The Uganda Air Cargo Corporation board Chairperson Captain John Otekat is optimistic after parliament approving a Ugx 46.1 billion fund to reinstate Uganda’s Air Cargo that has been tormented by losses and arrears.
The Air Cargo was established in the 1994 by Act of the Ugandan Parliament to provide and operate safe, efficient, adequate, economical and properly coordinated air transport services within and outside the country, for cargo, passenger, chartered passenger flights, air mail services and flight training.
Following their previous appeal to Parliament last year, the corporation had requested Ugx55.46 billion support intended to repair the centre wing box of the grounded C-130 aircraft and the purchase of a new Boeing B7337-500.
While talking at the handover ceremony of the new acting UACC’s General Manager Emmanuel Kwihanga who replaced Fred Kyankya, Otekat said that the sh46.1bn will also cover the salary arrears and allowances for staff as they look at recapitalizing the corporation.
“I would like to thank parliament for approving our appeal and assure the public that this money will be used to recapitalize the corporation and see us function once more after a very long period without working where staff who have not been paid for over four year will also get the salary and allowance arrears,” Otekat vowed
Otekat also applauded the corporation staff for being patient and urged them to work as a team together with the new management if they wish to have an operational air cargo.
“Kyankya has done his part and I want to thank him for his tireless efforts and urge other members to corporate with the new management so that we can work as a team to have our corporation operational once more,” Otekat added.
For most of its life, the company first owned a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, registration number 5X-UCF.
However in October 2009, the fleet was expanded by the addition of two Harbin Y-12 turboprop aircraft and currently the corporation owns two air crafts and two C-130 Hercules
