Few months after the Chief Executive Officer, Uganda Airlines, Jenifer Bamuturaki hint during the African Travel Market, Akwaaba that the carrier will commence flight operation to Nigeria, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Uganda, Gen Jeje Odongo has met with Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika at the Ministry Headquarters in Kampala to discuss connectivity between both countries.
According to chimpreports.com, during the meeting, Senator Sirika informed Jeje Odongo that the Nigeria’s Federal Government had reviewed the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with Uganda as part of efforts to facilitate direct air connectivity between the two countries.
The Bilateral Air Service Agreement provides for reciprocal international commercial air transport services between the two countries.
The move presents good news for the Uganda’s national carrier, the Uganda Airlines, as it positions itself to be a competitive airline, not just in the region, but also on the continent and across the globe.
The Nigerian route will be added to among other regional and continental destinations secured by the airline, such as Mogadishu, Bujumbura, Dar es Salaam, Dubai, Johannesburg, Juba, Kilimanjaro, Kinshasa, Mombasa, Nairobi and Zanzibar.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Thursday that Senator Sirika appraised the meeting held with the Minister of Works and Transport, Gen Katumba Wamala which took place on February 2, 2023 and deliberated on measures to review the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between the two countries signed in 2002 and reviewed in 2005.
“The meeting provided the necessary administrative and technical support to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreed during the last International Civil Aviation Negotiation (ICAN) event, which was held in Abuja from 5th to 9th December, 2022,” reads the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.
“Senator Sirika informed that following these successful deliberations with the Ministry of Works and Transport, and Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was concluded and signed. This paves way for the commencement of direct flights from Entebbe to Lagos.”
Senator Sirika highlighted that the meeting agreed that Abuja is reviewed, and included as an additional route to the existing Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with Nigeria. The current BASA had initially only designated the Lagos route for Uganda Airlines.
“The Minister (Jeje Odongo) reiterated Uganda’s commitment to boost air connectivity and quest for the operation of direct flight into Nigeria using its national carrier, the Uganda Airlines. He underscored that improved air connectivity would enhance bilateral trade between Uganda and Nigeria.”
Odongo emphasized that these efforts are in line with Ministry’s policy of pursuing Commercial and Economic Diplomacy with the primary objective of further strengthening Bilateral Trade and investment to accelerate economic growth and development.
Odongo applauded the Uganda High Commissioner to Nigeria, Nelson Ocheger, and the Nigerian High Commissioner to Uganda, Ismail A. Alatise whose concerted efforts and coordination with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies from respective countries culminated into the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) ensuring commencement of direct flights from Entebbe to Lagos and Abuja.
The Minister affirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would provide the necessary political leadership that will facilitate implementation of the Agreements reached during the meeting.
The meeting noted the need for technical cooperation and collaboration between the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, and the East African Civil Aviation Academy (EACAA), located in Soroti, Uganda. The Ugandan Aeronautical Authorities also solicited technical support from Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
“In his response, Senator Sirika underscored the importance of air transportation, which he deeply observed that it remains the major veritable means of connecting the people of Africa and enhancing trade. He stated that air transportation will do well in Africa with its population of over 1.37 billion and urged African Nations to leverage the opportunity of Single Africa Air Transport Market (SAATM) to attain the 2065 Africa Agenda.”
Senator Sirika gave the assurance of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to facilitate necessary efforts to ensure air connectivity becomes a reality as both countries have come a long way and promised positive responses to the requests made by Uganda.
“The meeting which was attended by H.E. Nelson Ocheger, Uganda’s High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and H.E. Ismail A. Alatise, the Nigerian High Commissioner to the Republic of Uganda, Amb. Katureebe Tayebwa, Head Regional Economic Department as well as other officials from the Ministry concluded on a cordial note with a consensus to expedite what was agreed upon for the mutual benefit of both Uganda and Nigeria,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.
