Uganda Airlines aims to generate between $400 million and $500 million in annual revenue by 2030. However, its chief executive believes that a policy designed to protect the airline is, in fact, one of the main obstacles to its growth.
At the inaugural flight event in Accra, Ghana, Girma Wake, the Uganda Airlines acting CEO, highlighted that Uganda’s decision to remain outside the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) has restricted the airline’s ability to utilise the traffic rights it has already been granted. Uganda Airlines launched its Entebbe–Accra service via Lagos on October 27, operating four times a week with a Boeing 737-800 that is wet-leased from Ethiopian Airlines. This marks the airline’s 18th destination since its inception seven years ago, but the launch was delayed beyond the initial schedule.
Currently, Uganda Airlines promotes Accra and Lagos as part of a single service from Entebbe. Ghana has granted the airline fifth-freedom rights, allowing it to sell tickets between Accra and Lagos as part of the service. However, approval from Nigeria is still needed, and Nigeria has withheld its consent.
“From Accra, we are permitted to carry passengers to Lagos and vice versa,” Wake explained. “While Ghana has cooperated and granted us these rights, Nigeria has not. We are currently in negotiations with Nigerian authorities.” He noted that Nigeria cited Uganda’s non-participation in SAATM as a justification for denying permission.
This issue has arisen in other instances as well. For example, Zimbabwe allowed Uganda Airlines to transport passengers between Harare and Johannesburg, but South Africa declined the request.
Fifth-freedom rights are crucial commercially because they enable the airline to fill seats with passengers travelling between two foreign cities, not just those starting or finishing their journeys in Uganda. Wake emphasized that the airline aims to attract passengers travelling between regions rather than relying solely on traffic originating from Uganda.
SAATM is an initiative by the African Union aimed at liberalising air services among participating countries. As of a recent regional workshop, 38 African nations have joined SAATM, while Uganda, along with Burundi, Somalia, South Sudan, and Tanzania, remains outside the agreement.
Uganda’s rationale for its non-participation has been consistent. Officials have previously stated that Uganda withheld its signature on the declaration because it sought assurances for its national carrier, which had not yet begun operations, in a competitive market made challenging by unrestricted fifth-freedom rights for other African airlines. Uganda has also requested guarantees that the benefits of opening its airspace would be reciprocated since some African countries still impose restrictions on their aviation markets. There are concerns that opening up too quickly could undermine plans to establish Entebbe as a regional hub.
Wake argues that this protective stance has proven ineffective. “That protection was merely theoretical; it never materialised,” he said, pointing out that Uganda continues to allow other airlines access to its market. “However, it is now becoming a barrier for Uganda Airlines. Its growth is stymied because other countries say, ‘Since you are not a signatory, we cannot grant you rights.'”
Uganda has repeatedly stated its intention to sign SAATM. A pledge made in 2023 indicated that the agreement would be signed by the end of the year, and a subsequent commitment promised ratification by the end of June after Cabinet review.
Fred K. Bamwesigye, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority, stated that while Uganda is not yet a full member, the country is taking deliberate steps toward joining SAATM, including consultations and preparations for Cabinet consideration. These steps involve the recent passing of a Competition Act in 2024, establishing a consumer protection unit within the authority, and drafting competition and consumer protection regulations aligned with continental standards.
Meanwhile, the economic benefits of joining SAATM are well documented. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates that Uganda could gain approximately 4,920 additional jobs in the aviation sector and related industries, with another 16,070 jobs generated through broader economic impacts.
Wake mentioned that the airline is collaborating with the Ministry of Works and Transport, the Ministry of Finance, and various government bodies to resolve these issues and is in talks with Nigerian authorities regarding the Lagos–Accra route.
Wake assumed leadership during a challenging period. In February 2026, President Yoweri Museveni instructed the Minister of Works to appoint him as a consultant and advisor to address management weaknesses at Uganda Airlines, which led to the departure of outgoing CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki. Wake, a former CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, is recognised for transforming that airline into a continental leader during his tenure from 2004 to 2011. He has also served as the chairman of RwandAir.
His mandate encompasses both financial and operational aspects. According to the Ministry of Finance, Uganda Airlines reported a net loss reduced by 27% during the 2024/25 financial year. Wake noted that the airline cannot depend solely on ticket sales, conceding that he knows of no airline that thrives exclusively on passenger transport.
Management is targeting annual passenger traffic growth of 12% to 15%, with a revenue goal of $400 million to $500 million by 2030. The airline aims to break even by 2031, after which it seeks to achieve profitability.