Members of Parliament on the Budget Committee have rejected a proposal to allocate UGX 381 billion to the UPDF for the revamp of Uganda Air Cargo, a national cargo airline in a dire state with no operational aircraft.
Presenting the proposal to the budget committee of parliament, the Defense Committee Vice Chairman Linos Ngompek explained that the cabinet approved the UGX 381 billion to resuscitate Uganda Air Cargo, but the Ministry of Finance omitted it from the 2025/26 budget framework paper.
The UPDF-run air cargo has a fleet of two planes, but both are inoperable, with one stranded in Sudan and the other damaged beyond repair due to an engine crash by a bird
MPs have vowed not to approve the allocation, suggesting instead that Uganda Air Cargo be merged with Uganda Airlines, citing the military’s failure to manage the airline effectively.
Additionally, MPs on the budget committee have expressed dissatisfaction with the UGX 138 billion budget requested by the UPDF to keep peace during the 2026 elections. MPs argued that the constitution gives this mandate to the Uganda Police
