In a major boost to local aviation capability, Uganda Airlines has successfully completed its first-ever in-house engine change on a Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft (5X-KNP), marking a technical milestone just days before its sixth anniversary.
The airline announced on August 26 that its Approved Maintenance Organization (AMO) team carried out the entire engine replacement at its Entebbe base—a first for the national carrier.
The operation involved removing the aircraft’s left-hand General Electric CF34-8C5 engine and replacing it with a new spare. The old engine will now undergo a full overhaul at a manufacturer-authorized facility before returning for use on the right-hand side of the plane.
This maintenance feat follows formal approval of the airline's AMO by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) in March 2024.
"This accomplishment highlights our capability to manage critical aspects of aircraft maintenance in-house while meeting the highest safety and regulatory standards," said Jenifer Bamuturaki, CEO of Uganda Airlines, during a media briefing.
Bamuturaki emphasized that conducting the engine change internally not only cut turnaround time to just five days, but also saved the airline hundreds of thousands of dollars compared to outsourcing the work internationally.
The milestone comes at a time when Uganda Airlines is rapidly expanding both its network and fleet. In May 2025, the airline launched its long-awaited Entebbe–London Gatwick route using its Airbus A330-800, fulfilling a key strategic goal since the airline’s revival in 2019.
Looking to the future, Bamuturaki confirmed that Uganda Airlines has received government approval to negotiate orders with Airbus for two A320neo and two A321neo aircraft, expected to be delivered between 2031 and 2033.
The airline’s current fleet includes two Airbus A330-800s (258-seat capacity) and four Bombardier CRJ900s (76-seat capacity).
With this engine change milestone, Uganda Airlines is positioning itself as not only a growing African carrier but also a driver of local aviation expertise and cost-effective operations.
As it celebrates six years of operations on August 28, the national carrier appears well on course to achieving greater technical self-reliance and international competitiveness
