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Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) handed over site to IBB International Ltd, the project contractor for construction of a new Security Search Park at Entebbe International Airport on Wednesday, October 31, 2018.

CAA’s Managing Director, Dr. David Kakuba, handed over the site to IBB International Ltd.’s team comprising of Mr. Emmanuel Byaruhanga and CEO, Mr. Don Mubiri, among others.  He urged the contractor to strictly adhere to the timelines stipulated in the contract.

Speaking on behalf of the Contractor, Mr. Byaruhanga thanked CAA for the working relationship and pledged IBB International Ltd’s “Commitment to deliver the Project” in line with the expectations.

The project, expected to be undertaken in six months from November 1,

2018 is to comprise of two additional road lanes on top of the current two lanes to the airport to make a total of four lanes covering an area of about 450 metres. It will be a covered area with appropriate shelter for the security search team, motorists and people entering the Airport.

The project site is located between Protea Hotel and the CAA Head office on the road to Entebbe International Airport. On completion of the project, the Security Search point at the Airport gate used by Aviation Police will be relocated to the new site.

The move is expected to enhance efficiency and service provision as the four lanes will decongest the area and enable faster movement of traffic into the airport.

In order to further enhance awareness of stakeholders’ responsibilities in the unfortunate event of an emergency involving aircraft, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) convened search and rescue sensitization workshops in the districts of Soroti and Kaabong on October 2 and 4, 2018, respectively.

The workshops were aimed at sensitizing and promoting successful coordination between CAA, local authorities and other agencies. Participants were also reminded of the need to take care of individual safety precautions.

The workshops’ facilitators included the CAA Air Traffic Management (ATM) expert, Mr. David Clay Amone, ATM Supervisor, Mr. Francis Malinga, and Senior ATM Officer, Mr. David Mwitabangoma, who presented an over view on search and rescue, rescue planning and operations and the Uganda aeronautical and maritime search and rescue plan, among others.

Search and Rescue refers to the search for and provision of aid to people in distress or imminent danger in case of a calamity.

Stakeholders raised a number of issues and recommendations for CAA to consider in enhancement of safety. There was also a proposal to consider extending aviation week celebrations to upcountry aerodromes to enable the wider public to appreciate progress made in the aviation industry in Uganda.

The Aviation week is annually observed between 1^st and 7^th December, of every year by the global aviation community. It is celebrated in memory of meetings that led to the signing of the famous Chicago Convention, which was signed on 7 December, 1944 resulting in the establishment of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The purpose of the annual celebration is to establish and reinforce awareness of the importance of international civil aviation in the social and economic development of States and the role of ICAO in promoting the safe and orderly development of International Civil Aviation throughout the world.

The district leadership appreciated CAA’s efforts and urged Management to continue encouraging the public to use domestic flights in order to enhance tourism promotion. The local leaders also emphasized the need to have coordinated activities and team work during search and rescue missions.

Soroti’s Resident District Commissioner, Hajji Isaac Kawooya, officially opened the workshop in Soroti and acknowledged the importance of involving the local populace in search and rescue missions to strengthen the response capabilities within the region.

The Commandant of Soroti’s Airbase, Col. Chris Kasaija reminded participants that search and rescue was a joint and “humanitarian effort”.

In Kaabong, the Resident District Commissioner, Mr. Longiro Peter Ngorok appreciated CAA’s regional sensitization efforts.

“It is always good to prepare for the unexpected and with the skills acquired we shall be in position to act in case of any emergency,” he said.

Hon. Monica Azuba Ntege inspecting the CAA model for the upgrade and expansion of Entebbe International Airport.

Civil Aviation Authority actively participated in the 14^th Joint Transport Sector Review Workshop and exhibited a model for the upgrade and expansion of Entebbe International Airport at Speke Resort Munyonyo from September 27-28, 2018.

The Authority’s Managing Director, Dr. David Kakuba, participated in a panel discussion moderated by the Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. Monica Azuba Ntege, and he enumerated a number of achievements registered in the aviation sector.

