The Minister of State for Transport, Hon. Julius Maganda Wandera, today paid familiarization visits to the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) and Uganda Airlines in Entebbe, accompanied by Commissioner for Transport Services and Infrastructure, Mr. Nelson Rwenaga.
At UCAA, Director General Mr. Fred Bamwesigye briefed the Minister on the Authority’s mandate, directorates and services. Hon. Maganda pledged full support to UCAA, describing aviation as a delicate sector that must be protected through strategic communication.
UCAA regulates Entebbe International Airport and 14 regional aerodromes, and provides Air Navigation Services, Safety, Security and Economic Regulation. The Minister noted that the 1.7km runway at Jinja Aerodrome was recently paved, and that passenger traffic has grown from 32,055 in 1991 when UCAA was established, to 2,486,893 today.
He was taken on a guided tour of Entebbe International Airport, including the new passenger terminal, VIP lounges, boarding gates, control room, firefighting station, cargo terminal and the Air Control Tower.
In the afternoon, he made his maiden visit to Uganda Airlines headquarters, where he met management led by Board Chairperson Ms. Priscilla Mirembe Sseruka. Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary who was sitting in for the Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Susan Batuuka Kaggwa presented the airline’s journey since revival, including a 10-year Strategic Plan to acquire eight additional Boeing aircraft, with the first four expected in 2032.
Hon. Maganda commended the airline but challenged it to better market its 19 destinations and improve domestic flights. He noted the recent launch of four weekly direct flights to Accra, Ghana, and the planned daily direct flights to Kigali, Rwanda next week.
Tomorrow, he will visit Kabalega International Airport in Hoima, where a new passenger terminal is under construction ahead of AFCON 2027, to be hosted by Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya.