Karagwe now connected to the world by Auric Air services

Bishop Bagoza getting out of the plane at Ihanda Air Strip
Rukole.- The ELCT Karagwe Diocese owns an air strip in Ihanda area which is found in Rukole parish 10 kilometres from Karagwe District government administrative offices. This air strip was registered by the Ministry of Communication and Transport in 20th September, 1986 under Aerodrome licence No. 008. On 20th January 2010, Auric Air Services Limited requested to utilize this Diocese’s air strip for passengers’ services to and from Karagwe. The Diocese accepted and officially approved the request. In the letter of approval the KAD General Secretary, Mr. Erasto Kamihanda, wrote on 24th January, 2010: “This (request) has been conceived not only as the liberation of the district community, but also as a direct stimulus to social economic development activities of the area and the surrounding countries.”

The first plane under Auric Air services with the capacity of carrying thirteen passengers landed on Monday 8th February, 2010 at 1.25 pm with twelve passengers from Mwanza and ten passengers from Karagwe boarded the plane to Mwanza. The Bishop of KAD Dr. Benson Bagonza also was in the plane of the same company which landed on 12nd February 2010 when he was coming from Arusha and Lushoto for official work. This time the bishop was together with guests from Dan Mission, Denmark who will be visiting the Diocese for some days.

The captain of the plane No 5H-TMS, Mr. Olivier De Raymond said the strip is good for landing but there are still some bumps at the end of the runway which needs to be removed for more safety of the plane. The ELCT KAD is already in function dealing with some bumps which the captain mentioned in order to make sure the run way is safer.

The schedule for the Auric Air Services planes to and from Karagwe will be thrice a week that means Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. There is an idea that in few days to come the schedule will be daily.