KIGALI, RWANDA: Uganda’s National Flag Carrier, Uganda Airlines has been accepted by Rwandan Authorities to start direct flights to Kigali, a move meant to, among others, ease trade and movement between the two countries.
The announcement was made Friday, March 24, by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, JeJe Odongo during the just concluded eleventh Rwanda-Uganda Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) in Kigali.
“Uganda welcomes the acceptance of the designation of our national carrier – Uganda Airlines by the Rwanda authorities, which will lead to its commencing of direct flights from their hub in Entebbe to Kigali,” Jeje Odongo said, adding that “This will further boost trade, enhance connectivity, and contribute to strengthening people-to-people exchanges.”
“We must exert all efforts to promote mutually beneficial trade. The infrastructural challenges and non – tariff barriers that affect the smooth flow of goods and services, limits free movement of persons need to be addressed.”
On his part, Vincent Biruta, the Rwandan Foreign Minister said, “This important meeting marks another milestone in the ongoing process to revitalize the longstanding and excellent bilateral relations between our two countries.”
In the three-day JPC, the two neighbouring countries agreed to create an attractive environment for the private sector and to fast-track earlier stalled Northern Corridor Integration Projects such as the Standard Gauge Railway, among others.
The meeting also witnessed the signing of four memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in the fields of justice and constitutionalism, mutual legal assistance, diplomatic and political consultations, and migration matters.
It was not yet disclosed when exactly the Uganda Airlines was to start the flights to Kigali, as the routes it would take were not yet revealed.
Uganda Airlines resumed operations in August 2019 after nearly 20 years of inactivity, while its Rwandan counterpart, RwandAir, has already been flying to Entebbe, Uganda, three times a day.
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