The Director General of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), Fred Bamwesigye has said the aviation industry in Uganda has registered a significant increase in traffic in the past two years.

He also said that Uganda Airlines is steadily recovering from the effects of Covid-19 that affected air transport generally as backed up by International Civil Aviation Organization reports.

This was during a media address on the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority annual report at Uganda Media Center earlier today.

After the outbreak of COVID-19, various sectors including trade, and education, among others have been taking extra strides to ensure recovery from the effects accoutered, and the aviation sector is not any different. The Director General of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), Fred Bamwesigye today said that Uganda Airlines has registered an increase in its use following Covid-19 effects compared to the period of Jan to June 2019. He indicated that traffic has risen from 405,458 passengers to 413,223 passengers in June 2023.

Bamesigye mentioned that they are working on a couple of projects including the completion of a cargo centre that will handle a carriage capacity of over 100,000 cargo and to expand the airport. This particular project is said to be 85% complete.

Bamwesigye noted that they are negotiating with the UK to allow Uganda Airlines to conduct flights to

the country. He also recounted the success registered in the concluded negotiations with Nigeria hence, the airlines will soon be flying to Nigeria directly.

The Deputy Director General, Olive Lumonya dismissed false information disseminated by some media about the sector’s inability to handle shortcomings, following mix-ups of the Safety audit by

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) with Certificate of Entebbe International Airport done internally.

She went on to reassure the public that they have and continue to do their best in handling shortcomings at the airport, far from the allegations being spread about the sector.

The aviation industry is hopeful; they will attain the estimated full recovery of the industry by end of this year. Uganda will be hosting the NAM/G77+ China Summit in January 2024, with a number of professional delegates expected to attend.