Published on 02/12/2025
Ministry of Works and Transport is seeking a UGX 1.696 trillion supplementary budget, including UGX 422.264 billion as an initial payment for the acquisition of ten aircraft for Uganda Airlines.
The request was presented by Minister Katumba Wamala to Parliament’s Budget Committee on December 1, 2025, during scrutiny of the supplementary schedule ahead of its consideration in tomorrow’s plenary sitting.
Minister Katumba explained that Uganda Airlines plans to acquire four mid-range or narrow-body Airbus aircraft, four wide-body Boeing jets, and two Boeing converted freighters for cargo operations.
Katumba said the supplementary budget would cover the projected initial requirements for the 2025/2026 financial year, including pre-delivery payments of UGX 247.019 billion at contract signing and UGX 275.245 billion for payments due in January 2026 to both Airbus and Boeing.
Defending the acquisition, Minister Katumba said the purchase process is challenging, as securing aircraft slots requires upfront deposits. “We are buying these aircrafts now, but companies like Qatar have ordered 465 planes from Boeing. If you don’t pay for your slot, you may never get them. Securing our slot now ensures we can complete payments progressively,” he explained.
Despite the minister’s defense, several MPs raised concerns. Paul Omara (Otuke County) urged Uganda Airlines’ management to guarantee that the new aircrafts would not face the same fate as the previously acquired Bombardier jets, which later became difficult to maintain due to scarcity of spare parts.
Ibrahim Ssemujju (Kira Municipality), Shadow Minister of Finance, expressed his support for a national airline but questioned why such a significant investment was not included in the original 2025/26 budget, instead appearing in a supplementary request. “Since when did this become an emergency? Was this planned, or discovered along the way?” he asked, stressing the need for transparency and proper budgeting.
Other MPs, including Kibedi Nsegumire (Mityana North) and Maurice Kibalya (Bugabula North), echoed concerns about the airline’s management, citing persistent flight delays and cancellations that risk undermining public confidence in the national carrier. Kibalya suggested a phased approach to the aircraft acquisition, arguing that buying all ten planes at once could overwhelm Uganda Airlines’ operational capacity.
Minister Katumba, however, assured Parliament that the airline is capable of managing the new fleet, attributing current performance limitations to overstretched resources. He noted that Uganda Airlines currently handles 38–40 percent of traffic through Entebbe International Airport.
CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki clarified that flight delays and cancellations are not due to poor management but result from external factors, including “no-terms” notices issued by civil aviation authorities and airport maintenance activities in Entebbe, Bujumbura, Juba, and Dar es Salaam. “When airports issue no-term notices, schedules must be adjusted, causing delays and cancellations. These factors are beyond the airline’s control,” she explained.
The Budget Committee is expected to deliberate further before the supplementary request is presented to Parliament for approval, with MPs emphasizing the need for accountability and efficient management of Uganda Airlines as it expands its fleet.
