Uganda is seeking to upgrade a series of up-country airstrips to handle international flights, as well as boosting tourism to the country’s national parks.

International air passengers will be able to fly direct to several of Uganda’s national parks and protected areas, if a government scheme comes to fruition.

Up-country airfields at Kasese, Kidepo, Pakuba and Kisoro are planned to receive an upgrade to international standards that will allow travellers to fly in to nearby attractions. The project will allow passengers to avoid travelling via the country’s busy Entebbe International Airport, near the capital, Kampala, then having to transfer, either by light aircraft or surface transport, to resort areas.

According to the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Kasese airfield, together with another at Arua, are slated for development to category 4C airports that would allow them to handle aircraft of the size of a Boeing 737–500.

The -500 was the smallest of the second-generation models of the Boeing twin jet and typically can carry a maximum of around 130 passengers in an all-economy cabin configuration – perhaps 100-110 in a two-class layout.

However, this is also the size category for the new ranges of ‘crossover’ jets such as the Embraer 190 and Airbus 220 that span the gap between regional turboprops and mainline narrowbodies like the Airbus A320 and larger members of the Boeing 737 family. These are becoming increasingly popular with airlines in Africa.

The CAA told African Aerospace that master plan and preliminary engineering designs for airfields at Arua and Gulu have been completed. These provide for a paved runway of 3,200m x 60m for Arua in place of the existing gravel strip, plus new terminal complex and cargo centre costing around $53 million.

Gulu, meanwhile, will see a major expansion, including the construction of a new 3,100m x 60m runway, as well as a new passenger terminal, taxiways, apron, cargo complex, control tower and fire station. The first phase of this project is estimated to cost $56 million.

Kasese will have its existing 1,500m grass runway replaced by a paved runway 2,500m x 45m. Like Gulu, it will undergo a transformation, with a new passenger terminal complex, together with cargo and fuel facilities and a new taxiway system. Cost for the first phase of the project will be $57 million.

Smaller-scale improvements will take place at eight other airstrips – Pakuba, Kisoro, Kidepo, Jinja, Tororo, Moroto, Soroti and Mbarara. The value of the works there range from $7m to $350,000 and include such improvements as runway repairs, improvements or extensions, perimeter fencing and, in the case of Pakuba, a new passenger terminal.

Like Kasese, Kidepo, Pakuba and Kisoro will be given tarmacked runways and provided with immigration facilities, allowing international flights to fly there directly and give tourists access to nearby national parks.

Uganda’s minister of tourism, wildlife and antiquities, Tom Butime, announced the upgrades earlier this year at the Uganda Tourism Board’s “Pearl of Africa” tourism expo.

Previously, the only airstrips at Kasese, Kidepo, PakubaandKisoro National Parks were bush airstrips, which meant that visitors had to enter Uganda via Entebbe and then find alternative transportation such as a Cessna Caravan light aircraft or to travel by road to visit the locations.

The upgraded airstrips will not only be able to handle much larger aircraft, but also executive jets, allowing wealthy visitors to fly in with friends or family. Tourism is a significant revenue-earner for Uganda and accounted for around 7% of the country’s GDP last year.

Uganda received slightly more than 800,000 foreign tourists last year, a 59% increase over 2021’s figures, but still significantly below pre-pandemic levels of almost 1.5 million. Tourism brought in $712 million, accounting for around 12% of total exports.

It is in the light of increasing this valuable trade that the airfield improvements can be seen.

Adopted from: The Times Aerospace November 17, 2023

Entebbe, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) on Thursday conducted a full-scale exercise to test the staff’s readiness to respond to a bomb threat at Entebbe International Airport.

The exercise simulated a situation involving flight No. AF 347, with 40 passengers and three crew members on board. The flight notified Air Traffic Control of a bomb threat note discovered by a member of the crew in the aircraft lavatories, as the aircraft was taxiing for take-off.

