Home Uganda Unveils Final Draft of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Feasibility Study

Uganda Unveils Final Draft of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Feasibility Study

Uganda has taken a major step toward building a cleaner and more climate-resilient aviation sector with the presentation of the Final Draft Report of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Feasibility Study, held on December 1, 2025, at Imperial Golf View Hotel, Entebbe.

The study was conducted under the ICAO ACT-SAF Programme, funded by the Government of the United Kingdom, and supported by ICAO’s Air Transport Bureau and ESAF Regional Office. This milestone positions Uganda as an active contributor to the global movement toward decarbonizing air transport.

While delivering remarks on behalf of the Director General, the Authority’s Deputy Director General, Ms. Olive Birungi Lumonya expressed gratitude to ICAO, the UK Government, and national stakeholders who contributed data and expertise during the study. She reiterated UCAA’s commitment to supporting global sustainability goals:

“Uganda recognizes that achieving ICAO’s Long-Term Aspirational Goal requires a comprehensive approach—including advances in aircraft technology, operational improvements, and the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuels.”

Ms. Lumonya noted that Europe and other regions have already begun implementing mandatory SAF-blending requirements. Uganda Airlines, for example, is required to uplift SAF-blended fuel on its return flights from London. Establishing Uganda’s own SAF production capacity would reduce operational costs for airlines operating in and through Uganda, promote energy independence, and expand local economic opportunities.

Presenting supplementary remarks, Ms. Irene Atto, the acting Director of Safety, Security & Economic Regulation,  emphasized that the study marks a turning point for Uganda:

“This report is more than a technical document—it is a roadmap for Uganda’s transition toward a sustainable, modern and environmentally responsible aviation sector.”

She highlighted that UCAA has consistently placed environmental protection at the centre of its strategy and was among the first African States to voluntarily join ICAO’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) in 2019.

Key Findings of the SAF Feasibility Study

According to the final draft report, Uganda has significant potential to produce SAF using its abundant biomass resources, including:

  • agricultural residues
  • energy crops
  • organic waste

The study shows that SAF production in Uganda is technically feasible, economically promising, and environmentally beneficial. Uganda could participate across the entire SAF value chain, from feedstock production to refining, distribution, and uptake by airlines.

The report aligns with the ICAO Global Framework for SAF, LCAF, and Cleaner Aviation Energy, adopted at CAAF/3 (2023), which sets a global aspiration of reducing aviation emissions by 5% by 2030 through cleaner energy.

The successful implementation of the SAF programme will require strong coordination with key government ministries, including:

  • Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development
  • Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries
  • Ministry of Water and Environment
  • Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC)

Under the proposed roadmap, UNOC and the Ministry of Energy will play critical roles in developing Uganda’s SAF production and refining capabilities, with UCAA maintaining its advisory and regulatory oversight role.

With the feasibility study now complete, Uganda will proceed to the second phase, which is developing a detailed national Business Case Study to guide SAF production, investment, policy development, and implementation strategies.

This next phase will outline the financial models, required infrastructure, partnerships, regulatory frameworks, and timelines necessary to operationalize SAF production in Uganda.

Both UCAA leaders emphasized that the transition to cleaner aviation energies is not just an environmental obligation but an economic opportunity that can unlock new jobs, strengthen rural economies through feedstock demand, and enhance Uganda’s energy security.

The event concluded with a call for continued stakeholder participation, written contributions, and active engagement to refine and finalize the roadmap.

Uganda’s aviation sector is now firmly on a path toward greener skies—aligned with global aviation goals and regional sustainability ambitions.