Entebbe International Airport Conducts Full-Scale Aviation Security Exercise
A full-scale aviation security exercise was successfully conducted at Entebbe International Airport on Friday, June 26, 2026, reaffirming the airport’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of aviation security and emergency preparedness.
The exercise, code-named ‘EX 2026’, simulated the hijack of a commercial aircraft shortly before take-off. This exercise provided a realistic platform to test inter-agency coordination, incident command, airport emergency response, and collaboration under high-stress conditions. The scenario involved a fictional “Fenna Airlines” flight, FY 506, presumed to be carrying 67 people, which was simulated to have been hijacked before departure.
Addressing the media after the exercise, Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) Director General, Mr. Fred K. Bamwesigye commended all participating agencies for testing and evaluating their response capabilities.
“We have successfully concluded a full-scale aviation security exercise to test stakeholder readiness to respond to a hijack incident involving a commercial aircraft,” Mr. Bamwesigye stated. “I commend all stakeholders who participated for testing and evaluating their response capabilities in accordance with the Airport Contingency Plan.”
The exercise brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including security agencies, airline operators, ground handling companies, health personnel, and other government entities. Mr. Bamwesigye further noted that the simulation successfully achieved its primary objective of evaluating the country’s preparedness to respond to sophisticated aviation security threats.
The Director General noted that such exercises are a mandatory requirement for international airports of Contracting Member States of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to test their emergency plans and procedures every two years. Furthermore, it ensures strict compliance with ICAO Annex 17 to the Chicago Convention and the Civil Aviation Security Regulations, 2022.
A comprehensive debrief involving all participating agencies was conducted on the same day to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Mr. Bamwesigye emphasized that these debriefings consistently produce valuable feedback, which remains an essential part of the airport’s ongoing preparedness process.
Importantly, the Director General reassured the traveling public that these exercises are carefully planned to ensure uninterrupted daily airport operations.
“During such exercises, normal aviation operations continue, so passenger and cargo operations were not affected,” he clarified.
As part of the briefing, Mr. Bamwesigye also highlighted Uganda’s continued progress in aviation oversight. He noted that the country’s most recent Universal Security Audit Programme – Continuous Monitoring Approach (USAP-CMA) conducted by ICAO saw a score of 81.6%, which was well above the global and regional averages.
UCAA continues to invest in regular emergency preparedness exercises to strengthen collaboration among aviation stakeholders, enhance operational readiness, and ensure the safety, security, and resilience of Uganda’s civil aviation system. The previous full security exercise was conducted on October 26, 2023, followed by a tabletop security exercise in 2024.