UCAA Inaugurates National State Safety Coordination Group.

The National SSP group will serve well its purpose as the central pillar in ensuring that safety policies, risk assessments, and regulatory frameworks are not only developed but effectively implemented across all relevant sectors, in today’s world, where risks and challenges in safety management continue to evolve.

Diana KIbuuka March 13, 2025

Uganda Civil Aviation Authority on 12^th. March.2025, officially inaugurated the National State Safety Programme (SPP) Coordination Group with emphasis on; ensuring cross-sector collaboration and effective safety risk management, safety assurance and promotion, and transitioning from a compliance-driven mindset to proactive and predictive safety management.

During the official inauguration at Protea Hotel – Kampala the Director General Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, Fred Bamwesigye, who also chairs both the National and Regional SSP Coordination Group, noted that the inauguration of this aviation safety group is a significant milestone towards a more proactive, data-driven and collaborative approach to aviation safety management in our country.

I am confident that together, we will achieve great strides in ensuring a safer national airspace. This Group has been constituted as a crucial mechanism to support the establishment and continuous improvement of the State Safety Programme (SSP), in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Annex 19—Safety Management. Bamwesigye explained

In addition to ICAO requirements, the National SSP implementation must be guided by global and regional aviation safety strategies to ensure alignment with international priorities that include;

ICAO Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP) that sets forth a global framework for improving aviation safety through: Strengthening safety management capabilities at the national and regional levels, Enhancing predictive risk analysis to prevent accidents before they occur and Establishing regional and national safety performance targets.

AFI Regional Aviation Safety Plan (AFI RASP) At the regional level, the Africa, and Indian Ocean Regional Aviation Safety Plan (AFI RASP) that provides a roadmap for safety improvements across Africa, to address regional challenges and strengthen safety oversight in line with ICAO’s Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP).

Abuja Safety Targets, where UCAA is committed to achieving the Abuja Safety Targets, which focus on reducing aviation accidents and incidents fatalities to zero and Implementation of effective SSPs and establishment of effective safety oversight systems among others.

Bamwesigye, emphasized that aviation safety is not a responsibility of one individual or one institution, but rather a shared obligation that calls for dedication, willingness to share expertise and a strong group coordination.

The State Minister for Works and Transport Fred Byamukama, said it’s important to note that Aviation safety is not just a regulatory requirement, but a fundamental commitment to the well-being of the aviation sector and Uganda’s economy. He’s confident that the National SSP group will serve well its purpose as the central pillar in ensuring that safety policies, risk assessments, and regulatory frameworks are not only developed but effectively implemented across all relevant sectors, in today’s world, where risks and challenges in safety management continue to evolve.