CAA enlists Kayoola EVS electric bus to transport employees

by MUHAMAD MATOVU

The Civil Aviation Authority has tapped on the Kayoola EVS electric buses to transport staff of to and from work.

According to CAA’s acting director general Fred Bamwesigye, Kayoola will provide solutions to some of the public transport problems they have been experiencing.

“I am pleased to inform you that Kiira Motors Corporation offered and received acceptance to pilot the Kayoola EVS electric bus with Uganda Civil Aviation Authority by transporting our staff from Kampala to the airport and back,”he said.

He said the staff from Kampala will be collected three days a week for eight weeks, free of charge.

“From 20th July up to 11th Sep 2020 and from the feedback received from the users especially our staff and what we have witnessed ourselves, these buses are welcome addition,” he said.

Allan Muhumuza, the director marketing and sales at Kiira Motors, said that the buses have a seating capacity of 90 passengers.

“Once fully charged, the bus has a range of up to 300 kilometres, which covers the Entebbe – Kampala route and back comfortably. If well utilized, they could also contribute to reduction in congestion on the roads,” he said.

Kayoola buses don’t use diesel or any other type of fuel. Therefore with just a single charge, the bus can move for 300 KM.

The battery life of the Kayoola EVS electric buses is 3000 charge cycles, which is about 900,000km.

The engines of the Kayoola buses also give a competitive edge to the owner since their cost per kilometer is way cheaper in the long run.

Adopted from: The Nile Post July 28, 2020

Airport opening is subject to global aviation community

By Julius Luwemba

Added 5th July 2020 03:59 PM

All our efforts are geared towards putting in place the necessary health standards against COVID-19. But still, we cannot be ready alone. Other airports must be ready as well.

Airport opening is subject to global aviation community

Fred Bamwesigye (left) and Zheng Biao. (Photo by Julius Bamwesigye)

HEALTH   COVID-19

ENTEBBE – Fred Bamwesigye the acting director-general for Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has said the re-opening of Entebbe airport will be guided by the global health community and global aviation community. 

“All our efforts are geared towards putting in place the necessary health standards against COVID-19. But still, we cannot be ready alone. Other airports must be ready as well,” noted Bamwesigye.

Fred Bamwesigye made the remarks on Wednesday (Photo by Julius Luwemba)

He made the remarks on Wednesday afternoon while receiving Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) worth sh8m donated by China Communication Construction Company (CCCC).

He lauded the Chinese for the donation, saying the equipment will help aviation staff receiving Ugandans who are currently being repatriated.

While handing over the equipment, Zheng Biao the CCCC deputy general manager said, cargo and passenger handlers at Entebbe airport are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 and need to have enough protective gear.

Zheng Biao and Li Jin Zeng (left) from China Communication Construction Company handing over Personal Protective Equipment to UCAA acting director-general Fred Bamwesigye as Eng. Ayub Sooma looks on (Photo by Julius Luwemba)

“The virus does not respect borders. Around the world, with love and compassion, people have looked out for each other and united together as one,” stated Zheng before donating sanitizers, masks, soap, shields among others.

Meanwhile, Eng. Ayub Sooma the director airports and aviation security said the first phase of expansion and upgrade of Entebbe airport, is at its climax. “Apart from the terminal building, other works in regard to the airport expansion and upgrade, are at 90% completion,” noted Eng. Sooma.

Adopted from: The New Vision Tuesday July 28, 2020

UCAA gets new Board of Directors

The Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. Gen. Katumba Wamala, on June 24, 2020, inaugurated a new Board of Directors to oversee the performance of the Authority. Justice Steven Kavuma is the new Chairman of the Board of Directors taking over from Eng. Edward Mike Ndawula.

His appointment and that of the other Board Members was announced on June 3, 2020 following the approval of the appointments by Cabinet. The inauguration ceremony, which also doubled as a farewell to the out-going members of the Board in recognition of services rendered in the last three years was held at the Ministry of Works and Transport’s Central Mechanical Workshop.

