Uganda Airlines London Route Suspended Amid Human Rights Controversy

— Uganda Today News Desk

Uganda Today Edition: Uganda Airlines London Route Suspended Amid Human Rights Controversy

Kampala/London — March 2025

Uganda Airlines’ much-anticipated direct route from Entebbe to London Gatwick has been abruptly suspended following a directive from British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, citing serious human rights violations in Uganda.

In a statement that sent shockwaves through diplomatic and aviation circles, Lammy declared that Britain “will not allow the skies of the UK to become a welcome mat for regimes that brutalise their own people.” The decision comes after mounting criticism of Uganda’s political landscape, marked by allegations of autocratic governance and systemic human rights abuses under President Yoweri Museveni’s decades-long rule.

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The suspension follows a tense meeting between Lammy and Ugandan Ambassador Lisa Chesnay at the UK Foreign Office, where the ambassador was summoned to explain her government’s record. According to insiders, the meeting was described as “frank and uncompromising.”

The UK Civil Aviation Authority had previously approved Uganda Airlines’ direct flights to Gatwick, a move now revoked. Sources within Whitehall report that Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed disappointment that the route was initially authorized, arguing it undermined Britain’s stance against authoritarian regimes worldwide.

“We cannot condemn Russia’s abuses in Ukraine while turning a blind eye to a government that imprisons political opponents, silences journalists, and uses its military to suppress dissent,” Lammy said.

Human Rights in the Spotlight

Uganda’s political climate has drawn escalating international condemnation. President Museveni, in power for nearly 40 years, has positioned key family members in senior roles, including his wife Janet Museveni as Minister of Education and his son Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba as head of the armed forces. Critics argue this represents a dynastic entrenchment rather than a functioning democracy.

Longtime opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye remains detained two months after the January 31st 2025 Supreme Court landmark ruling that set aside the Court Martial proceedings under which he was being arraigned, while reports of extrajudicial arrests and violent crackdowns on journalists continue to surface. Last month, several journalists  from different media houses including but not limited to Daily Monitor were brutalised and hospitalized after police attacked them during kaempe North by-election coverage.

Civil society leaders have praised the UK’s firm response. One activist, speaking anonymously, remarked, “Finally, someone is listening. If they won’t hear our cries at home, maybe losing their London privileges will make them pay attention.”

Targeting Uganda’s Elite

Lammy’s comments also spotlighted Uganda’s wealthy elite, known for their extravagant lifestyles abroad.

“These people don’t come to London to contribute to society,” Lammy said. “They come to shop at Harrods, stay in five-star hotels, and flaunt ill-gotten wealth. We won’t stand by while they choose Gucci over governance and Dior over democracy.”

The Foreign Office has instructed Ambassador Chesnay to submit a detailed human rights report addressing allegations of forced disappearances, military abuses, and arbitrary detentions. According to sources, potential sanctions — including asset freezes and travel bans targeting senior Ugandan officials — are under consideration.

Fallout for Uganda Airlines

For Uganda Airlines, the suspension deals a significant financial and reputational blow. The Entebbe-Gatwick route was heralded as a breakthrough for tourism and business ties. Now, the airline faces potential losses in the millions, with its flagship Airbus A330 grounded indefinitely.

Government insiders reportedly labeled the development a “catastrophic diplomatic setback.” Business leaders have voiced alarm, with one logistics CEO describing the move as “a major loss — London was our gateway to the world.”

However, critics argue that the route primarily served Uganda’s elite, not the average citizen.

“Let’s be honest,” said a Kampala-based activist. “It wasn’t nurses from Gulu or teachers from Mbale on those flights. It was ministers, their mistresses, and designer luggage.”

A follow-up review is expected in the spring, when the UK government will reassess the suspension and decide on possible further action. For now, Uganda Airlines remains barred from British airspace — a symbolic grounding of not just a plane, but a nation’s standing on the global stage.

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