Uganda Airlines Eyes New Routes and Fleet 1 as Revenue Rises

Uganda Airlines is planning new routes and a bigger fleet after recording strong revenue growth over the past five years, according to the Ministry of Works and Transport.

The ministry said the national carrier’s revenue grew from $10.3 million in the 2019/20 financial year to $116.2 million in 2024/25. It said this represents a compound annual growth rate of 62.4 per cent. The update was shared on Tuesday after Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama met the airline’s top management led by acting Chief Executive Officer Girma Wake.

According to ministry spokesperson Susan Kataike, Uganda Airlines has carried more than 1.7 million passengers over the past six years. The airline currently flies to 16 destinations across Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia, reflecting its steady growth since relaunching commercial operations in 2019.

The ministry said the airline is also preparing to open new routes to Accra and Kigali, which would further strengthen its regional network.

Uganda Airlines is also looking to expand its fleet in the coming years. Kataike said the airline’s fleet is expected to grow to 16 aircraft by the 2030s. She added that Boeing 787 Dreamliners are already on order, a sign that the carrier is preparing for further long-haul expansion. The additional aircraft are expected to support both new destinations and more frequencies on existing routes.

The latest update comes months after President Yoweri Museveni appointed Girma Wake as consultant and acting executive director at Uganda Airlines. Wake, a former chief executive of Ethiopian Airlines, was brought in to help address management challenges at the national carrier.

His appointment followed the exit of former chief executive Jennifer Bamuturaki, whose tenure ended amid allegations of misconduct and ongoing investigations involving the Criminal Investigations Directorate and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit.

The latest revenue figures point to continued growth at Uganda Airlines as it expands its route network and passenger numbers. While revenue growth does not on its own show whether the airline has become profitable, the increase from $10.3 million to $116.2 million highlights the scale of growth the airline has recorded in a relatively short period.