CAA SET TO RESUME COMMERCIAL PASSENGER FLIGHTS

By Sadique Bamwita
Entebbe

After several stakeholders engagement meetings in abide to prevent the
spread of COVID_19, the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has revealed that it has fulfilled the standard operating procedures in
preparation for resumption of commercial passenger flights in the next
few weeks.

While receiving the COVID_19 equipment from the International
Organization for Migration (IOM) at Entebbe International Airport, Fred Bamwesigye, the Director General Uganda Civil Aviation Authority(UCAA),  noted that during the last five months of the lockdown, CAA has  managed to come up with strict measures that meet the required standard operating procedures issued by the World Health Organization and the International Civil Aviation organization to guard against the spread of COVID_19 through air travel.
“Our engagements with stakeholders have resulted into donation of
important equipment that will be used to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. These equipment will be put to proper use at Entebbe International Airport especially when passenger operations resume.

Bamwesigye hailed the International Organization for Migration for the donation saying it would largely complement the efforts in place.
“The equipment donated to CAA by the International Organization for
Migration (IOM) will go a long way to ensure safety of passengers and
frontline airport staff.

Bamwesigye added that CAA has lost huge sums of money saying that prior to the lockdown they would collect Shs. 20billion per month but now it has reduced to Shs. 1billion per month.
“We were doing well before the lockdown and we would have 4000 passengers on daily basis but right now we have no commercial passengers following the closure of Entebbe Airport.

Rosa Malango, the Resident UN coordinator in Uganda, hailed the Frontline personnel in the fight against COVID_19 and tasked CAA to increase the number of commercial flight passengers from 4000 to 10000 passengers on daily basis.

Victoria Kajja, the Immigration Coordinator for International Organization for migration (IOM), said the donated equipment worth USD 270,000 will help to ensure safety of passengers.

Joy Kabatsi Kafura, the State Minister for Transport and works, revealed that immigration measures have been tested with repatriation of Ugandans and evacuation of foreigners and tasked management of CAA to expedite construction works at Entebbe International Airport.
“The first phase of construction works is at 75% level of completion.
The government is undertaking the development of a second International Airport at Kabaale in Hoima district to support oil and gas sector.

Sanusi Tejan Savage, the Chief of mission, International Organization for Migration Uganda, said the Danish- Funded project to support Entebbe Airport’s Covid-19 response, is aimed at strengthening measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 and limit loss of lives.
“We have provided operational equipment for screening, laboratory
operations, supplies and management of strategic information on population and risk communication. Priority has been given to Entebbe
Airport as well as landing sites and ground points of entry of Kasensero and Kyotera which have highly mobile fishing communities.