Uganda Airlines Engineers Make History With First-Ever Engine Change at Home

Uganda Airlines has successfully installed a brand-new spare engine on aircraft 5X-KNP, marking the first time its maintenance team has carried out a full engine change locally.

The replacement was necessary because the previously fitted engine needed a scheduled manufacturer modification. That engine has now been removed and will be shipped back to the manufacturer for upgrades before returning to take up the Number 2 position. Once it is reinstalled, the second engine will also undergo the same modification.

While engine changes are a normal part of aircraft operations, this particular one carried special importance. It was the first such task completed entirely by the Uganda Airlines Approved Maintenance Organization (AMO) team since the Civil Aviation Authority granted approval in March 2024.

The job was handled by Ugandan engineers and extended over five days instead of the usual two, as graduate trainees and interns were also involved in the process for skills development.

Until now, Uganda Airlines had to fly aircraft abroad, often to South Africa, for similar work. This created high expenses, including fuel, equipment rentals, handling fees, and overflight charges. By carrying out the work in Uganda, the airline saved more than 100,000 dollars, with further savings from avoiding international travel costs.

The achievement is considered a milestone in the airline’s growth since its revival in 2019. Although this was the first engine change performed under Uganda Airlines, many of the engineers had already gained experience in similar work with other carriers.

With its AMO now fully functional, Uganda Airlines is looking to expand beyond maintaining its own fleet. The long-term plan is to offer maintenance services to other airlines as well, creating new revenue streams in addition to passenger and cargo operations. The airline is also in the process of building its own hangar to support future maintenance work.