By Aggrey Baba
They say when the drums of war beat, even the bravest dancer steps back. Uganda Airlines has decided to pause all flights to Kinshasa because of the growing chaos in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The trouble in Kinshasa reached a boiling point when angry protesters looted and burned parts of Uganda’s embassy, accusing Uganda of siding with the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels. The Ugandan government has dismissed these claims as baseless.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, Uganda Airlines explained that it was left with no choice but to suspend flights due to the worsening security situation.
“This suspension is necessary because of the ongoing unrest in Kinshasa and other parts of the DRC,” the airline said. “Flights will only resume when the situation allows us to operate safely.”
The decision comes at a time when eastern DRC is grappling with intense fighting. The M23 rebels have taken over key locations, including the city of Goma. According to the United Nations, over 400,000 people have been forced to flee their homes since the start of the year.
Before this suspension, Uganda Airlines had three flights a week to Kinshasa, aiming to strengthen ties between the two nations. However, as things stand, no one knows when the airline will be able to restart its operations. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
