Uganda’s national carrier, Uganda Airlines, has signed a historic agreement with American aerospace giant Boeing to acquire 10 new aircraft, a major milestone in its long-term growth strategy and international route expansion. Signed on June 10, 2026, in the presence of President Yoweri Museveni, the massive project will cost a total of Shs3.7 trillion (approximately $1 billion USD), funded through taxpayers’ contributions and government revenue collections.
Mr. Girma Wake, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Airlines, signed the contract on behalf of the national carrier, while Mr. Anbessie Yitharek, Boeing’s Executive Vice President and Head of Sales for Africa, signed on behalf of the supplier.
Under the terms of the agreement, Uganda Airlines will acquire eight Boeing passenger aircraft, each boasting a seating capacity of 294 passengers. To aggressively bolster its cargo operations, the airline will also receive two freighters: one Boeing 767 wide-body converted freighter and one Boeing 737 Boeing Converted Freighter.
Uganda’s Works and Transport Minister, Fred Byamukama, disclosed that the first phase of the agreement will focus on the immediate delivery of four large passenger jets. “Today we have signed the contract, and they will first deliver four aircraft, each with the capacity to carry 294 passengers at once,” the minister confirmed. He added that the government is prepared to make an initial deposit of Shs460 billion tomorrow to kickstart the implementation process.
This strategic acquisition comes at a critical time for Uganda Airlines, which has grappled with acute aircraft shortages and operational disruptions on key international routes in recent months. In February, the carrier was forced to temporarily cancel long-haul flights to London, Mumbai (India), and Nigeria after its two Airbus A330neo jets were grounded for unscheduled maintenance. One aircraft had been out of service since January 11 awaiting a spare engine, while another required repairs after an engine borescope inspection revealed cracks on the engine blades.
To temporarily bridge the capacity gap and resume long-distance flights, Uganda Airlines was forced to secure a Boeing Dreamliner from Ethiopian Airlines. This reliance on a regional competitor underscored the extreme urgency of fleet expansion.
To stabilize operations, the Ministry of Transport secured Shs422.26 billion in March as part of a larger supplementary request approved late last year. Financial reports from the Ministry of Finance indicated that this funding was secured through borrowing, which pushed net government borrowing in February to Shs1.22 trillion—exceeding the programmed target.
Minister Byamukama described the project as a vital, albeit expensive, strategic investment for the nation. He noted that President Museveni explicitly directed that Uganda had “no other option” but to build a robust national airline to connect the country directly to the world.
The move is designed to eliminate Uganda’s heavy dependence on transit hubs in neighboring countries.
“This means Uganda will be connected directly to the rest of the world. We shall bring many investors directly to Uganda. Previously, investors had to transit through other countries and make several stopovers. With the addition of these aircraft, we shall have more direct routes and connections,” Byamukama explained.
The fleet expansion aligns with Uganda’s broader infrastructure master plan, which includes the ongoing modernization of Entebbe International Airport and the nearing completion of Kabalega International Airport in Hoima. Government officials are optimistic that these combined investments will heavily boost tourist arrivals and radically enhance Uganda’s aviation competitiveness within the next decade.
The airline’s vision extends beyond international corridors. The minister revealed that once the expanded international network stabilizes, Uganda Airlines will embark on launching domestic air services. This will allow citizens and tourists to easily fly to domestic destinations such as Gulu, Kaabong (Kidepo), and Mbarara.
Representing Boeing, Mr. Anbessie Yitharek pledged that the aerospace company’s commitment extends far beyond hardware delivery. Boeing will work in close tandem with Uganda Airlines to provide technical expertise, comprehensive pilot and crew training, and institutional capacity-building programs to ensure long-term operational excellence.
As the East African aviation landscape intensifies with aggressive expansions from carriers in Tanzania and Rwanda—even as traditional giants like Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways navigate shifting market dynamics—Uganda’s multi-trillion shilling bet marks a definitive move to secure its share of regional trade, tourism, and logistics.
