Share this article

General Katumba Wamala invites Indian investors to Uganda due to direct flights. Uganda Airlines launched the route to India, fostering strong bilateral ties.

The Minister of Works and Transport, General Edward Katumba Wamala, cordially invites Indian investors to consider Uganda as a prime destination for investment. He conveyed this message during the India-Uganda Trade and Business Forum, held on October 9, 2023, at the St Regis Hotel in Mumbai, India.

General Katumba emphasized the recent development of a direct flight route from Entebbe to Mumbai, making travel between our nations more accessible and efficient.

General Katumba further elaborated on the vast business potential that Uganda offers across various sectors. Notably, he highlighted Uganda’s exceptional pineapple produce, expressing that the reduced flight time, now at six hours and 30 minutes, facilitates the export of processed, value-added pineapples to the Indian market.

Uganda’s High Commissioner to India, Joyce Kakuramatsi Kikafunda, echoed this sentiment, urging Indian investors to explore Uganda’s burgeoning tourism industry. She underlined the long-awaited launch of direct flights as a milestone in fostering stronger bilateral relations between our nations.

This Mumbai business forum serves as a strategic platform to attract Indian investors to engage in Uganda’s diverse economic sectors.

The inauguration of direct flights to India on October 7 marked a significant achievement for Uganda Airlines, reflecting its commitment to expanding international connections. During her address, High Commissioner Kakuramatsi emphasized Uganda’s readiness to take control of its destiny, signaling a new era of self-reliance.

She praised the historic relations between Uganda and India, which have evolved into an excellent partnership with the introduction of direct flights. The reduction in travel time is not only conducive to business but also benefits patients requiring prompt medical treatment in India.

Madhusudan Agrawal, Uganda’s honorary consul in Mumbai, congratulated both countries on this remarkable feat, affirming his long-standing connection with Uganda spanning 30 years. He emphasized the substantial time savings offered by the Uganda-India direct flight, fostering a deeper bond between the two nations.

Vinod Kumar Saraogi, Uganda’s Honorary Consul in Chennai, highlighted Uganda’s burgeoning economy, positioning it as a pivotal player in Africa’s growth in the coming decades. He emphasized the pivotal role of Uganda, geographically and culturally, in facilitating trade and tourism with other nations worldwide.

The UR 430 flight, operating from Entebbe on Mondays and Wednesdays at 8:15 pm local time and arriving in Mumbai on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 05:55 am local time, further enhances the connectivity between our nations.

Background:

Uganda Airlines has steadily expanded its flight routes, connecting to Dubai, Johannesburg, Bujumbura, Nairobi, Mombasa, Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Juba, Kinshasa, and Mogadishu. Future plans include launching flights to Lagos, Nigeria, thereby strengthening Uganda’s presence in the international aviation landscape.

Uganda Airlines resumed commercial operations in August 2021, reestablishing a national carrier after nearly 18 years. The airline’s fleet now includes two 74-seater Bombardier aircraft and two Airbus A330-800s. In October 2021, the airline successfully initiated its first intercontinental flight to Dubai, with plans for additional routes to Lagos and Riyadh via Jeddah in the near future, with the inaugural Lagos flight scheduled for October 19, operating on Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays.