By Sadique Bamwita
KAMPALA
The Director Safety, security and Economic Regulation at Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), Eng. Ronnie Barongo, has called for a harmonized regional Framework to enhance the competency of pilots and Flight dispatchers among the member states including Uganda. He believes that having a harmonized Regional Framework will greatly help the pilots to enhance safety, efficiency on top of improving collaboration among the member states.
Speaking to the media in Kampala on November 18, 2025, Eng. Ronnie Barongo said having a harmonized Regional Framework is a crucial step towards aligning the authority’s practices with the global standards in addition to strengthening regional cooperation among the eight member states within the East African Community.
The Director Technical Services at the Civil Aviation Safety and security Oversight Agency (CASSOA), Eng. Paul Lukanga, noted that the Regional Framework comes timely when there is need for a standard approach to standardize activities within the East African Community member states.
“The pilot qualification in Uganda should be the same qualification in the East African region so that as a region we have better standards and safe skies. For instance, the minimum age for a pilot is 16years but Uganda may set at 18years while Burundi at 20 years,” Eng. Lukanga explained.
‘As East African region, we want to come up with a harmonized position for someone to be a pilot or flight dispatchers,” Eng. Lukanga added.
The Vice Chairperson for Uganda Professional pilots Association, Capt. George Mazige, said having a Regional harmonized Framework will help pilots and Flight dispatchers from the eight partner states to sit harmonized practical exams. He added that previously pilots and Flight dispatchers from the eight member states have been sitting different exams and would be subjected to fresh pilot exams.
Capt. Mazige also called for a regional License which can be automatically applied among the partner states in the East African Community regional.
“Harmonization of practical exams and test has been a challenge because if you have trained in Kenya and then you come back to Uganda, they subject you to another exam. This comes with a huge financial implication,” Capt. Mazige expressed concern.
