Excitement rocked majority Ugandans this morning as the revamped National aircraft unveiled its new routes, prices and final date of starting operations.
In a popular twitter statement, the much anticipated Uganda airlines noted how it will have routes to Somalia, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, South Sudan among others at subsidized prices.
What happened as a surprise is to findout that the land of a thousand hills was not among the countries to welcome the maiden destinations, regradless of the fact that Rwanda Air operation are fruitfully mushrooming here.
Though Uganda and Rwanda have been enjoying a thick business and diplomatic relationships for several decades, the recent security rifts between two states are bound to be the reason behind the flopped agreement.
According to our insider, Uganda Airlines efforts to secure the Kigali route has been constrained by the neighbouring government that has delayed to respond to request.
In February Rwanda closed Gatuna border post for cargo trucks. But the border remained open for all other small cars and buses.
Kigali said that the border was closed for the completion of the one-stop border post. Rwanda also stopped its citizens from crossing into Uganda, accusing Kampala of illegally arresting, torturing and deporting its citizens.
However, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni recently said that mutual talks between Uganda and Rwanda to revive cross border trade are progressing.
“Recently we met the Rwandan leader in Angola and we discussed about the border issue. Leave it to us. Talks shall continue until the matter is completely resolved. It does not make sense to keep talking on radios but what is important is to ensure that the border issue is resolved,” said President Museveni.
“The issue took me to Angola to meet President Kagame and other leaders and I will not reveal what we discussed.”
President Museveni was addressing journalists on Tuesday at Kabale State Lodge after meeting local leaders from Kigezi Sub-region in western Uganda.
In February Rwanda closed Gatuna border post for cargo trucks. But the border remained open for all other small cars and buses.
Kigali said that the border was closed for the completion of the one-stop border post.
