Emirates has celebrated 25 years of operations to Uganda. Since the inaugural flight in 2000, Emirates has transported 2.8 million passengers on 15,900 flights, connecting passengers from Uganda, with its vast global network, via Dubai.
Over the years,
Emirates has steadily and strategically scaled its operations to Entebbe,
evolving with customer demand.
At launch, the service was operated three
times a week, and linked with Nairobi, and later with Addis Ababa, before
becoming a direct service in 2007.
In 2015, Emirates
first operated the Boeing 777-200LR, replacing the Airbus A330-200 and
upgrading seat capacity by 12%.
Now, Emirates operates
a three-class Boeing 777-300ER and remains the only international airline
offering a First Class cabin in and out of the city.
For the last two
years, Emirates and the Uganda Tourism Board have collaborated to stimulate
inbound tourism, promoting the country’s stunning natural landscapes,
free-roaming wildlife experiences, thrilling adventure sports and rich culture,
in key destinations on the airline’s network.
Since January 2025,
Emirates has noted a 16% uptick in passengers on the Dubai-Entebbe
route, with key traffic from the US, China, India, the UK, Thailand and the
Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Beyond commercial
operations, Emirates has also invested in Ugandan communities. In
September 2024, Emirates’ ‘Dubai 7s for Good’ CSR programme raised a record
587,485,310 Ugandan Shillings (UGX) dedicated to building community
infrastructure and sports amenities at North Road Primary School in Uganda, a
community school recognised for its excellence in rugby, football, and netball.
Since the start of the
programme, Emirates has improved infrastructure and supplies at the school, by
building a rugby pitch complete with permanent 2-000 capacity shaded bleachers,
installing solar-powered 16 water stations to supply fresh and clean water, and
donating sport equipment to the students.
Commenting on the
anniversary, Mohamed Taher, Emirates’ Country Manager for Uganda said,
“Uganda is not only a key market on our network, but also one of our most loved
destinations in Africa. Over the last 25 years, we have built strong and
prosperous ties with customers, partners and stakeholders, by investing in our
operations to provide a best-in-class service. As Uganda’s tourism and aviation
sectors continue to flourish, we are proud to play a pivotal role in connecting
international travellers to the country and helping passengers from Uganda
explore more of the world in comfort.”
To mark the milestone,
Emirates operated a special one-off flight to Entebbe, with the fully refreshed
four-class Boeing 777, followed by a static tour to showcase the latest and
greatest the airline has to offer.
Key stakeholders from
Uganda’s aviation and tourism sectors were in attendance, including General
Edward Katumba Wamala, Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transportation, and
the Director General of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, Fred Bamwesigye along
with Rashid Alardha, Emirates’ Vice President Commercial Operations,
Sub-Saharan Africa and Mohamed Taher.
During the static
tour, guests experienced the refurbished Boeing 777, including the
next-generation cabins, latest sophisticated design and the highly acclaimed
Premium Economy Cabin, unveiled in Uganda for the first time.
Set-up as if in flight, Emirates showcased the
experience in each cabin: from lie flat seats in First and Business Class, the
fine dining in Premium Economy to the full array of amenities available in
Economy, such as children’s toys for all ages.
The aircraft is the
result of Emirates industry-leading $5 billion dollar retrofit programme, which
will see 219 A380s and Boeing 777s undergo nose-to-tail upgrades to enhance the
onboard experience for passengers.
The monumental project
is handled entirely in-house by Emirates Engineering and, to date, 72 aircraft
have been completed – 36 A380s and 37 Boeing 777s. As the programme continues
to scale up in 2026 and beyond, all Emirates destinations will be served by the
refreshed aircraft, including Uganda. -TradeArabia News Service