Touching down and taxiing to water cannon salutes cheers, dancing and jubilation at both the Kenneth Kaunda and the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airports on September 24th 2024, flight UR 720 to Harare via Lusaka marked 5-year old Uganda Airline’s 15th and 16th destinations.
The Uganda delegation aboard the flight was led by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Hon. Matia Kasaija received by Hon. 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 Hon. 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, Hon. 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.