamuturaki, the Uganda Airlines CEO, plans are underway for the airline to launch its own cargo structure.

“We have greatly been relying on third parties for operations but our newfound independence allows us to operate with established international organizations to manage our routes,” she said.

Last November, Uganda Airlines took over ground handling from Das Handling and since then, the airline became self-handling. Bamuturaki, who in December was elected the President of the Africa Airlines Association (AFRAA) for 2023, reasons that the fact that the airline is now managing most of its costs, it has become more independent and planning has become clearer.

She, however, reasons that as a matter of urgency, the airline needs to improve its revenues through other aspects like cargo handling.

“Ground handling has provided us some independence to be in control of our operations but we also need to handle cargo in order to be fully operational as an airline,” she says.

NEW ROUTES

Also at stake for Uganda Airlines in 2023 is the launch of new routes. According to Bamuturaki, the airline is on the first phase of a three-phased approach to full operationalization.

“We are not targeting profits at the moment but to supplement other sectors that need our services to develop,” she said.

Indeed, the resumption of the airline was premised on a number of factors which include facilitating promotion of tourism by reducing the cost of air travel and easing connectivity for tourist travel to and from Uganda as well as the stimulation of growth, employment creation and revenue generation for government directly through the airline’s activities and indirectly as an enabler of other industries.

Meanwhile, government also intended to use Uganda Airlines to promote exports through facilitation of their quick access to international markets on top of improving balance of trade by saving and generating foreign exchange directly and indirectly.

According to Shakila Rahim Lamar, the head of corporate affairs and public relations, the airline also seeks to reduce the dominance of foreign airline operators which bears unfair influence on the cost of air travel and offers no benefit to Uganda’s aviation potential in terms of careers and global aviation revenues as well as raise Uganda’s brand image as an investment and tourist destination through the airline as a flag carrier.

“Overall, the airline intends to serve as infrastructure development avenue to enable intermodal connectivity within and to other
countries,” she said.

What’s more, Uganda Airlines targets to manage its own fuel costs under AFRAA fuel project in a bid to reduce the costs of buying fuel from private suppliers. The AFRAA bloc ensures that its members access low-cost fuel from accredited suppliers and this would save is set to save Uganda Airlines billions of shillings.

Bamuturaki maintains there is positive progress at achieving the goal.

MINDSET SHIFT

Meanwhile, over the last few months, Uganda Airlines has undergone an overhaul in the top management as it seeks to be a stable entity. The Observer understands that a number of top-to-mid-level staff have been relieved of their roles after failing interviews and the board is aiming to recruit the best suited individuals to fill up the posts.

“The aviation industry is a delicate one with no room for error and we are looking to have the best brains at the helm,” said Bamuturaki.

All this points to a positive state of the national career and if all plans are implemented to the letter, there is no doubt that Uganda airlines looks set to make amends in the next 12 months.

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