The death toll from landslides triggered by torrential rains in eastern Uganda has risen to 20, with more than 100 still missing, the Red Cross said on Friday.

"The death toll has risen to 20, following the retrieval of 19 bodies and the unfortunate passing of one survivor at the hospital," the Uganda Red Cross Society said in an update on X.

The landslides have affected several villages including Masugu, Namachele, Natola, Namagugu, and Tagalu in Buluganya sub-county, Bulambuli district, some 300 kilometers (180 miles), east of the capital Kampala.

Locals are digging through the mud using hand hoes and other elementary tools in search of missing loved ones.

The relief organization said 1,540 persons and 220 houses have been affected, while 125 homes have been totally destroyed. As many as 750 people have been displaced.

Emergency responders are working to provide aid and support to those affected, according to officials.

In an earlier statement, police said rescue operations were being hindered by impassable roads, which are preventing vehicles, including ambulances and wheel loaders, from reaching the scene.

The East African nation has been hit by unusually heavy rainfall since October that has triggered widespread flooding and landslides in different parts of the country.

In a message late Thursday, Prime Minister Nabbanjah Robinah condoled with the families of the victims. She said medium and long-term solutions have been developed to prevent such disasters, and called upon local leaders and residents in disaster-prone areas across the country to collaborate with the government to avert such occurrences in the future. By Hamza Kyeyune and Serdar Dincel, Anadolu Agency

The Nairobi Expressway has announced a temporary closure of the Mlolongo and Syokimau entrance toll stations following a public service vehicle (PSV) accident near the exit of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) station.

In a statement on Friday, the operator said its team is currently on-site managing traffic and assured motorists of their safety.

“Please be advised that due to a PSV accident at the exit of the SGR station, the Mlolongo Entrance Toll Station and the Syokimau Entrance Toll Station (opposite Dinlas Pharma) are temporarily closed,” read the statement.

The company urged motorists to drive within the recommended speed limit of 80 km/h and to observe lane discipline.

Launched in 2022, the expressway is a 27-kilometer elevated road that starts at Mlolongo and runs along Mombasa Road, Uhuru Highway and Waiyaki Way, before terminating at James Gichuru Road in Westlands.

The road has been instrumental for Nairobi motorists, helping them avoid the heavy traffic congestion on Mombasa Road and Waiyaki Way, especially during peak hours.

This convenience has led to an increase in average daily vehicle usage, rising from 50,000 to 70,000 cars. By Sharon Resian, Capital News

Several journalists were brutalized as they covered the protests, which erupted in various parts of the country. Rights groups documented over 60 fatalities during the demonstrations, most of them caused by police gunfire.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has assured justice for journalists brutalized by police during the Gen Z protests in June, sparked by the Finance Bill.

Speaking on Thursday at the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) Annual Convention in Nakuru, Kindiki promised to personally follow up on the case of Kameme TV journalist Catherine Wanjeri, who was shot and seriously injured by police.

“I undertake to follow up on this matter, and I can assure you that the perpetrator will face justice as soon as the new leadership of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is in place,” Kindiki said.

Several journalists were brutalized as they covered the protests, which erupted in various parts of the country.

Rights groups documented over 60 fatalities during the demonstrations, most of them caused by police gunfire.

But despite the grim toll, no charges have been brought against the law enforcers implicated in the deaths.

Kindiki emphasized the government’s commitment to holding the responsible officer accountable, stating, “We will establish who was responsible and ensure they are held to account.”

He also called for strengthened collaboration between the government and the media, emphasizing the need for open communication and mutual respect.

“I see no reason why we should not have an avenue for dialogue. Some of you work within government offices, including my own,” he said, underscoring the importance of upholding the rule of law and constitutional order.

“We will obey court orders. There should be no doubt or debate because we are a country governed by the rule of law,” Kindiki stated. Editorial, Capital News

Precision Air (PW, Dar es Salaam) is prioritising the revival of its fleet to stabilise its business after the impacts of Covid-19, global supply chain disruptions, engine part shortages, and rising operational costs. The airline is taking a cautious, step-by-step approach to mitigate financial risks. Once stability is achieved, it will proceed with its planned fleet expansion as part of its five-year strategy, according to Group Managing Director and CEO Patrick Mwanri.

