By Sadique Bamwita
Entebbe
The management of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has given updates on its five year strategic plan due to expire next year.
The Director General Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, Fred Bamwesigye said on April 19, 2024, that there are clear signs that the five strategic plan could be achieved by the end of next year. He made these comments while addressing the media on the on-going construction and expansion works at Entebbe International Airport.
Mr. Fred Bamwesigye said, “Our five year strategic plan started in 2019 and we are working hard to achieve it before the end of next year. In our strategic plan we have ensured to comply with national, regional and international standards that rate our airport in comparison with other international airports. We have also worked hard to increase passenger traffic at Entebbe International Airport so as to increase our revenue.”
He says they have been able to enhance institutional capacity for civil aviation authority adding that they have retooled their staff members in aviation sector to ensure they have enough training to manage the aviation industry.
He says UCCA has tried its best to improve the tourism circuit and most of our commercial passengers are tourists.
Mr. Fred Bamwesigye revealed the authority was highly rated in the recent security audit and results showed that the authority complies with the set standards by International Civil Aviation Authority Organization.
On the issue of phase one on-going construction works at the airport Bamwesigye explained that: “We have completed the new passenger terminal building and officially opened it in January this year. It came handy to facilitate delegates to the NAM/G77 plus China summit and continue to facilitate arriving and departing passengers in a bigger and friendlier environment. Last year in March we were able to resurface and complete car parking lot at the airport.
“Apparently, we are working on the completion of a new 20,000 square meters terminal building which will connect to old terminal building which was constructed way back in early 1970s. Overall completion of phase one construction works is at 90% while pending works include expansion of Apron 1, which is at 95% level of completion.
“Other completed construction works under phase one include resurfacing of runways 17/35 and 12/30 plus other associated taxiways, completion of 100,000 tons capacity cargo terminal building , construction of a cargo apron on top of resurfacing Aprons 2 and 4.
“On completion of the new terminal building probably by the end of this year, it would enhance capacity from 2 million passengers to 3.5 million passengers per year. The terminal will go a long way to address the growing passenger traffic. For example in March 2024 the Airport handled 80,719 arriving and 91,271 departing passengers.”
“Early this month, Entebbe experienced heavy downpour which overwhelmed the drainage system and caused some floods in the car parking at Entebbe International Airport and unfortunately photos went viral on social media and created a wrong impression that situation lasted day long yet the water drained within 30-45 minutes. But it should be recalled that on that particular day, the Uganda National Meteorological Authority issued a report indicating that Entebbe received rain up to 106.8 mm, the highest rainfall recorded in a single day.”
“I implore the general public to be patriotic and avoid exaggerating situations like the recent floods at the airport. The floods are a sign that the place was initially part of a lake or swamp, Mr. Bamwesigye appealed to Ugandans.
The Deputy Director General Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), Olive Lumonya Birungi, noted that the issue of climate change is a global issue and that the authority is working tirelessly to reduce carbon emissions in the air space by 2030.
“Last year in December, we had a mega conference in Dubai to reduce on carbon emission. We need to achieve by 2030 because that is when our resources would allow us achieve a cleaner fuel.
The Director Airports and aviation security at Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), Eng. Al- Hajj Ayub Sooma, revealed that construction of new terminal building with capacity 20,000 square meters is currently at 60% and that in the next phase management intends to expand all runways to accommodate the size of A380 aircrafts with larger wings of 80 meters.
