Jambojet has returned to Uganda, resuming daily direct flights between Nairobi and Entebbe in a move expected to strengthen air connectivity, tourism, trade and business links between Uganda and Kenya.
The return of the Kenyan low-cost carrier was officially welcomed at Entebbe International Airport by Uganda’s Minister of State for Works and Transport, Fred Byamukama, who said the resumption of flights demonstrated the confidence that airline operators continue to place in Uganda’s aviation sector.
Byamukama said the occasion went beyond the resumption of flights, describing Jambojet’s return as a reflection of the strong and enduring relationship between Uganda and Kenya.
“It is a demonstration of the confidence that airline operators continue to place in the Government of Uganda and in the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority’s commitment to safety, efficiency and excellence in aviation,” Byamukama said.
He congratulated the Jambojet board, management and staff for renewing the airline’s commitment to the Ugandan market.
Byamukama said Uganda and Kenya are bound by geography, history, culture and commerce, adding that the two countries have maintained strong diplomatic and economic relations based on mutual cooperation and shared aspirations for regional prosperity.
He noted that Kenya remains one of Uganda’s most important trading partners and a key gateway to regional and international markets.
“Every day, people, goods and services move between our two countries, demonstrating the strength of this partnership and the opportunities it continues to create,” he said.
The minister said the Entebbe-Nairobi route is among the most competitive and busiest routes, while Nairobi ranks among the top three destinations for passengers departing Uganda.
He added that Uganda has concluded Bilateral Air Services Agreements with 64 countries to provide the legal framework for international air services, including airline designation, traffic rights and routes.
Byamukama said air transport plays an important role in connecting businesses to markets, tourists to destinations, investors to opportunities and families to one another.
He said the return of Jambojet would contribute to the East African Community’s goal of building a more connected and integrated region.
“The Government of Uganda remains fully committed to supporting regional integration initiatives and strengthening transport linkages that bring East Africans closer together,” he said.
Byamukama said the government would continue providing the infrastructure and policy support required for the growth of Uganda’s aviation sector.
He pointed to the ongoing expansion of Entebbe International Airport, the development of Kabalega International Airport and the ongoing development of Kidepo International Airport as some of the investments being undertaken to improve the country’s aviation infrastructure.
He also commended airlines operating through Entebbe International Airport, saying they were important partners in Uganda’s economic development.
Uganda Civil Aviation Authority Director General Fred Bamwesigye said Jambojet’s return was a “vote of confidence” in Uganda’s air transport system and demonstrated the growth of aviation in the region.
Bamwesigye said increased competition in the aviation sector could enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness while providing passengers with greater choice.
“A vibrant aviation sector is the lifeblood of economic growth. Whenever you have competition in the aviation industry, it enhances efficiency and cost effectiveness,” he said.
He said Jambojet was expected to contribute to making regional air travel more accessible to businesspeople, families and tourists through its low-cost model.
At the same time, Bamwesigye said UCAA would continue holding airlines operating in Uganda to strict safety and security standards.
He said Uganda recorded an effective implementation score of 72.64 percent in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit in 2023, compared with regional and global averages of 55 percent and 69.4 percent respectively.
In aviation security, he said Uganda achieved 81.6 percent in the ICAO security audit conducted in 2024, compared with regional and global averages of 64.5 percent and 72.36 percent.
Bamwesigye said Jambojet is now the 21st international air operator at Entebbe International Airport.
He said international passenger traffic at Entebbe has grown from about 118,000 passengers in 1991, when UCAA was established, to 2.48 million passengers in 2025.
He said UCAA was continuing to expand airport facilities to accommodate the growth.
Bamwesigye said a new 20,000-square-metre terminal building at Entebbe had been completed and would soon be opened to the public.
The new facility includes three additional aerobridges, bringing the total to five, 24 additional check-in counters and 14 self-check-in counters.
According to Bamwesigye, the new terminal will increase Entebbe’s annual international passenger-handling capacity from about two million to at least 3.5 million passengers once fully operational.
He said the airport’s parking system had also been upgraded with licence plate recognition, touchless interaction and mobile payment integration.
Bamwesigye further noted that Uganda had regained a seat on the ICAO Council, giving the country a stronger voice in global aviation decisions concerning safety, security, connectivity and sustainable development.
Jambojet resumes route after six years
Jambojet Managing Director and CEO Karanja Ndegwa said the airline’s return to Entebbe was a significant moment for both the carrier and regional commerce.
Jambojet first launched the Nairobi-Entebbe route in 2018 and operated it for about two years before the service was suspended. The airline has now returned with daily direct flights.
Ndegwa said the airline was returning with experience gained from its earlier operations, an expanded domestic network and a stronger commitment to making regional air travel accessible and reliable.
“We are coming back with a very clear proposition,” Ndegwa said, highlighting affordability, operational reliability and growth.
The airline has set starting one-way fares at KES 22,950, equivalent to about USD 170, for the Nairobi-Entebbe route.
Ndegwa said affordability would be supported by reliable operations, noting that Jambojet currently records an on-time performance of 84.6 percent against a target of 85 percent across its network.
The airline is starting with one daily flight but plans to increase frequencies as demand grows.
The published schedule has the Nairobi-Entebbe service departing Nairobi at 9:30am and arriving in Entebbe at 11am, with the return service departing Entebbe at 11:40am.
Ndegwa said the opportunity presented by the route extends beyond Nairobi and Entebbe, with Ugandan travellers able to connect through Nairobi to destinations across Kenya, particularly the coastal destinations of Mombasa, Diani, Malindi and Lamu.
He said Kenyan travellers would similarly benefit from a direct connection to Uganda for business, tourism and visiting family and friends.
Ndegwa said Uganda was Kenya’s largest source market in the region in 2025, with 234,556 visitors, and that Kenya was targeting 300,000 visitors from Uganda this year.
He said improved air links would be central to achieving that target.
Speaking on behalf of the Jambojet CEO, Chief Financial Officer Ira Kaviti said the airline had used the period away from the Ugandan market to strengthen its capacity, expand its fleet and build a denser Kenyan network.
“Today, we return to Uganda not just as an airline resuming a route, but as a mature, market-tested low-cost carrier here to stay and grow with you,” Kaviti said.
He said Ugandan businesses require fast, reliable and affordable regional transport and that high airfares have historically presented a barrier to trade.
Kaviti said Jambojet would operate the route using De Havilland Canada Dash 8 Q400 aircraft, which can carry up to 82 passengers.
He described the Nairobi-Entebbe route as a two-way bridge for tourism, trade and business between the two countries.
Ugandan travellers will be able to connect through Nairobi to Kenya’s coastal destinations as well as other domestic destinations, while Kenyan travellers will gain another direct option for accessing Uganda’s business centres, tourism attractions and cultural destinations.
Kaviti said the airline would begin with daily service but was prepared to increase frequencies as demand from the business community, tourism sector and other travellers grows.
He thanked the Ministry of Works and Transport, UCAA, diplomatic partners, travel agencies and private-sector stakeholders for supporting Jambojet’s return.
The resumption of the Nairobi-Entebbe service adds capacity to one of East Africa’s key travel corridors and gives passengers another direct option between the two countries. The airline has also said the route will support business, tourism and trade between Uganda and Kenya.