Airline operators, ground handling agents, joint security operatives, United Nations, UCAA staff, health personnel, and other government agencies, were notified and involved in accordance with a contingency plan.  A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was also issued to operators of commercial flights in and out of Entebbe alerting them about the exercise from 2:00-4:00 pm.

The exercise was last conducted in November 2019.

Addressing journalists at the close of the exercise, UCAA Director General Fred Bamwesigye said the exercise is a requirement for all International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) member countries to test readiness to respond in case of a real incident.

Bamwesigye also said that apart from testing readiness, it also acted as a learning exercise where a post-exercise evaluation would look at the gaps for all affected staff to improve their performance.

Last month the ICAO evaluation team visited Uganda and concluded an audit in which the country’s aviation system was scored at 72.17%, indicating overall improvement in safety, according to the government.  The mark was above the African average of 55.66% and the global average of 67.68%.

Adopted from: The Independent October 27, 2023

Entebbe International Airport will be able to manage 3.5 million passengers per year by 2024.

Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) Director General, Mr. Fred Bamwesigye, made the revelation on Thursday while addressing the Parliamentary Committee on Physical Infrastructure. The Committee was on a visit to the Airport.

Entebbe Airport is currently undergoing various developments with huge progress registered so far.

Uganda recently underwent a Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme – Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP-CMA), an on-site audit conducted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) from September 6–18, 2023. The international audit was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of Uganda’s safety oversight systems in compliance with the ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).

Besides the main project for upgrade and expansion of EIA, some of the recent developments at Entebbe International Airport include the following, among others; Automation and Modernization of Entebbe International Airport, a USD 9.5 million project implemented in conjunction with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and commissioned in September 2022, leading to; An Airport Operations Data Base (AODB); Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS); Terminal Operations Control Center (TOCC); ATS Message Handling System (AMHS), centered at EIA and distributed to Arua, Gulu, Soroti, Kasese, Kisoro and Mbarara; Flight Information Display Screens (FIDs), CCTV, and various system support components and improvement of ATM Procedures, including optimization of arrival approach and departure and en-route procedures.

While briefing his guests on the progress of the airport expansion, Mr. Bamwesigye said that as part of the re-modification of the current passenger terminal building, the expansion of the departures area was completed and part of it is already in use, awaiting the opening of the major entrance to the building, so that departing passengers are dropped-off by the entrance to the terminal building later this year.

“An arrivals component of the project is also being worked on to create more room and ambience for departing passengers. On completion of all the above infrastructural upgrade projects, terminal building capacity will be enhanced from the current capacity of 2 million passengers a year to at least 3.5 million passengers by July 2024,” Mr. Bamwesigye said.

He added that passenger traffic through Entebbe International Airport has been growing steadily, as the airport recovers from the adverse effects of COVID-19 on the aviation industry.

In September 2023, for instance, Entebbe recorded 80,701 arriving passengers and 90,605 departing passengers, a total of 171,306 passengers, which is an average of 5,710 per day.

The total number of passengers facilitated from January to September 2023 is 1,390,495 compared to 1,170,744 in 2019. In 2022, the total number of passengers was 1,574,405 compared to 1.8 million international passengers in 2019, before the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. This represents an 87% level of recovery.

In September 2023, the airport handled 1,617 imports and 3,313 exports, a total of 4,930 metric tons in one month.

“UCAA is currently undertaking a review of the Entebbe International Airport Master Plan, and I am sure that the process will benefit from your expertise,” the DG said.

According to Mr. Bamwesigye, UCAA is scheduled to undergo the ICAO Universal Security Audit Programme – Continuous Monitoring Programme (USAP – CMA) scheduled in January 2024. The objective of the USAP-CMA is to evaluate the effectiveness of Uganda’s security systems in compliance with the ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).

“We shall require all the support from the Committee as we undertake this exercise,” Mr. Bamwesigye said, adding that: Uganda is also scheduled to host the NAM and G77 + China summit in January 2024 and EIA is fully expected to play a leading role.

The DG commended the Parliamentary Committee on Physical Infrastructure for the visit.

