The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has revealed that Uganda Airlines intends to commence scheduled operations to three other countries including Zimbabwe-Harare, Zambia-Lusaka and Nigeria-Abuja in this month of September 2024.
According to UCAA board chairperson Steven Kavuma, the Authority therefore, encourages Ugandan licenced air operators serving domestic and international routes to synergize through airline cooperative arrangements like code share agreements and interlining with Uganda Airlines and other international air operators in order to increase air connectivity and stimulate the growth of air passenger and cargo traffic in Uganda.
He reiterated UCAA’s commitment to the growth and development of the aviation industry in Uganda.
Uganda Airlines currently operates to thirteen (13) destinations including Dubai, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro, Juba, Bujumbura, Kinshasa, Mogadishu, Lagos and Mumbai.
Kavuma made the remarks during the 51st UCAA board Air Services Licensing Committee Meeting this morning at Protea Hotel to consider applications by four Air companies seeking for the granting/renewal of Air Service Licenses.
Of the four companies whose applications were recently made public in the media, three of them are seeking renewal and one is new.
The companies include Misk Air Limited, Air Serv Limited, Premier Services East Africa Limited and Arasus Aviation Limited.
UCAA board chairperson said that in compliance with the Civil Aviation (Licensing of Air Services) Regulations 2001, the applications were advertised in the print media and the public was invited to attend the public hearing meeting in respect of the air services under consideration.
“Currently, there are 26 Ugandan licensed air operators offering the following air services; scheduled passenger and/or cargo, non-scheduled passenger and/or cargo, Private, Training and Aerial Works. With regard to scheduled international air services: Uganda has concluded Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASAs) with 56 Countries” he said.
He explained that 16 Airlines operate international scheduled services to and from Entebbe International Airport in accordance with the provisions of the BASAs concluded between Uganda and the respective Countries.
ABOUT UCAA’s MANDATE
Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), under Section 6 (2) of the CAA Act Cap. 354 as amended is responsible for the licensing of air transport services.
In addition, the Authority advises the Government of the Republic of Uganda on matters relating to the development of air services such as Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs) and other air transport activities.
TRANSPARENCY IS UCAA’S VIRTUE
Meanwhile, the acting UCAA, Hellen Wenene, welcomed members for the meeting which she said is a major component of the Uganda aviation industry’s regulatory framework.
“Discussions at such fora are usually geared towards shaping and determining the future of the country’s aviation industry with particular emphasis on safety, security and efficiency in service provision. This transparent public hearing accords applicants for air services (new and those seeking renewal) an opportunity to present their case” she said.
She explained during such fora, members of the public with substantial ground to object the grant/renewal of the Air Services to the applicants always have an opportunity to lodge such objection in writing to the Authority, with a copy of the objection to the applicant concerned.
“The Authority always strives to create a level playing field for all operators, while encouraging fair competition, innovation and consumer protection. As you all know, the Authority successfully completed two back-to-back international safety and security audits, the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) in September 2023 and the Universal Security Audit Programe (USAP) in Jan-February 2024. Uganda scored above the regional and global average in both audits, an indicator of compliance with the highest standards of safety and security” she said adding that UCAA will therefore, continue to urge licensees to be compliant, accountable and ensure that they meet to the required safety and operational standards to uphold the required service delivery.
Wenene explained that whenever the Authority renews licenses of existing operators, or approve new operators to come on board, this has a direct bearing on domestic and international passenger traffic, as well as cargo volumes, which ultimately translates into more revenue for the country.
To this end, in relation to traffic, Wenene said Entebbe International Airport recorded a total of 226,795 more passengers in the first half of this year (January to June 2024) than was recorded in the same period of January to June 2023.
“The airport recorded a total of 1,069, 224 international passengers, 527, 692 arrivals and 541532 departures (Jan-June 2024) compared to a total of 842,429 (Jan-June 2023) which is an average of 5,886 passengers per day” she said.