The performance review workshop was attended by over 200 transport sector players and stakeholders including Uganda National Roads Authority, Uganda Road Fund, Standard Gauge Railway, Parliament, and development partners from the World Bank, Africa Development Bank, Trademark East Africa and European Union, among others

In her speech, the Minister affirmed that the ministry’s improved performance was a step in the right direction. “Inclusive growth is at the center of our development plan in accelerating multi-modal transport systems. This year will see better performance compared to last year, given the rate at which infrastructure is being developed,” she said.

She also stressed the need for organized transport systems in order to meet global standards.

Highlighting recent achievements in the aviation sector, Hon. Ntege cited an 11% increase in international air traffic in the last five years, growth of domestic traffic by 25% from 2016 to-date, government commitment to purchase aircraft and revive the national airline and construction of Kabaale International Airport whose first phase is estimated to be completed by 2021.

While stressing the need to harmonize Uganda’s regulations with those of other global players and ensuring continued compliance with international Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), Dr. Kakuba advocated for expeditious consideration of the proposed amendments to the CAA Act.

He explained that one of the key proposed amendments sought to create a provision for the establishment of an independent accident investigation unit that was not funded by CAA to rule out any conflict of interest. He also highlighted the need to grant air worthiness inspectors unlimited access to aircraft and private aerodromes without having to first seek permission from the parties to be inspected, among others.

The Civil Aviation Authority, Entebbe on Tuesday 25^th September, 2018 rescued a group of twenty nine girls and one boy from being trafficked to Oman, Dubai and Abu Dhabi through Entebbe International Airport (EIA).

The Airport Aviation Security (AVSEC) with the help of the airline operators of Fly Dubai intercepted the group during the check in process at 7.00pm. The group that was being trafficked was handed over to the Aviation police in Entebbe for conclusion of investigations.

Many of the girls claimed that they were heading to various destinations through connections with their close relatives working in the Middle East. Each of the girls used private means to the airport and were destined to the same country. The racket secretly processed the passport and visas to lure the group with promises of lucrative pay in the Middle East.

The OC Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Detective AIP Norah Amito said that the girls are between the age of 20 to 30 years from the districts of Buikwe, Jinja, Isingiro, Kampala, Kamuli, Kayunga, Luwero, Lwengo Masaka, Nakaseke, Rakai, and Wakiso and had been sent e-tickets and visas on what’s App to work as domestic workers.

“At 7.00pm we received a call from Aviation Security that a total of twenty nine girls and one boy had been stopped from flying to some Middle East countries for work because they didn’t have the necessary documents authorizing them to travel for work apart from their tickets, visa and passports.  The check in agents for Fly Dubai FZ618 alerted the supervisor at immigration who cross checked the travel details of the girls and found them lacking”, she said.

“We have apprehended and recorded statements from the group and we have crucial leads to establish human traffickers involved in the syndicate.  All those apprehended were headed to the same country.  The names of the culprits cannot be disclosed pending police investigations”, Amito added.

The group was scheduled to be transported to the Immigration Headquarters in Kampala on Wednesday for counseling before letting them travel back to their homes.

The Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development has put stringent measures to ensure that Ugandans traveling abroad for work are not subjected to slave labour conditions in the disguise of being promised better paying jobs.

Uganda and Kenya have entered an agreement to work towards harmonizing the legal regimes of the two countries as a way of putting up a joint fight against human trafficking. The agreement was reached on July 31 during a meeting at Lwakhakha border in Namisindwa District in Uganda.

Several Ugandan girls and women believed to be victims of human trafficking, have since the start of this year been rescued or arrested by Kenyan authorities on their way to Middle East countries.

Two weeks ago, a total of 52 Ugandan suspected victims of trafficking were rescued in Busia, Malaba and at the Jomo Kenyata International Airport and handed over to the Ugandan authorities.