Airbus is scheduled to handover one aircraft to the team on Monday and it will be flown to Entebbe by the Uganda Airlines’ crew.
The Ugandan delegation led by works and transport minister, Gen. Katumba Wamala, on Friday evening arrived in the city of Toulouse in France to officially receive Uganda’s first Airbus A330-800neo (New Engine Options) from the manufacturers, Airbus company.
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The team, which had a long wait at Amsterdam International Airport, finally arrived in Toulouse in the evening but they were subjected to another COVID-19 test at the Airbus head office before they were allowed to check-in their respective hotels.
The COVID-19 test conducted by Chloe, a nurse with the Airbus was the second after one conducted by Mulago Hospital doctor at the Ministry of works on Wednesday, two days before the team left for France.
Airbus is scheduled to handover one aircraft to the team on Monday and it will be flown to Entebbe by the Uganda Airlines’ crew.
It will be received by President Yoweri Museveni at a ceremony on Tuesday.
It will be the first Airbus aircraft manufactured in France and one of the newest additions to the Uganda Airlines after the purchase of four CRJ 900 jetliners also called Bombadiers in April and October respectively.
The team that traveled with the minister include officials of the ministries of works, finance, National Planning Authority led by Joseph Muvawala, Uganda Civil Aviation Authority officials led by acting director-general Fred Bamwesigye, and Uganda Airlines led by board chairman Pereza Ahabwe.
The team was able to see from a distance the Ugandan aircraft with the National colours at the airport.
France is, however, under lockdown and applying strong safety measures to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Shops are open during normal business hours but restaurants, bars, cafes, cinemas, and gyms remain closed.
The media team will, however, be permitted to make a sightseeing tour of Toulouse on Sunday as they prepare for Monday’s receiving function.
Chloe, a nurse with Airbus company, collects COVID-19 samples from Jackline Mbabazi, a crew member of the Uganda Airlines’ new Airbus.
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