Uganda Airlines makes over Shs240m in corpse transportation

Speaking at the week-long first-ever media lab training in Kasese District, Morris Ongwech, the manager-in-charge of cargo at Uganda Airlines, said that on average, a body that is fully packed in a specialised coffin is heavier than normal and weighs between 130 and 180 kilogrammes.

Ongwech explained that each kilogramme is charged $8, meaning that on average, transporting a dead body back home takes about Shs5 million.

"From October 2021 when we commenced our flights, the airline has transported about 47 bodies into the country, mainly from United Arab Emirates (UAE) and South Africa, which are countries where many of Uganda's labourers are found,” Ongwech said.

He further explained that on average, they pick and return home one body every week. However, he said that they don't transport many bodies from East Africa because of the already existing competition from other regional airlines.

"But since this is a national airline, we give discounts to the bereaved families in transporting dead bodies back home as a sign of mourning alongside them," he said.

He didn't state how much discount the airline gives to the bereaved family.

Obtained data shows that fruits and vegetables are the number one exports that the national airline carries out of the country, with the major destination being Europe. Fish and flowers then follow in that order.

At the same event, Ofwono Opondo, the executive director of the Uganda Media Centre, and Jennifer Bamuturaki, the Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Airlines, called upon the journalists to factually report about the revived national carrier.

"We are not saying you sweep the dirt under the carpet but when reporting about the national carrier, which is a very sensitive business globally, ensure you report from an informed and factual point of view," Bamuturaki said.

Uganda Airlines is the flag carrier of the country. The company is a revival of the older Uganda Airlines, which operated from 1977 until 2001.