The national carrier, Uganda Airlines, has announced plans to begin domestic flight operations in the 2026/2027 financial year.
This disclosure was made by CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki during her appearance before the COSASE committee on August 14, 2025, while discussing the Auditor General’s 2024 report .
Bamuturaki’s announcement, which will transform air travel in the county, followed inquiries by lawmakers, including MP Nathan Itungo, who recalled Nyakisharara airstrip’s historical role as a profitable hub in aviation. U
“In my constituency, Nyakisharara airstrip is ready for you,” Itungo told the committee, emphasising the potential for renewed domestic air connectivity.
Several lawmakers, including Bukimbiri County’s Eddie Kwizera (NRM), expressed support for the initiative, noting the high cost of road travel to remote destinations such as Kisoro. Kwizera said that travellers currently pay about $320 for journeys that could be made more efficient and cost-effective through domestic flights.
The airline currently operates 17 routes, spanning regional destinations such as Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, and Kinshasa, as well as medium-haul links to Lagos, Harare, and Lusaka; long-haul operations include Mumbai, Dubai, and the recently launched London route .
The domestic service rollout is expected to relieve pressure on Uganda’s strained upcountry domestic flights network. Lawmakers have expressed optimism while the news has sparked excitement among tourism circles.
