Uganda Airlines has confirmed that recent disruptions to its London service were the result of a technical fault affecting one of its Airbus A330-800neo aircraft. The problem, which arose at London Gatwick last week, forced the cancellation of the UR 111 London–Entebbe flight and caused knock-on delays across parts of the airline’s long-haul network.
According to Shakila Rahim Lama, Head of Communication and Corporate Affairs, the aircraft registered as 5X-NIL “Mt Elgon” developed a fault that required replacement parts. However, global supply chain challenges meant that sourcing and delivering the components took longer than expected.
“Safety always comes first, and the aircraft could not be released until the issue was fully resolved,” Lama said, adding that the jet has since been cleared and returned to service.
The grounding of one of Uganda Airlines’ two long-haul aircraft had a ripple effect, disrupting routes beyond London including scheduled flights to Dubai and Mumbai. Passengers reported frustrations over repeated rescheduling and limited updates, though the airline maintains that travel partners were informed of all changes.
Analysts point out that the carrier’s small fleet leaves it highly vulnerable to technical problems, with little spare capacity to cover long-haul routes during downtime. The disruption comes only weeks after the airline announced partial restoration of flights that had earlier been scaled back due to operational challenges.
Despite the setback, Uganda Airlines says it has reviewed its maintenance and logistics systems to reduce the risk of similar delays in the future. The airline urged passengers with upcoming bookings to reconfirm travel dates and assured customers that its services are now running on schedule.
With the London aircraft back in the skies, the national carrier is working to rebuild passenger confidence and keep its expanding international network on track.