The National Parliament has passed the Civil Aviation Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2024 to meet international oblihgations under the Convention on International Civil Aviation which was ratified by Uganda.
The new law now awaits for President Yoweri Museveni’s signing to become operational ..
Among the provisions of the amendment , UCAA is now given the powers to appoint a chief investigator to cause an investigation to be carried out where an aircraft accident or serious incident happens in Uganda or in any contracting state that does not intend to carry out an investigation.
“The chief investigator must be a highly qualified person who has been in the airline industry for a long time and we normally screen them and look at their CVs. It may be a retired pilot or an engineer,” said Gen. Katumba Wamala, the Minister for Works and Transport wo presented the new law in parliament .
Gen .Katumba told parliament that the new law is intended fto have Uganda r comply with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and recommended practices relating to aviation security as provided for in Annex 31 to the Chicago Convention.
The law also prohibits the chief investigator from disclosing any investigation records like cockpit records, recordings, and transcripts of recordings from air traffic control units, while carrying out an investigation.
Katumba Wamala said that it is important for the chief investigator to preserve information to protect operators like pilots and give ample time for an efficient investigation.
“Sometimes you will find the investigation takes more than three days and he does not have all the details. So you cannot just allow him to release piecemeal information,” ha said .
The new law will enable the CAA to recognize agreements of third-party states who are signatories to Article 83 Bis of the Chicago Convention.
