Traders in Uganda have called on the management of RwandAir to introduce more routes to cater for their transport needs.

The over 100 businesses made the request, yesterday, in the Ugandan capital Kampala during a networking dinner hosted for them by the RwandAir office in Uganda.

"There is a very big gap that you are filling here. We request you to expand your routes to cater for our people–because they travel frequently to places like China and Bangkok,” said Hope Katwine, the Vice Chairperson of Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA).

RwandAir last year, scaled up its services to Ugandans when it started operating direct flights between Entebbe in Uganda and Nairobi, Kenya, one of East Africa’s busiest routes.

On his part, Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Frank Mugambage, told the audience that leaders in the region had made a strategic decision to have a common market in the East African Community (EAC).

"We cannot operate as islands. We must support that decision because the bigger the market, the better for all of us,” he said.

"It’s through these partnerships that we shall be able improve our national economies.”

Mugambage assured the traders that RwandAir has plans this year of extending its destinations to Europe, India and China.

"In addition, RwandAir will by end of this year acquire more aircraft in the range of Airbus and Boeing,” he said.

Ada Mugenyi, the Rwandair Country Manager in Uganda told the traders that the ceremony was "meant to make you aware that we are there for you.”

The traders participated in a raffle draw, where the lucky ones won tickets to destinations such as Dubai.

The ceremony was marked by traditional dances by Ingenzi cultural troupe.

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