Uganda Airlines has hit a major milestone in its maintenance journey after successfully completing its first aircraft engine change using a team of Ugandan engineers.

The task, carried out last week on a CRJ900 aircraft at Entebbe’s Eagle Air Hangar 7, took between four and five days. While the process usually requires half that time, the extended schedule was intentional—designed to give 18 graduate trainees hands-on experience under the airline’s Approved Maintenance Organization (AMO).

Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Bamuturaki praised the development, describing it as a breakthrough for the young national carrier. “It’s the first time we’ve done an engine change here in Uganda,” she said. “But for some of our engineers, this isn’t new—they’ve done it many times before with other airlines.”

Beyond boosting local expertise, the in-house operation is expected to bring significant cost relief. According to Head of Maintenance, Peter Emuge, outsourcing engine changes abroad previously cost the airline between 80,000 and 100,000 U.S. dollars, not including additional expenses like fuel, navigation fees, and ground handling that pushed the total well above that figure.

Uganda Airlines currently runs a fleet of six aircraft: four CRJ900s, two Airbus A330s, and one leased A320. Its AMO, certified by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority in March 2024, is staffed with a youthful team of engineers whose combined professional experience spans around 100 years.

Looking ahead, the airline is working toward IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) certification, with an audit scheduled for February 2026. It also plans to construct its own hangar on newly allocated land near Entebbe International Airport, a project expected to take two years.

For Bamuturaki, compliance remains the airline’s top priority. “What keeps me awake at night is ensuring we are compliant,” she noted. “Compliance is what guarantees safety in the air—and it’s what brings customers to us.”