UCAA Drives Green Aviation and Secures Global Influence with ICAO Council Seat

This dual commitment was highlighted at the national workshop on the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), and CORSIA Eligible Fuels (CEF), held today at Speke Resort Munyonyo, in Kampala.

The workshop, co-organised by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) and the EU-CORSIA Africa and Caribbean Project, and attended by, among others, EU-CORSIA African and Caribbean Project lead, Ms. Carla Iorio and EU-CORSIA Expert, Mr. Mark Latimer, plus representatives of Ministries and agencies, underscored the nation’s readiness to actively reduce its carbon footprint and capitalise on emerging green economic opportunities.

The UCAA’s commitment, articulated by the Deputy Director General, Ms. Olive B. Lumonya, on behalf of the DG Mr. Fred Bamwesigye, is rooted in the ICAO principle of “No Country Left Behind” and aims to accelerate compliance with international CO2 reduction goals.

Leveraging EU-CORSIA Support

Uganda has been a proactive beneficiary of the EU-CORSIA Africa and Caribbean Project, funded by the European Union. Key milestones achieved through this capacity-building partnership include:

Aviation Emissions Data Management System (AEDMS)

Ms. Lumonya revealed that just two weeks before the workshop, the AEDMS platform was installed at UCAA.

“This system is crucial for collecting, storing, and processing airline fuel consumption and carbon emissions data, enabling systematic tracking, reporting, and verification in line with CORSIA requirements,” she said.

Legal Framework Development

Ms. Lumonya explained that the project has been instrumental in assisting UCAA to design and align the necessary domestic legal framework to address aviation’s climate change impact.

Driving Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF)

She also revealed that beyond offsetting emissions, Uganda is exploring the economic and environmental potential of Sustainable Aviation Fuels.

This effort, she noted, is framed within the ICAO Global Framework for SAF and Cleaner Energies, which targets a 5% reduction in aviation carbon emissions by 2030 globally.

Feasibility Study Underway

To achieve the set objectives, Ms. Lumonya divulged that the UCAA initiated a kick-off workshop for a feasibility study in April 2025 to identify and promote opportunities for a national SAF program.

“The preliminary results from this assessment were scheduled for presentation at the workshop, signifying the country’s intent to move into the production and use of SAF,” she stated.

She called upon the European Union to extend the project into a second phase, specifically to support African States, including Uganda, in fully exploring their SAF production potential.

Securing Global Influence with ICAO Council Seat

Adding strategic weight to its environmental commitment, Uganda has achieved a significant diplomatic breakthrough: securing a seat on the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council.

Elected at the recent 42nd Session of the ICAO General Assembly, in Montreal, Canada, the ICAO Council is the highest decision-making body of the UN specialised agency, responsible for setting the standards and recommended practices that govern global aviation.

Strategic Leverage

The Council seat provides Uganda with a direct voice in shaping international aviation policy, ensuring that African perspectives, particularly those concerning sustainable development and climate change mitigation, are represented at the highest level of global governance.

Uganda’s simultaneous focus on cutting-edge environmental compliance (CORSIA/SAF) and securing a key global decision-making role (ICAO Council) reinforces its status as a strategic and forward-thinking player in the future of African aviation.

Adopted from: The Publicist October 6, 2025