The Minister of Works and Transport ,Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala has underscored Uganda’s central role in providing air connectivity between Eastern and Central Africa and beyond, underlining its importance in facilitating intra-African air transport.
Katumba said that in the month of August 2025 alone, Entebbe International Airport served 243,089 international passengers and handled 5,257 metric tonnes of cargo.
“The relaunch of Uganda Airlines, now serving 17 destinations across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the UK, is set to further boost connectivity, trade, and tourism, thereby reinforcing Uganda’s contribution to key African Union flagship projects. The Ugandan Government’s commitment to aviation infrastructure development, safety, security, and the core strategic objectives of international civil aviation remains steadfast,” the minister stressed.
Katumba Wamala was officiating at the opening of the 48th EAC Consultative Meeting on Facilitation of Air Transport (EAC FAL) held at Munyonyo in the capital Kampala.
The Minister said that Uganda continues to pursue sustainable operations, embracing both infrastructural and economic advancements within the aviation sector.
Its mandate stems directly from Article 92 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community (Civil Aviation and Civil Air Transport), which commits partner states to; harmonize civil aviation policies, rules, and regulations.
Other mandates include ensuring air transport services within the region are safe, efficient, and profitable; establish common measures for the facilitation of passenger and cargo air services within the Community.
All efforts are guided by the global standards set by the ICAO, particularly Annex 9 on Facilitation.
Speaking on behalf of the national aviation regulator the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, the Deputy Director General, Ms. Olive Birungi Lumonya appreciated EAC FAL for its contribution towards the continued compliance to the seamless movement of aircraft, passengers, cargo and mail with respect to Annex 9-Facilitation, among the EAC Partner States.
Uganda acceded to the Convention on the International Civil Aviation in 1967 and has since remained an active contracting member State of ICAO. Uganda’s objective is to contribute to
the promotion of safe, secure and sustainable international civil aviation.
Birungi said that over the years, Uganda has placed great emphasis on Annex- 9 (Facilitation) provisions to ensure an efficient and secure civil aviation.
“Through Compliance and implementation of Annex-9 (Facilitation), Uganda has greatly improved border security measures, ensures seamless passenger experience and this has contributed to the increased economic growth, “ she said .
Birungi further told the delegates that Uganda’ s compliance was further affirmed in the ICAO Universal Security Audit Programme (USAP) that was conducted in 2024 in which the country registered very high level of compliance in the Security Auditable Aspects of Annex 9 (Facilitation).
Additionally, she revealed that Entebbe International Airport has continued to register traffic growth over the years, with the first half of 2025 registering a total of 1,133,366 international passengers, of which arrivals were 550,439 and departures were 541,532.
“The figures show a growth of 4.3% in arrivals and 7.6% in departures from the last year, January to June 2024,” she added.
The CAA Deputy DG said that in order to meet the demands associated with this traffic growth, the Uganda Government embarked on the following projects at Entebbe- expansion of the existing passenger terminal building to increase the airport capacity from 2 million to 3.5 million passengers annually.
The new cargo centre at Entebbe International Airport, built with a capacity of 100,000 metric tons annually, has been operational since March 2022 and strengthening and rehabilitation of the alternative runway 12/30 and the associated taxiways among others.
In a bid to support the oil refinery in the Albertine Graben, Birungi told the meeting that government is constructing a new international airport in Hoima district.
