Undersecretary Godfrey Sseremba told Parliament that the aircraft will significantly improve aerial patrols, wildlife monitoring, animal census exercises, and rescue operations, particularly for animals trapped in poachers’ snares. He said the absence of a dedicated helicopter has made these tasks costly, time-consuming, and operationally difficult.
“This money is for buying a new helicopter, not maintenance. It will help in conducting patrols, surveillance, and rescue of animals that have been ensnared by poachers,” Sseremba said.
Currently, the ministry hires helicopters, an arrangement he described as expensive and unreliable, especially during peak conservation periods.
The request is included in the ministry’s Budget Framework Paper (BFP) for the 2026/2027 financial year and was presented to the Committee on Trade, Tourism and Industry on Tuesday, 27 January 2026 by the sector minister, Tom Butime.
MPs backed the proposal, noting the tourism sector’s economic contribution. They were told that tourism generated Shs12.2 trillion in 2025, largely driven by 1.65 million tourists who visited the country.
However, MPs also expressed concern about the operational capacity of Uganda Airlines, warning that disruptions could negatively affect tourism growth, which currently relies heavily on foreign visitors.
“The issues being reported about the airline are likely to affect tourism. Do you have any measures in place to cater for foreign tourists?” asked Committee Chairperson Sylvia Nayebale.
State Minister for Tourism Martin Mugarra defended the airline’s role in boosting tourist arrivals but admitted that its challenges require urgent attention.
“Uganda Airlines now flies to 17 destinations and in 2025 it contributed about 27 per cent of our tourist traffic. There will be challenges if the carrier does not operate smoothly,” Mugarra said.
He warned that failure to stabilise the airline’s operations could undermine progress made in positioning Uganda as a competitive tourism destination.