Uganda’s minister of Works and transport Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala on Monday received the first of two Uganda Airlines Airbus A330neo planes at the manufacturer’s headquarters in Toulouse France.

Waiswa Bageya the permanent secretary in the works and transport ministry signed the handover documents on behalf of the government of Uganda while Airbus vice president, contracts, administration, and delivery, Alain Vilanove, signed on behalf of the manufacturer.

Wamala and other officials from Uganda were on hand to inspect the plane which can seat up to 257 people.

The state-of-the-art plane arrives in Uganda on Monday where it will be received by President Yoweri Museveni.

The flight from France to Uganda will be handled by Capt. Michael Etiang who is the Uganda Airlines chief pilot together with crew members who have been in Toulouse for training.

Wamala disclosed that the government has fully completed the payment of the aircraft that he says will give Uganda Airlines an operational advantage of being able to make direct flights to big cities all over the world.

He said already mapped are out long routes that include Guangzhou and Beijing in China, London, and Dubai as the first routes.

The A330neo is powered by Rolls-Royce’s latest-generation Trent 7000 engines and features a new wing with an increased span. The cabin provides the comfort of the new airspace amenities including state-of-the-art passenger in-flight entertainment and Wi-Fi connectivity systems, amongst others.

The plane’s cabin provides the comfort of the new Airspace amenities including state-of-the-art passenger in-flight entertainment and Wi-Fi connectivity systems, amongst others.

Uganda Airlines started with four Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft in August 2019 and they have been majorly flying within the East African Community and beyond.