Speaking to ch-aviation on the sidelines of the recent African Airlines Association (AFRAA) annual general assembly in Cairo, Egypt, he explained: "We are focusing on stabilising our internal operations before considering any expansion. With rising maintenance costs and other challenges, we're working to adapt to the current environment."

In 2022, the company's five-year strategy had been to expand its ATR - Avions de Transport Régional turboprop fleet to add frequency and flexibility to its schedule. Mwanri confirmed that the private Tanzanian carrier had no intention to upgauge or expand into the jet market before stabilising its core ATR fleet.

"We're focusing on the turboprop market at this time. The good news is it has recovered to pre-Covid levels. With Tanzania's strategy to improve its tourist numbers to five million and promote its touristic destinations, we are still seeing that there is a big potential for the turboprop aircraft we operate," he explained. However, he added that the airline still ultimately plans to introduce jets for routes where it believes it could perform better.

"Progress is good, but we're not yet at the desired level. We expect to reach that target by 2026. At operating level we’re currently at a profit in some months, but there are still some challenges that affect our numbers like the exchange rate, historical issues, and other operational matters. If everything goes well, we aim to break even operationally by 2026," Mwanri said.

According to ADS-B data, the airline operates a fleet of eight ATR turboprops, of which six are currently in active service. Mwanri said the rest are delayed in maintenance due to supply-chain issues but are expected to return online one by one.

According to the ch-aviation fleets module, the fleet comprises one ATR42-500 dry-leased from Swala Leasing & Finance and two ATR42-600s leased from Precision Air's special purpose vehicle (SPV) Antelope Leasing Limited, currently stored in Dar es Salaam. The airline also has ATR72-500s leased from Swala, two of which are on C-checks and awaiting engines. It wet-leased an additional ATR72-500 from Jump Air (JUP, Vilnius) for five months earlier this year. Mwanri said Precision Air was likely to approach the Lithuanian carrier again in future should the need for additional capacity arise.

Broadening network

Current destinations served with the single ATR42-500 in service include domestic airports such as Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, Arusha, Kahama, Shinyanga, and Seronera in the Serengeti National Park, plus international routes to Nairobi Wilson (Kenya) and Hahaya and Anjouan in Comoros. The ATR72-500s mainly operate domestically and between Tanzania (Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Mwanza, Dodoma, Zanzibar, Mtwara, and Kilimanjaro) and Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta (Kenya). It also does charter services within and outside Tanzania.

According to Mwanri, Precision Air intends to reintroduce its domestic route to Bukoba via Mwanza over the forthcoming festive season to capitalise on holiday demand. He said the route was suspended because of capacity issues, but one of the ATR42-600s will return to service soon and be deployed on the route. Other domestic destinations to be added with the aircraft are Kahama, Shinyanga, Tanga, Iringa, and Songea.

Mwanri also sees significant potential for Precision Air with ongoing upgrades to airstrips in Tanzania, such as Iringa, which serves the southern highlands tourism region, Mtemere serving the Nyerere National Park, and the Mara airport that will serve the Serengeti National Park via the Mugumu route.

"These improvements open up new opportunities for us. Additionally, with the country joining the East African Community, we see further potential for expansion, such as to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We are currently in talks with two clients to explore extending our operations," he said.

Meanwhile, Precision Air is finalising an agreement with the Comoros government to start flights to Moheli. The CEO said the airline is already operating 4x weekly cabotage flights between Hahaya and Anjouan in the archipelago and is looking to connect Comoros with other neighbouring countries.

On another front, Precision Air is expanding its Approved Maintenance Organisation (AMO) services, having secured various certifications. The airline currently provides maintenance services to clients such as Flightlink (YS, Dar es Salaam) and the Efatha Church, along with additional services for various customers in Tanzania. It recently supported KLM Royal Dutch Airlines with engine change services. By Hilka Birns, CV-Aviation