Adopted from: Chimp Reports October 26, 2023

The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has a new board of directors that will oversee the operation of flights in the country for the next three years.

The new board was inaugurated on September 27, 2023, by the Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala, at the ministry’s head office in Kampala.

The inaugurated board is made up of 8 members: Hon. Justice Steven Kavuma, Ms. Ethel Kamba, Dr. Andrew Alyao Ocero, Mr. Thomas James Kiggundu, Mr. Lubowa Moses Paul, Mr. John Washington Bulindi, Ms. Namubiru Sylvia, and Mr. Ssemugooma Godfrey.

Hon. Justice Steven Kavuma retains his position as board chairman. Kavuma took over from engineer Edward Mike Ndawula, who served as the board’s chairperson of the aviation authority until 2020.

Lubowa Moses Paul, Ethel Kamba, Dr. Alyao Ocero, and Thomas James Kiggundu were retained as board members from the previous board. The new board will serve for a period of three years, from 2023 to 2026.

The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) is the government agency responsible for licensing, monitoring, and regulating civil aviation. UCAA was established in 1991 through CAA Ordinance Number 2 of 1991, which was later replaced by CAA Statute Number 3 of 1994, Cap 354.

Adopted from: The Chimp Reports September 27, 2023

The electric equipment worth Shs3.6 billion will not only provide a safer environment but will also add value to customers’ experiences and those of airline companies

Jackie Namatovu  August 6, 2023

The management of Menzies Aviation, formerly known as Entebbe Handling Services Ltd. (ENHAS), has installedelectric ground handling equipment at Entebbe International Airport.

This was in compliance with the directive by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority to put in place a digital system to manage ground services.eports.com&dtd=33659

The General Manager of Menzies Aviation, Nouamani Zahouani, said switching from diesel equipment to electric ones is a huge step in the fight against carbon emissions at Entebbe International Airport.

He said the acquisition of electric equipment worth Shs3.6 billion will not only provide a safer environment but will also add value to customers’ experiences and those of airline companies.

“This is a big relief to our environment and a big step in the expansion of Entebbe International Airport,” he said, adding, “The new equipment supports quick export flow management.”

The Director of Airports and Aviation Security at UCAA, Eng. Al-Hajj Ayub Sooma, who commissioned the use of new ground handling electric equipment, said the development is in line with government efforts to respond to some of the challenges Entebbe International Airport faces.

“At the airside, Apron One has just been rehabilitated. This is one of the initiatives to upgrade and expand Entebbe International Airport,” said Eng. Sooma.

“Airlines must align themselves to the international standards of civil aviation. It’s good news, Menzies Aviation has responded to CAA’s request to switch from diesel-driven equipment to electric ones. This is a big achievement because we are responding to net zero pollution.”

The general manager of Entebbe International Airport, Col. Emmanuel Balungi, said the new electric forklifting machines will go a long way in filling the gaps that currently exist in handling huge volumes of cargo at the new cargo facilities.

The manager of customs at Entebbe International Airport, Simon Esunget, said the new electric equipment will enhance client experience on top of driving the agenda of quality services at the airport facility.

He challenged the business community not to reduce the volume of imports but rather to concentrate more on increasing exports.

Adopted from: The Chimp Reports August 6, 2023

The aviation industry in Uganda has recorded tremendous progress over the past years. In line with the Uganda Vision 2040, the Government has developed a 20-year National Civil Aviation Master Plan with Entebbe International Airport and other airfields a key component. 

Aproject for the upgrade and expansion of its main gateway at Entebbe, Uganda’s former capital, is seen as critical to the development of the air transport industry as passenger and cargo demand continues to grow.

The “Pearl of Africa”, depicted by Winston Churchill during his visit to Uganda before its independence, is writing its modern “fairy tale” with a clear, pragmatic, and steady vision.

At the inception of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority’s (UCAA) in 1991, the airport handled 118,000 international passengers. In 2019, It handled 1.8 million passengers.

