The Director General of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), Fred Bamwesigye has urged East African Member states to invest in training for the aviation industry to keep pace with technological advancement and enhance regulatory excellence.
Bamwesigye made the call at the official opening of a 3-Day workshop on the regulatory excellence at Protea Hotel in Entebbe.
He says that there is a need to increase the importance of effective regulation in an era of rapid technological transformation within the aviation sector.
“The aviation industry is experiencing rapid innovations, digitalization, drones, cyber-security, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) and advanced air mobility systems” Bamwesigye noted. He noted that these changes require regulators not only to enforce standards but also to safeguard public trust while enabling growth and innovation.
He highlighted the dual role of regulators as both protectors and enablers of growth:
“We must ensure safety, transparency, and accountability, while at the same time creating environments where industries can thrive, investments can be attracted, and opportunities expanded.” he said.
He further said that to ensure that global air travel remains safe, secure and efficient, EAC member states need to establish standardization procedure to foster innovation, protect the public and promote continuous improvement while adapting to the ever changing technological landscape and global demands.
“We must ensure safety, fairness, transparency and accountability in all that we do at the same time we act as enablers of growth and innovation, creating environments where industries can thrive, investments can be attracted and opportunities can be expanded” He added.
He further urged participants to use the workshop to understand better the roles of regulators in a dynamic aviation and set effective regulatory standards and build stakeholder engagement skills.
Meanwhile CASSOA’s Executive Director, Eng. Richard Gatete, welcomed the initiative as both timely and strategic, stressing the importance of harmonized regulatory practices across the East African region to uphold global aviation standards and enhance safety.
“Effective regulation is the backbone of safe and sustainable air transport. By working together through regional platforms such as this, we can standardize procedures, anticipate risks, and strengthen the resilience of our aviation systems,” he noted.
Over the three days, participants will explore regulatory strategies for emerging technologies, crisis management and resilience, leadership in regulatory change, and safety management systems (SMS).
The workshop also emphasizes the value of collaboration among regulators, airlines, service providers, and international partners in shaping a safer, more innovative, and globally competitive aviation sector for Africa.
The workshop is organized by UCAA in partnership with E.African Community Civil Aviation safety and security oversight agency, Boeing International and Cranfield University.
