KAMPALA – The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced a new five-year strategic plan which outlines steps to match current trends and address new aspirations in view of the fast changing global trends.
This was revealed by the Aviation Managing Director Dr David Mpango Kakuba during a stakeholders’ breakfast meeting at Serena Conference Centre in Kampala on Thursday, December 6.
Kakuba also briefed stakeholders on the status of the aviation industry in Uganda as the country celebrated the International Aviation Week.
The meeting was also a culminating event of the week-long activities by CAA including passing out 25 well trained fire fighters and marine trainees.
Other activities include sponsoring a number of sporting events such as Uganda Senior Golf Open, Rwabushenyi Memorial Chess Championship and a netball gala in Entebbe, Wakiso District.
Kakuba said the Week is celebrated internationally every year between December 1 and 7 to commemorate the memorable week of meetings that led to the signing of the famous Chicago Convention.
He said that CAA attaches a lot of importance on regulation of air transport and that the aviation strives to see that every operator adheres to international standards.
“We manage airports in the country, we have 14 airports and right now together with the government we are developing the Kabaale Airport (in Hoima District).
Another big project CAA is carrying out are the upgrade and expansion of the Entebbe International Airport.
“This project is being carried out by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) for which we are grateful that the works are on course,” he told stakeholders, confirming: “We have finished improving the departure immigration counters from six to eleven.”
In her part, Works and Transport minister Monica Ntege Azuba who was also the Guest of Honour, said government is committed to supporting the aviation sector.
She appealed to all airline operators not to look at Entebbe International Airport as a competitor but work together to ensure development in the air transport.
Hon Alain St. Ange, the Seychelles former minister of Tourism who was the keynote speaker at the meeting, said Uganda must rise up and lead the way to the East African Community.
“With the expansion of the Entebbe (International) Airport there will be an increase in passengers from two million to 3.5 million. These are key steps forward and Uganda must celebrate,” he said.
