Uganda Airlines signs $985 million Boeing deal to expand fleet and regional connectivity
Uganda Airlines has agreed to acquire 10 Boeing aircraft in a deal worth $985 million (Shs3.7 trillion), signed in the presence of President Yoweri Museveni on 10 June 2026. The order covers eight passenger aircraft, each with a capacity of 294 seats, along with a Boeing 767 wide-body converted freighter and a Boeing 737 converted freighter. An initial payment of more than Shs460 billion ($122 million) has been committed, with the first phase covering four large passenger aircraft. The acquisition would more than double the airline's current fleet of approximately seven aircraft.
The deal comes after months of operational disruption, including flight cancellations to Nigeria, London and Mumbai following mechanical issues that grounded key aircraft earlier this year. Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama said the expansion would reduce Uganda's reliance on regional transit hubs and improve direct international connectivity for both tourists and investors. Boeing has also pledged technical support, training and capacity-building programmes as part of the agreement. The purchase adds to a broader wave of fleet investment across East Africa, with Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways also pursuing expansion, underscoring intensifying competition for passenger and cargo traffic across the region.
Source: Africa Business Insider
