RX Radio Proprietor and Presenter James Onen aka Fatboy has asked Ugandans to continue supporting the Uganda National Airline despite the Airline making huge losses in its first year of operation.
Uganda Airlines grossed Shs102b in losses in the 2019/20 financial year, according to the Auditor Generals’ report.
While on Wednesday’s The Fatboy Show, Fatboy said that it was expected that the airline would make losses considering the conditions in which it has been operating for example the restrictions on travel and tourism because of Covid 19 pandemic outbreak globally.
“Let’s give the airline time before we can demand that it makes profits. Its hard for airlines globally to break through because of the huge procurement expenditure and operational expenses,’’ he said.
He added; “This is not to say that the funds were not misappropriated, however the survival of the airline is good for all of us, for the nation, for the tax payers, tourism and of course Ugandan travellers,” he said.
His co-host Olive Najjuma said she was also sympathetic to the airline and understood it incurred such huge losses in its first 2 years however she said it is the right of citizens to hold the management of the airline accountable so that funds are not mismanaged.
Uganda Airlines resumed flights in August 2019, 20 years after the national carrier collapsed due to mismanagement. The airline has so far procured 2 airbuses and 2 bombardiers.
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The Fatboy show is hosted by James Onen aka Fatboy and Oliver Najjuma every weekday from 6am to 10am on RX Radio.