Air France could soon return to Entebbe Airport after nearly 50 years

This follows a directive by President Yoweri Museveni on April 19th, 2023 to bolster Uganda’s exports in Europe, with focus on coffee, fruits and tourism.

Among the 5 directives issued by the President was to set up Uganda Trade Hubs at different airports, and government institutions harmonising communications on matters of exports.

Odreck Rwabwogo, who heads the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development, (PACEID) now says that plans are underway to start negotiations with the government of France to have its career open the Entebbe route.

This route, he says, is hoped to facilitate transportation of Uganda’s fruit exports to the European Union.

Uganda currently exports fruits and vegetables to Europe by air, into Liège, Brussels and Amsterdam. 

Since British Airways ceased its Uganda operations in 2015, there hasn’t been a direct airline route to the UK.

“One of our plans is to ask the French ambassador to reopen a direct route from Entebbe Airport to France with Air France,” Rwabwogo said in an interview with Fruitnet magazine.

Air France has not been to Uganda since 1975, when one of its aircraft, an Airbus 1330 was hijacked by terrorists leading to the famous “Operation Entebbe” where Israeli commandos raided the Ugandan airport to rescue over 100 Jewish hostages.

Pending the negotiations with the Government of France, Rwabwogo says focus is now on prepping Uganda Airlines, which is in the final stages of safety inspections to agree landing rights with the UK. 

The Uganda national carrier operates 2 modern Airbus A330s which can transport some 20-30 tonnes on each flight.