Kampala — President Yoweri Museveni flew back home from the US on Saturday night on a commercial airliner in the economy class.

According to Tamale Mirundi, the president's spokesman, Museveni's decision to fly on a British Airways flight in economy class was a signal to the Government officials that undertaking official trips in business and first class may be no more.

"If the President can travel economy class, it is an indication that spending colossal sums of money by Government officials on business and first class is going to stop. He wanted to find out the difficulties travellers face in flying economy class and why Government officials complain about the economy class," said Mirundi.

The President's spokesman stressed that there was no problem with the presidential jet. "We don't have any problem with the jet. He just wanted to travel as an ordinary passenger."

He declined to comment whether the jet had remained in the US for servicing or had been flown home.

At the airports and in the plane, Mirundi said, the President mixed freely with other travellers. "He was treated like other passengers."

Government officials normally travel business and first class on commercial airliners during official and sometimes private trips.

Sources said the ministers and other high-ranking Government officials will soon be asked to fly economy class as an austerity measure.

According to the sources, the President used the trip not only for adventure but also to warn Ugandan leaders to reduce on luxurious travel abroad.

The decision to fly economy class comes in the wake of complaints of lavish spending and corruption in the Government.

Museveni had been on a two-week visit to Trinidad and Tobago for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

He also toured educational institutions in Cuba.