KENYA AIRWAYS REFUSED TO PICK MUSEVENI

The Kenya Airways airliner refused to pick President Museveni from Northern Uganda enroute to Nairobi, compelling the head-of-state to seek the services of the Ethiopian Airways, the Kenyan media reported on Monday.
Following the rejection of the president’s request, Museveni’s aides contacted Ethiopian Airlines which delivered him to Nairobi on February 20 for 16th ordinary summit of the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State.
The Standard newspaper on Monday quoted KQ officials as describing the incident as “regrettable”.
The newspaper insinuated that the incident has “jolted diplomatic relations between the two States” since “Uganda has given the airline vast rights to use its space for regional and international flights.”
Uganda Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary, Amb James Mugume, toldChimpReports today that Uganda’s relations with Kenya are too strong to be shaken by such minor incidents.
“I don’t think such could have any impact on our relations with Kenya,” said Mugume via telephone from Pretoria, South Africa.
He further stated that Kenya Airways is “a company” whose decisions are respected by the Ugandan government.
Kenya Transport Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau, in whose docket the airline falls, and his Foreign Affairs counterpart Amina Mohamed, have been summoned by the Tetu MP Ndung’u Gethenji-led committee to explain circumstances under which the national carrier declined the request for a short flight.
“We are informed that KQ declined the request, compelling HE Yoweri Museveni to seek the services of Ethiopian Airline. Museveni is the senior-most Head of State from the region and for KQ to decline his request to fly him to a forum chaired by our own President is very embarrassing,” Gethenji said.
Museveni reportedly expressed to President Uhuru his frustrations over the matter, prompting the House committee to pick up the matter. Presidents Pierre Nkurunzinza (Burundi), Paul Kagame (Rwanda) and Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania) attended the conference.
This website understands that after the Summit, the Ethiopian aircraft carried Museveni to Gulu airport where he was picked by his presidential car convoy security detail for functions in Eastern Uganda.
Museveni usually uses a presidential gulf-stream jet for such foreign flights and military choppers for inland transport here in Uganda.
However, a few days to the Nairobi Summit, Museveni was informed that the presidential jet was being serviced and that it was not ready for the flight.
At the time, Museveni was in Lira where he commissioned the Shs28.7billion ultra modern market and Lira School of Nursing and midwifery.
In 2014, the chopper carrying Museveni to eastern Uganda malfunctioned after a bird got stuck in one of its engines.
Another chopper was sent from Entebbe Airbase to airlift Museveni to his destination.
KQ CEO Mbuvi Ngunze acknowledged the incident which he termed as a misunderstanding that has since been addressed.
“The incident was a misunderstanding that has since been cleared. KQ is always honoured to serve the region and Africa. As the Pride of Africa, we continuously work towards sustainability of Africa,” Mr Ngunze said.