Tayari News
Uganda Airlines has finally confirmed suspension of flights between Entebbe and Kinshasa starting Saturday, May 23, saying the decision was taken to the sake of passenger and public safety.
This comes after the Ministry of Health and the Uganda National Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), chaired by Vice President Jessica Alupo issued emergency measures countrywide, including suspension of public transport between the Uganda and DRC, border open market and other border activities.
While the taskforce gave four weeks as the period of the suspension, Uganda Airlines said their flight suspension was indefinite “until further notice”.
”This decision has been taken as a precautionary measure in the interest of the health, safety and well-being of our passengers, crew and the wider public,” says a Friday evening statement.
Uganda’s Bombardier CRJ planes have been operating four weekly flights to Kinshasa, a route it launched December 2020.
Following the announcement of the decision by the taskforce to suspend flights, President Museveni did not sound supportive of the move which he said was a result of panic by the team.
Opening the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE) early Thursday, Museveni said he would discuss the matter with the taskforce, saying there was no need for panic as alternative measure to a spread of Ebola from DRC were available.
Uganda Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that all flights between Uganda and DR Congo had been suspended, referring to the announcement by the Director of the Uganda Media Centre, Allan Kasujja via his X account.
There are a total of five airlines operating scheduled flights between Entebbe and Kinshasa, the other being Kenya Airways, RwandAir, Ethiopian and Air Congo. They have all be suspended now.
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