By The Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has vowed to summon all officials involved in the procurement of Uganda Airlines aircraft after revelations that the planes are too old, making it difficult to source spare parts and threatening the airline’s profitability.
During a heated session yesterday, MPs were shocked to learn from Uganda Airlines executives that some of the aircraft in the fleet were nearing the end of their operational life, with the remaining years insufficient to recoup the purchase costs.
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Kashari South MP Nathan Itungo likened the procurement process to “going to the market to buy cheese and almonds,” saying Uganda opted for “almonds” because they were cheaper, but ended up with planes that now cannot be maintained effectively. “Some of these may have even been wartime planes from Russia,” Itungo remarked.
COSASE chairperson Hon. Medard Lubega Sseggona expressed dismay at the revelations, noting that the committee had been informed that even Bombardier, the manufacturer of the CRJ aircraft, had ceased production after being bought by Mitsubishi. He said Lufthansa Technik, a key supplier of spare parts for the CRJs, had also stopped manufacturing them.
“When some people hear the name Bombardier, they might think it’s something big without knowing exactly what they are buying,” Sseggona said. “The officials have told us that the money spent on the purchase cannot be recovered in full during the aircraft’s remaining service life.”
Uganda Airlines Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Bamuturaki confirmed to the committee that sourcing spare parts had become a challenge since manufacturers had either halted production or changed ownership.
Sseggona said COSASE would summon all individuals behind the aircraft deal to explain why they went ahead with the purchase despite knowing that Bombardier was winding down operations. “We shall get everyone who was responsible to tell the country why they bought old planes that cannot be supported,” he vowed.
Uganda Airlines, which was revived in 2019 with a fleet including Bombardier CRJ-900s, has faced repeated criticism over financial losses, management controversies, and operational inefficiencies.
