UCAA Boss Urges Airline operators to Embrace Blended Aviation Fuel to Combat carbon emissions 

By Sadique Bamwita 

Kampala 

The Deputy Director General Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA),Ms.Olive Lumonya Birungi, has urged all airline operators operating at Entebbe international Airport to embrace use of blended aviation fuel in order to combat carbon emissions at the Airport.

 Ms. Olive Lumonya Birungi said in order to achieve zero carbon emissions at Entebbe international Airport, the authority successfully installed the Aviation Emissions Data management system. She made these remarks in Kampala on October 7,2025, while addressing airline operators on eligible fuels for Ugandan Aviation stakeholders.

Ms.Olive Lumonya Birungi believes that the installation of Aviation Data Management system will go a long way in helping to track , report and verify carbon emission reports from airline operators.

“This will ensure systematic analysis and validation of available emissions and air traffic data as well as fuel consumption data. We look forward to successfully operationalize this system, ” Ms. Olive Lumonya told the press.

Ms.Olive Lumonya Birungi noted that Uganda has the capacity to provide blended fuel adding that the authority is in discussions with stakeholders to come up with a comprehensive manner in which these practices can be implemented .

“Our main area of focus is carbon emissions and how to manage it as Africa but mainly in the aviation sector. The International Civil Aviation Organization gives us a basket of measures which member states must comply with.One of them is operational landing and take off in terms of fuel. For instance, Europe has specific conditions that they apply to leave Europe – you must utilize the fuel they have. Uganda airlines goes with our fuel to Europe but comes back with blended fuel.  Europe has taken blended fuel as one of the areas. So, we hope Uganda can take on this principle to ensure carbon emissions are fully managed, “Ms. Olive Lumonya explained.

The Focal person for environmental protection at Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, Mr.Khalid Muwembe, revealed that the authority has taken tremendous steps in ensuring it implements all the policies and requirements for greening the aviation sector and greening the airport.

“In April this year, we conducted a study on the potential of Uganda to produce and deploy sustainable aviation fuel. The study revealed that there is tremendous potential in terms of mainly our Entebbe Municipal Council solid waste which can easily be converted to sustainable aviation fuel, ” Mr Muwembe hinted on the study findings.

” With the advent and building of the National Oil Refinery in Hoima district, and being the first in the region, if this potential is harnessed to full capacity, there is a big market from the neighboring countries where this fuel can be supplied and also generate a lot of income to the state,” Mr. Muwembe expressed optimism.

The Acting Director safety, security and economic regulations at Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, Ms. Irene Atto, said the authority’s continuous engagements with aviation stakeholders truly reflects Uganda’s commitment to decarbonization journey. 

The European union expert on Carbon Offsetting and Reduction for International Aviation (CORSIA), Mr.Mark Latimer, implored all stakeholders to play a pivotal role in sustainable aviation fuel so as to combat carbon emissions around airports