Uganda Airlines has moved to expand its fleet with plans to acquire 10 new aircraft from Airbus and Boeing, prompting the government to request a major supplementary budget to secure production slots, officials told parliament on Monday.
The Ministry of Works and Transport submitted a request for UGX 422.3 billion (US$118m) in initial payments as part of a wider UGX 1.696 trillion (US$475m) supplementary budget. Works and Transport Minister Gen Katumba Wamala told the Budget Committee that the funds are needed urgently to begin pre-delivery payments for the jets.
He said the national carrier intends to purchase four narrow-body Airbus aircraft, four wide-body Boeing jets and two Boeing converted freighters to support cargo operations.
Katumba said UGX 247 billion (US$69m) would cover pre-delivery payments upon signing purchase agreements, while an additional UGX 275 billion (US$77m) is required in January 2026 for further commitments to the manufacturers.
He warned that global demand for new aircraft meant Uganda had to move quickly to secure manufacturing slots. “If you don’t pay for your slot, you’ll never get these aircraft,” he told lawmakers, citing large orders from major carriers such as Qatar Airways.
More Read
The minister said the initial payments would allow the government to reserve production slots and plan for final settlement of the aircraft purchases.
