By Andrew Irumba
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed all ministers, state ministers, civil servants and other government officials to make sure that they travel aboard Uganda Airlines whenever they are flying out on state duties.
Museveni issued the directive, which is aimed at promoting Uganda Airlines, through a cabinet resolution passed this week.
According to the cabinet resolution, which is an action Extract from Minute No. 314 (CT 2019) of the meeting of the Cabinet held at Kampala on 5th August 2019, for action/information by All Ministers and Ministers of State, through a brief by H.E. The President, Directed all Government officials in Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Parastatals to fly on Uganda Airlines to all destinations it will be flying to once the Airline Commences operations.
The move is aimed at ensuring that all government officials and civil servants support Uganda Airlines to grow big by booking flights with it, instead of supporting Airline Companies owned by various foreign countries.
On Tuesday this week Uganda Airlines officially launched flights by making a historic maiden flight to Nairobi, Kenya and later Juba, South Sudan.
The passengers on the maiden fligth were businessman Peter Ssenkungu, Workers’ Union leader Usher Wilson Owere, his wife Evelyn, Kwezi Tabaro, Joseph Kasigazi, Kick-boxer Moses Golola and journalists Alon Mwesigwa, Olive Nakatudde and Gyegenda Ssemakula.
Uganda Airlines’ Bombardier CRJ-900, which launched the maided fligth, has a seating capacity of 76 (12 first-class) and the flight captain is Charles Karabarinde, helped by first officer Denis Chotum, purser Asiimwe Neema and cabin crew members; Ronnie Kasemiire and Johnson Mugume. Two pilots in training Drazu Tina and Rashid Cheboy were also aboard the flight carrying out observations.
