Uganda’s aviation sector shows strong growth, says CAA chief

16 December 2025, 11:16 pm

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The Director General of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), Fred Bamwesigye, has confirmed that Uganda’s aviation sector has recorded significant improvement and that its future remains bright.

He made the remarks during a stakeholders’ breakfast meeting held at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala, which brought together various industry players to review the performance of the aviation sector in 2025.

Bamwesigye revealed that the newly completed 20,000-square-metre passenger terminal building at Entebbe International Airport features three additional aerobridges, bringing the total to five. The terminal also includes 24 new check-in counters, in addition to the existing 22, as well as 14 self-check-in counters.

He further noted that Uganda’s aviation safety rating stands at 72 per cent, while security ratings are above 80 per cent, describing this as positive news for the country. He also confirmed that Uganda has joined the 193 member states of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our stakeholders for honouring our invitation to this year’s stakeholders’ breakfast meeting. We do not take this for granted. I would also like to inform you that the new terminal building is expected to be opened to the public in a phased manner starting in June 2026. Ladies and gentlemen, there is no tourism without aviation. The COVID-19 pandemic clearly demonstrated this reality. Despite the existence of national parks and other attractions, tourism came to a near standstill when air travel was disrupted,” Bamwesigye said.

The Director General further emphasised that between the 2026/27 and 2029/30 financial years, UCAA will undertake a phased acquisition of a state-of-the-art surveillance system, including a backup independent overlay based on Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B), to guarantee the continuity and availability of services.

He also disclosed that a full-scale emergency exercise to assess Entebbe International Airport’s readiness to respond to emergencies was successfully conducted in May 2025. The exercise tested inter-agency coordination, medical services and stakeholder collaboration under high-pressure conditions, in line with ICAO standards.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the UCAA Board, Justice Steven Kavuma, who delivered a message from the State Minister as the chief guest, said Uganda’s hosting of the 48th Facilitation of Air Transport meeting in November 2025 further elevated the country’s international profile.

The minister noted that Uganda’s national carrier currently serves 17 destinations, including London, and urged all service providers to ensure timely responses to customer complaints as the aviation industry continues to grow. He reaffirmed the Ministry of Works and Transport’s commitment to promoting tourism and supporting initiatives aimed at enhancing the efficiency of air transport.

“I join all the previous speakers in expressing my sincere gratitude to all stakeholders. For God and my Country,” he said.

Separately, the Vice Chairperson of New Taxi Park, Robert Sekitooleko, has advised taxi drivers to strictly observe traffic regulations as the festive season approaches.

“We are entering a period of increased passenger movement, particularly for those travelling to villages and upcountry destinations. We urge drivers not to overtake where it is prohibited and not to abandon their assigned routes. Failure to comply could result in arrest. We also remind passengers to label their luggage with contact details to assist in case items are forgotten in vehicles,” Sekitooleko said.

He added that taxi operators remain committed to transporting passengers safely and confirmed that fares have not been increased. He encouraged passengers travelling long distances to begin their journeys early and to exercise patience during boarding.