Uganda Airlines has faced renewed criticism after reportedly abandoning its passengers at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. This marks the second such incident in less than a month, highlighting persistent operational failures.
Passengers Left in the Dark for Days
The latest disruption occurred on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Passengers scheduled for a 6 p.m. flight from Lagos to Entebbe, Uganda, arrived at the airport only to discover their journey had been cancelled or indefinitely postponed. Critically, the airline failed to notify travelers via email or text message about the changes, leaving many stranded and uninformed.
One affected female passenger, who traveled from eastern Nigeria and wished to remain anonymous, revealed her flight was abruptly rescheduled by 48 hours. As of the report's filing, it was uncertain if she and others would finally depart as planned. Some passengers have now been stuck in Lagos for up to a week.
A Pattern of Operational Failures
This event echoes a similar crisis in mid-December 2025. On that occasion, Uganda Airlines also stranded passengers in Lagos, citing an incident involving one of its Airbus A330-800neo aircraft upon landing. The resolution took over a week, requiring the carrier to use partner airlines like RwandAir and Kenya Airways to eventually airlift the affected individuals.
In the current situation, another distressed female passenger lamented the lack of communication. "I didn't receive any email from the airline informing me of the delay or cancellation," she said. "I was told to come back at 2 a.m. the next day. That's the dilemma I am in now."
Airline Silence and Passenger Dilemma
Attempts to obtain an official explanation from Uganda Airlines have been unsuccessful. Calls placed to the airline's Country Manager in Nigeria went unanswered, leaving passengers without recourse or clear information.
The recurring nature of these disruptions poses serious questions about the reliability of Uganda Airlines' Nigerian operations. The carrier operates twice-weekly flights to Lagos on Mondays and Thursdays, and also services the Abuja route.
For travelers, the key takeaways from these repeated incidents are:
- Uganda Airlines has a recent history of stranding passengers in Lagos without prompt solutions.
- Communication from the airline during disruptions is severely lacking.
- Passengers are advised to have contingency plans when booking with the carrier.
The situation underscores the need for better consumer protection and accountability for international airlines operating in Nigerian airspace.
