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Uganda Airlines expands its SADC footprint with 15th and 16th route to Lusaka, and Harare
Lusaka, Zambia | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda Airlines Wednesday made a nostalgic return to favorite central African destinations, Harare and Lusaka.
Touching down and taxiing to water cannon salutes cheers, dancing and jubilation at both the Kenneth Kaunda and the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airports #September 24th 2024, flight UR 720 to Harare via Lusaka marked 5-year old Uganda Airline’s 15th and 16th destinations.
“We are happy to return to the capitals of Zambia and Zimbabwe, countries whose history and culture are closely linked to Uganda,” said Uganda Airlines Chief Executive Officer, Jenifer Bamuturaki after landing in Lusaka.
Harare and Lusaka will be served four times a week, expanding choice and connectivity between East Africa, Southern Africa, and beyond, the Airline’s executives said.
“These two destinations which expand options for travel between East Africa and Southern Africa and Beyond demonstrate our commitment to increasing travel options for travelers by providing safe affordable and reliable air transport services, to connect the continent,” said Bamuturaki.
VIDEO – Uganda airlines’ CRJ900 aircraft being treated to a water salute welcome on arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Zambia. #UBCNEWS pic.twitter.com/q8KtjJodAI
— UBC UGANDA (@ubctvuganda) September 25, 2024
Our inaugural landing in Harare took place yesterday, marking a major milestone in expanding our regional connectivity.
Here’s a glimpse of the warm welcome we received in Zimbabwe’s vibrant capital. #FlyUgandaAirlines #Harare #GreaterOpportunities pic.twitter.com/CBALLTaIuO
— Uganda Airlines (@UG_Airlines) September 26, 2024
Bamuturaki said, the services, operated using, “Our fleet of CRJ 900-LRs, voted the youngest aircraft fleet in Africa by Ch-Aviation; eliminate lengthy layovers in neighboring hubs and reduce travel time between Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe by more than 6 hours. This is also the shortest and least-cost route from Southern Africa to Uganda and other destinations within east, west, and central Africa.”
She added: “These flights have been positioned to serve the needs of both the person who may simply want to terminate their journeys in Uganda and others who might want to travel further within our network to Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro, Bujumbura, Dubai, Mogadishu, Johannesburg, Mombasa, Mumbai, Lagos and Abuja, Juba or Kinshasa.”
On Wednesday 25th September 2024, the inaugural Flight UR 720 departed Entebbe at 10:00am and arrived in Lusaka at 11:45am. UR720 would later depart for Harare at 12:30pm and arrive in Harare at 1.30pm. The return UR720 departed Harare at 2:15pm and arrived in Entebbe at 6:15pm in time for convenient connections.
Kasaija hails expansion
The Uganda delegation aboard the flight was led by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Matia Kasaija received by Museba Frank Tayali the Minister of Transport and Logistics of the Republic of Zambia.
Speaking to the media in Entebbe before take-off, High Commissioner of Uganda to Zambia, Amb. Col (rtd) Fred Mwesigye, flanked by MoFA’s Head of Regional Economic Cooperation, Amb. Richard Kabonero, said that the new route not only symbolizes the historical bonds of the three countries but also represents “a strategic move to enhance social and cultural exchange leading to the boosting of business cooperation.”
In his remarks Kasaija, who led Uganda’s delegation on the inaugural flight, encouraged the spirit of “Africanisation”, which should promote “oneness” among Africans with the aim of growing economies together. He thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the relentless work involved to see this happen. “Air travel bridges distances and is even more important in Africa, where alternative means of transport to connect the continent are lacking,” he said, adding that it was his hope to see an improved balance of trade between the three countries. “It is my hope that improved air connectivity between our countries will support a vibrant travel market that facilitates better business, trade and tourism linkages between Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe”.
In Lusaka, Museba welcomed the commencement of flights from Entebbe as an important milestone in the Zambian aviation industry further reaffirming that Zambia recognizes Uganda as a key strategic partner in promoting economic development, trade and investment between the people of the two nations.
“The commencement of flights will enhance the already existing business linkages and create opportunities to promote tourism, trade and foreign direct investments in Zambia and Uganda,” he said.
In their remarks at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare, both High Commissioners Paul Amoru (Uganda) and Winpeg Moyo (Zimbabwe) said the flight would be a boost for the promotion of people to people bonds as well as the regions broader integration efforts. “As members of the East African Community and the South African Development Community, Uganda and Zimbabwe are working towards enhanced connectivity that fosters economic growth and development,” said Amb. Moyo.
“We are happy to return to the capitals of Zambia and Zimbabwe, countries whose history and culture are closely linked to Uganda’s. These two destinations which expand options for travel between East Africa and Southern Africa and beyond, demonstrate our commitment to increase travel options for travelers, by providing safe affordable and reliable air transport services, to connect the continent,” said Uganda Airlines CEO, Ms. Jenifer Bamuturaki. “These flights have been positioned to serve the needs of both the person who may simply want to terminate their journeys in Uganda and others who might want to travel further within our network to Nairobi, Dar-es-Salaam, Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro, Bujumbura, Dubai, Mogadishu, Johannesburg, Mombasa, Mumbai, Lagos and Abuja, Juba or Kinshasa,” she added.
The airline will ply the EBB-LUN-HRE route four times a week. END