After disruptions due to the pandemic, the airport registered 1.57 million passengers in 2022. During the first quarter of 2023, Entebbe recorded 402,314 passengers compared to 414, 431 at the same period, prior to the pandemic.

“The revival and commencement of flights by the national airline, Uganda Airlines, is expected to further grow this traffic in subsequent years, and promote the country’s tourism potential”, said the airport’s director general Fred Bamwesigye. 

New operators like Airlink, which started flights to South Africa in September 2021, Air Arabia, with from Entebbe to Sharjah, UAE, in October 2021, and Air Kenya, among others, will boost traffic even more, Bamwesigye said. 

The overall project for upgrade and expansion of Entebbe International is at 85% level of completion and include the strengthening of the main runway 17/35 and the alternative runway 12/30, and associated taxiways, the rehabilitation of parking apron 4; reconstruction of parking apron 2 and expansion works of the main aircraft parking apron 1 are ongoing.

A new terminal building is under construction in an area previously used for cargo operations to increase Entebbe’s capacity from 2 to 3.5 million yearly by the end of this year.

The existing terminal has also been re-modified to provide more space in the departure area. By the end of this month, drop-off facilities will be available at the entrance of the terminal building.

Cargo is also part of the ambitious development.  The sector has seen increasing needs to meet higher demand for fresh produce especially fish, flowers, fruits, and vegetables.  Uganda’s major markets are the Netherlands, Belgium, and the Middle East. Entebbe handled 61,000 metric tons in 2022 compared to 6,600 metric tons of cargo in 1991. 

A new state-of-the-art cargo centre with a capacity to handle 100,000 metric tons per year has been built to address bulging demand. Cargo operations have already shifted to the new facility.

A terminal operations control centre has been set up by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to ensure automation of operations as part of a $9.5 million grant by its government. The project has also delivered a computerised maintenance management system (CMMS), an airport operational database (AODB) system, an ATS message handling system (AMHS) as well as an improved flight procedures efficiency through air traffic management and training/capacity building.

“One of UCAA’s strategic objectives is to promote the development of an air navigation system aligned to the global air navigation plan (GANP). It provides airspace users with improved capacity and efficiency. The air traffic management system has undergone various system improvements and upgrades to enhance safety”, said Bamwesigye.  

UCAA and Entebbe International Airport obtained the ISO 9001:2015 quality management systems (QMS) certificate in 2021 following compliance with stringent UKAS requirements. Other aerodromes operated and managed by UCAA in Gulu, Arua, Soroti, Mbarara, Tororo, Kisoro, Pakuba, Kasese, Jinja and Kidepo have also been awarded certification for a three-year period up to 2024.

Adopted from: Times Aero Space July 21, 2023

In June 2023, Entebbe International Airport recorded 80,750 arriving and 80,165 departing passengers, a total of 160,915 international passengers, and an average of 5,363 passengers per day, the highest figure recorded since 2019.

In a similar period of June 2022,  135,261 international passengers (64,458 arrivals and 70,803 departures) were recorded. This reflects an increase of 25,654 additional passengers in June 2023. The high traffic recorded in June 2023 was partially contributed to by departing pilgrims to Mecca.

Arriving passengers are becoming more than departing passengers and this was reflected in the last two months’ statistics. In May 2023, we had 77,912 departures and 79,297 arrivals, a total of 157,209 passengers in the month, an average of 5,071 passengers per day.

The June 2023 passenger traffic also ranks as the fourth highest figure recorded in a month after the 179,323 recorded in December 2019, 166,980 recorded in July 2019 and 163,344 recorded in August 2019.

In 2022, the airport recorded a total of 1,571,950 million international passengers in comparison to 941,688 in 2021, 565,541 in 2020 and 1,802,107 in 2019.

In relation to cargo, June 2023 recorded 5,195 metric tons (1,661 tons of imports and 3,534 tons of exports). A total of 61,000 metric tons of cargo were recorded through Entebbe International Airport in 2022.

Adopted from: The Chimp Reports July 23, 2023