Uganda Air Cargo Fleet Deemed Beyond Repair, General Manager Advocates for Disposal

Lakibus Lakara, the General Manager of Uganda Air Cargo, has strongly recommended the disposal of the airline’s fleet, currently grounded at Entebbe, citing the aircraft’s deteriorated condition and the uneconomical repair costs. Addressing the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs on March 26, Lakara highlighted the impracticality of restoring the fleet to operational status.

“With the current state of our fleet, holding onto these aircraft does not make financial sense. The cost of repair far exceeds the benefits, leading us to the decision that disposing of them is the most viable option,” Lakara stated.

The disposal process is set to be managed by the Ministry of Defence, with oversight from the parliament to ensure compliance with legal standards. This move comes after years of inactivity for the Uganda Air Cargo Corporation (UACC), attributed to a lack of operational funding. The corporation reportedly has five aircraft, with three earmarked for disposal and two under repair.

Operating under the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) and overseen by the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF), UACC faces financial hurdles, with a significant budget shortfall impacting its operations. The Ministry of Defence has sought UGX381 billion (about USD98.6 million) for the acquisition of new aircraft, against a backdrop of receiving only a fraction of its requested budget for the 2024/2025 financial year.

The decision to dispose of the aircraft is part of broader discussions on the Defence Ministry’s policy statement for the next financial year, highlighting the pressing need for financial mobilization to support the acquisition of new aircraft, including a B737 freighter. Currently, the ministry incurs substantial costs, amounting to UGX400 million (USD103,400) monthly, to outsource flights for troop transport to Somalia and other missions, due to the grounding of Uganda Air Cargo’s fleet.

The fleet, which lost its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) in 2014, resulting in the grounding of its Lockheed C-130 Hercules and Y12 turboprops, has not seen active service since. Despite several attempts to revive operations, the carrier remains inactive, with its C-130 Hercules aircraft grounded at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion since January 2022. This situation underscores the challenges facing Uganda Air Cargo and the broader implications for the country’s defense and humanitarian logistics capabilities.