While addressing the 40th session of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on Saturday, Aggrey Bagiire the State minister for transport, wooed international community to invest in Uganda’s aviation sub-sector. Minister Bagiire noted that, Uganda’s government liberalised air transport market access and airline ownership in order to meet demands of increased air traffic. “We have expanded and modernised Entebbe international airport in order to increase operational capacity and efficiency,” stated minister Bagiire.
According to Bagiire, a new international airport is being constructed in western Uganda, purposely to serve the oil-rich Albertine region. “East African Civil Aviation Academy which is located in eastern Uganda, is being revamped in order to continuously provide training to civil aviation professionals and enhance human resource capacity within the region,” minister Bagiire notified.
Recently, David Kakuba the director general for Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) intimated that upon completion of the first phase of expanding Entebbe Airport in 2021, the facility is expected to handle 3.5million passengers, way higher than 1.84million passengers who used the airport in 2018. According to Kakuba, the on-going airport works include erection of new cargo centre with storage capacity of 100,000 tonnes, higher than 59,000 of the former storage facility, construction of new taxi ways, aprons and additional fuel storage facilities.
During the same ICAO session is Montreal, Canada, minister Bagiire described Uganda as the best tourists destination, saying, anyone willing to spend a family vacation in perfect harmony with nature, Uganda is the best place. “My country was once described by Sir Winston Churchill, as the Pearl of Africa because of its unprecedented beauty and natural endowment,” lured minister Bagiire.
Following an Outstanding performance in the Universal Security Audit Programme- Continuous Monitoring Approach (USAP-CMA) conducted by ICAO in 2017, Uganda was awarded an ICAO Council President Certificate in Aviation security on September 24. The meeting which will end on October 04, was attended by officials including ICAO secretary general Dr. Liu Fang, Dr. Bernard Aliu Olumuyiwa president of the council among others. Other Ugandan delegates include David Kakuba the UCAA director general, Eng. Mike Ndawula the board chairman for UCAA, Winston Katushabe the commissioner in charge of transport regulation and safety in the Ministry of transport, Eng. Ayub Sooma and Hon. Kafero Ssekitoleko among others.