The other new members of the Board are Mr. Lubowa Moses Paul, Ms Ethel Kamba, Dr. Alayo Ocero and Mr. Thomas James Kiggundu. Board Members who served on the last Board and were returned are Hajji Zubair Musoke, Mrs. Angela Kiryabwire Kanyima and and Mr. James Kubeketerya. The Board’s term of office is three years.

 

New Notice To Airmen (NOTAM) for Entebbe

The following new NOTAM valid until 26th June 2020 has been issued for Entebbe:

A0079/20 replacing A0075/20

COVID-19:

COVID-19:

Following the outbreak of Corona Virus (COVID-19) and the declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by World Health Organization (WHO), the Government of the Republic of Uganda has given directives including Ministry of Health, escalating flight precautionary measures at all points of entry into Uganda.

The following procedures shall therefore apply:

1.   All international passenger flights to and from Uganda aerodromes are suspended until 26 June 2020;

 

2.   Foreign nationals who may require to be evacuated from Uganda to their home countries may be flown out provided that that the evacuating flight has no disembarking passengers and they are cleared by:

 

a)     Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA): protocoluganda@gmail.com / +256 414257525

b)     Ministry of Health (MoH): ps@health.go.ug+256 417712260

c)     Ministry of Works And Transport (MoWT): mowt@works.go.ug / +256 414259322

 

3.   Air traffic services and aerodrome services will be provided to the following operations;

 

a)   Scheduled and non-scheduled cargo flights;

 

b)   Aircraft in a state of emergency;

 

c)   Operations related to humanitarian aid, medical and relief flights;

 

d)   Overflights;

 

e)   Alternate aerodromes identified in the flight plan (including those being used for extended diversion time operations (EDTOs));

 

f)    Technical landings where passengers do not disembark;

 

g)   Other safety-related operations.

 

4.   For aircraft certified for carriage of passengers that are authorized by the State of Registry/Operator to carry cargo in the passenger compartment, the Operator is required to provide a copy of the authorization;

 

5.   Air transportation of human remains into the country is suspended;

 

6.   After disembarking of passengers and crew, the aircraft shall be sprayed for COVID-19 in accordance with the Operator’s arrangement with the approval of Ministry of Health;

 

a)  Disembarking passengers shall;

 

i.     upon arrival be subjected to temperature and physical screening. Samples will be taken to check for COVID-19 and the results will be communicated as per Ministry of Health (MoH)/ World Health Organisation (WHO) protocol;

 

ii.   undergo mandatory quarantine at a government designated facility at their own expense under surveillance by health authorities;

 

iii. dispose of their masks and/or gloves used during travel in designated waste collection containers.

 

b)   Disembarking crew shall;

 

i.     upon arrival be subjected to temperature and physical screening. Samples will be taken to check for COVID-19 and the results will be communicated as per Ministry of Health (MoH)/ World Health Organisation (WHO) protocol;

 

ii.   undergo mandatory quarantine at Protea Hotel Entebbe and Lake Victoria Hotel Entebbe for their rest period;

 

iii. dispose of their masks and/or gloves used during travel in designated waste collection containers.

 

7.   For flight crew based in Uganda:

a)     when crew members travel out of Uganda and return on the same day, they shall:

i.           not be subjected to mandatory 14 days institutional quarantine if they do not disembark from the aircraft at the destination;

ii.           be subjected to mandatory 14 days institutional quarantine if they disembark from the aircraft at the destination;

b)     in the event that the crew members travel out of Uganda and do not return on the same day, they shall be subjected to mandatory 14 days institutional quarantine at premises designated by the Ministry of Health on return;

c)     all crew members must fulfil the Port Health requirements at the airport/airstrip.

8.   Uganda Civil Aviation Authority Aircraft Permits Office will operate as follows:

a)   Day time – 8 hours (from 08:30 am to 04:30pm);

 

E-mail/Telephone: aircraftpermits@caa.co.ug / +256752749656 or +256750595820.

 

Please visit https://aim.caa.co.ug for a complete valid NOTAM list.