Uganda to host 9th African Maritime Administrations Conference

11 November 2026, 11:01 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Works and Transport, is set to host the 9th Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA) Annual Conference and General Assembly.

This was revealed by the Minister of State for Works and Transport, Fred Byamukama, during a media briefing at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala.

The Minister noted that about 3,000 people die every year in water-related incidents, making the conference an important platform for discussing maritime safety.

According to Byamukama, the conference will bring together African maritime administrations and other stakeholders to discuss challenges affecting the maritime sector, strengthen regional cooperation and promote the sustainable development of Africa’s maritime industry.

The conference will take place from November 17 to 19, 2026, at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala. It is expected to attract participants from across Africa and beyond, including the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Arsenio Dominguez.

“Uganda is honoured to announce that we shall host the 9th Association of African Maritime Administrations at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala. The conference will attract high-level participation from across Africa and beyond, including the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Mr Arsenio Dominguez,” he said.

The Minister added that the government continues to improve transport connectivity across Uganda’s inland waterways through the introduction of new ferry routes and improvement of existing services to support island and lakeside communities.

He said that, in addition to the existing 13 ferries, two more ferries had been commissioned to serve communities in Buyende, Kaberamaido and Serere districts, while two additional ferries were under construction on Lake Bunyonyi.

Byamukama also urged people using water transport to observe safety measures, adding that the ministry had introduced a toll-free emergency line, 110, for people who get into trouble while on the water.

“Our team will be able to rescue that person. A safe and competitive maritime transport system is fundamental to our national development aspirations, regional partnerships and measurable outcomes,” he added.

The conference will be held under the theme: “From Policy to Practice: Advancing Africa’s Maritime Transformation through Effective Governance, Innovation and Sustainable Blue Economy.”