The Ugandan Government has submitted a request to the country's parliament for the disbursement of an additional UGX280 billion Ugandan shillings (USD75.6 million) needed for the purchase of two CRJ900s for Uganda Airlines (UR, Entebbe).

According to The Monitor newspaper, the request was submitted on Wednesday, March 6, and is required by March 16.

"We need to pay UGX280 billion. We have taken a decision and we are proposing that proceeds from the MTN license and also the capital gains tax from the proceeds from the Petroleum Fund be used to finance the UGX280 billion required to complete the payment for the first delivery of the two aircrafts and this payment is required in ten days," Minister of State for Planning, David Bahati, told lawmakers.

Export Development Canada (EDC) had previously been touted as a source of financing for the purchase, only to decline the role.

State-owned Uganda Airlines is expected to launch in April using the two Bombardier Aerospace regional jets to service destinations across East, Central, and Southern Africa. Two A330-800s will deliver from Airbus in 2020 for use in launching intercontinental flights.