Minister of Works and Transport Hon. Monica Azuba has appeared before the infrastructure, transport committee of Parliament on the issue of the Uganda Airlines planes which were expected in the country on April 8.
Yesterday, the Committee Chairperson, Hon. Kafeero Ssekitoleko summoned the minister to explain why the planes were not delivered as earlier promised.
In her explanation today, Hon. Azuba stated that the government did not pay the required money in time. The planes’ manufacturer gave Uganda Airlines an ultimatum of up to end of March to clear costs of the first batch of the two Bombardier CRJ900 aircrafts that are ready for delivery amounting to over Shs153 billion.
Hon. Azuba stated that the money was instead deposited on April 5.
“When Parliament approved the payment of the money, the next process was for the Ministry of Finance to realize that money. The process took time; the company was waiting for money before some procedures take place. They had given us March 31 but that money was not put on the account until April 5”, she said.
She added that while it is expected that the first two CRJ900 Bombardier aircrafts from Canada will be delivered on April 23, further delays might occur.
“Expecting is not absolute. Anything can happen but we are expecting. We can plan but it is God that makes things happen”, she added.
Furthermore, she stated when the plane arrives; the next process will be certification as required by Civil Aviation Authority for new airlines.
“When the planes arrive they will not immediately start commercial flights. Uganda Airlines will be required to complete the Air Operator Certification, a mandatory process with Uganda Civil Aviation Authority that will take approximately three months”, she stated.
Government has also paid $20m to Airbus for two A330-800 neo planes expected in 2020 for long-haul flights. Hon. Azuba added that all the planes are brand new and will be delivered from the manufacturers’ assembly plants.
Uganda Airlines is expected to finally take off in July with regional flights.