Uganda’s first amphibian aircraft designed to serve ordinary citizens was officially launched on Tuesday, marking a new chapter in connecting remote island communities on Lake Victoria. The plane will initially serve six islands — Bukasa, Buvuma, Buyovu, and Lingira among them — where access to the mainland has long been a challenge.
Speaking at the launch, Sam Baguma, the Uganda Country Director for Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), said the Cessna 208 Caravan, a donation from the Netherlands, will operate daily at an affordable fee yet to be determined. He emphasized that the goal is to make the service accessible to local residents while also helping to respond to medical emergencies, especially for expectant mothers who often die while traveling by boat to hospitals in Masaka, Entebbe, and Jinja.
“This aircraft will not only improve connectivity but also save lives,” Baguma said. “We want to ensure mothers and patients in need of urgent medical attention can reach hospitals safely and quickly.”
Ryan Unger, a pilot and Head of Flight Operations at MAF, explained that the aircraft is widely used across the world but has been modified with a more powerful engine, enabling it to take off and land on water. “We use a floating dock system that makes it easier for passengers to board and disembark,” he added.
Although the aircraft has been launched, operations are expected to begin after regulatory approvals are complete. Ronny Barongo, Director of Safety, Security, and Economic Regulation at the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), said registration of the nine-seater plane could take about two months.
Because this is Uganda’s first water aircraft, a UCAA team will travel to Papua New Guinea for benchmarking to learn how similar operations are conducted. “While the amphibian plane is new to Uganda, the Cessna type has been in use for years, so we don’t expect major delays,” Barongo said. “We just need to establish guidelines, including suitable water runways and weather pattern monitoring.”
Baguma added that MAF will begin with “proof-of-concept” flights to demonstrate the aircraft’s safety and reliability to regulators. Beyond the initial six islands, the organization plans to expand operations to cover more of the over 80 islands on Uganda’s side of Lake Victoria.
Meanwhile, Fred Byabakama, State Minister of Transport in the Ministry of Works and Transport, said the launch comes at an opportune time as the government reviews aviation laws to strengthen air safety, accident investigation, and search and rescue operations. “We may now need to consider new regulations specific to amphibian aircraft,” he noted.
For many island residents, the launch represents more than just a new mode of transport — it’s a lifeline that could turn hours-long, dangerous water crossings into safe, 15-minute flights.
