UCAA, UTB Review Entebbe Airport Ahead of Re-opening

By Richard Kintu

Thursday, Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) hosted the Board of Uganda Tourism Board to review the status of the airport in relation to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that have been put in place in readiness for future resumption of passenger operations.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, you may note that the aviation industry across the globe has been affected by the outbreak of the Covid-19 leading to the closure of international passenger flights. The covid-19 pandemic has had an impact on pertinent sector like tourism, trade and agriculture impacting on the social and economic development of countries. Therefore, it is a great honor for me to welcome members of the UTB Board to Entebbe International Airport (EIA), which is the main air transport gateway in and out of Uganda. We are pleased to host the Board of UTB to review the status of the airport in relation to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that have been put in place in readiness for future resumption of passenger operations” Ag. Director General, Fred Bamwesigye said.

According to Bamwesigye, UCAA is working hand in hand with aviation industry stakeholders to put in place strategies that are aimed at putting in place mitigation measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 through air travel when passenger operations eventually resume.

“Currently, we have been facilitating evacuation flights and repatriation of Ugandans that are currently stranded abroad. These Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and protocols are being harmonized with input from all players and one of my staff will make a presentation for your input,” he said.

The visit by Members of the Board of the Uganda Tourism Board, to Bamwesigye, is a significant manifestation of the mutual and beneficial relationship that exists between the tourism and aviation industry.

“The tourism sub sector contributes a big number of passengers to air transport, and this is our main source of aeronautical revenue. Air transport has also aided tourism by facilitating safe and quick transportation of people to access Uganda’s beautiful and renowned sites,” Bamwesigye noted.

He is, however, proud that  one of their own, the Director Airports and Aviation Security, Alhaji Engineer Sooma Ayub is a member of the Board of the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB).

In line with tourism industry’s contrinution to the development of the air transport in the country, Bamwesigye said, “For some time UCAA has been the only Ugandan entity affiliated to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and we have together with you jointly promoted Uganda’s tourism at a number of international tourism exhibitions in Berlin, London and other destinations.  The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) recognizes the tremendous contribution of the tourism industry to the development of air transport in the country.”

In 2019, he recounted, “while celebrating the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s 75^th anniversary of promoting safe air transport in the world, UCAA worked with the Jinja City Council and erected a memorable monument at the Source of the Nile in Jinja. While other ICAO member states decided to raise the ICAO flag at the peak of mountains in their respective countries, UCAA chose the Source of the Nile because it’s an international iconic tourism site in the world, which has also significantly contributed to the development of air transport in the country.”

Bamwesigye reassured UTB that Government of Uganda attaches a lot of importance to the aviation industry because it guarantees the country direct international access thereby promoting trade, tourism and social-economic development and to this, a number of interventions are being under taken by the Government to develop an air transport network that will connect the country to all major cities of the world to compete successfully for economic growth opportunities. These, he said, are;

1. Undertaking the development of a second international airport at Kabaale in Hoima district to support the oil and gas sector.
2. The national airline has been revived and will greatly improve the efficiency and cost of air transport service in the region.
3. Plans to improve and upgrade facilities of some of the thirteen upcountry aerodromes managed by UCAA. The 20 year National Civil Aviation Master Plan (2014-2033) earmarked upgrade of Kasese, Arua and Gulu to international airport standards. Master Plans and Engineering Designs for the three airfields have been developed and the development plans only await funding. In addition, five airfields; Kidepo, Arua, Gulu, Pakuba and Kasese were designated for international entry and exit from within the region.
4. Entebbe International Airport is also undergoing an upgrade and expansion of its infrastructure to meet the growing air traffic that has been rising steadily every year.