Ugandan Foreign Affairs Minister Jeje Odongo has announced that Uganda Airlines will resume direct flights to the Rwandan capital Kigali for the first time since its revamp in 2019.
The development follows several on-and-off engagements over the matter between officials from the two countries.
Minister Jeje Odongo made this announcement on Friday at the conclusion of the two-day 11th Session of the Rwanda-Uganda Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) in Kigali.
According to Mr Odongo, the move seeks to address transport challenges faced by the business community from both countries, boost trade, enhance connectivity and contribute to the strengthening of people-to-people exchanges.
“Uganda welcomes the acceptance of the designation of our national carrier Uganda Airlines by the Rwanda authorities, which will lead to its commencing of direct flights from their hub in Entebbe to Kigali,” he said in a statement.
Uganda Airlines resumed commercial flights in 2019, targeting mostly regional destinations but efforts for the carrier to secure landing rights in Kigali have been futile, mostly because of a diplomatic rift.
