Uganda Airlines Fleet Struggles

Uganda’s national carrier, Uganda Airlines, is navigating a difficult start to 2026 after several aircraft in its small fleet were grounded for maintenance, forcing the airline to temporarily suspend key long-haul services and reshuffle its operations.

Current Fleet

Uganda Airlines currently has a fleet of seven aircraft.

Aircraft Type	REG	Age	Status
Airbus A330-800	5X-CRN	5	Grounded
Airbus A330-800	5X-NIL	5	Grounded
Airbus A320-200	OY-RUY	10	Active
Bombardier CRJ900	5X-KDP	6	Active
Bombardier CRJ900	5X-KNP	6	Active
Bombardier CRJ900	5X-KOB	7	Active
Bombardier CRJ900	EQU	7	Active

Long-Haul Routes Suspended

With both wide-body aircraft out of service, the airline has no available capacity to serve its London and Mumbai routes, leading to the temporary suspension of these routes until replacement aircraft can be secured and maintenance completed.

The airline launched its flagship Entebbe–London Gatwick service in May 2025, marking its return to the UK market and becoming the first operator to deploy the A330-800neo to London Gatwick Airport. The Entebbe–Mumbai route, launched in October 2023, has been another key intercontinental link connecting Uganda to South Asia.

New Aircraft

Whilst Uganda Airlines has managed to stay afloat with the current fleet, plans are underway to add a B787 and an Airbus A320. The second A320 is expected to ease pressure on the current fleet as it can be deployed to destinations in Nigeria and Dubai, which used to be operated by the widebody A330s.

To restore its long-haul operations to Mumbai and protect valuable airport slots in London, Uganda Airlines secured a short-term wet lease agreement for a Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Ethiopian Airlines. Under the ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance) arrangement, the Dreamliner will be operated by Ethiopian Airlines crew while flying under Uganda Airlines flight numbers.

The move allows Uganda Airlines to resume suspended long-haul services whilst repairs are carried out on their own aircraft, allowing them to maintain their landing slots at Gatwick, which operate under strict “use-it-or-lose-it” rules. The lease also avoids prolonged absence from competitive international markets.

Leadership Shake-Up

To try to stabilize the sinking ship, seasoned aviation veteran and former Ethiopian Airlines CEO, Girma Wake, was appointed consultant and acting Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Airlines, effective February 2026. Wake is tasked with restructuring the national carrier until July 2026, following the departure of former CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki, who stepped down amid management and financial concerns.

Wake previously served as CEO of Ethiopian Airlines from 2004 to 2011 and later chaired its board, playing a pivotal role in transforming the airline into Africa’s largest and most profitable carrier. His appointment is widely viewed as an effort by the Ugandan government to stabilize the airline, restructure operations, and restore confidence in the national carrier amid mounting financial and operational challenges.

Looking Ahead

With the leased Dreamliner now supporting operations and maintenance work underway on the A330 fleet, Uganda Airlines aims to stabilize its schedule and gradually restore passenger confidence.