The global confidence in Uganda’s aviation security systems could improve following the release of latest audit results, with the East African country scoring 72.17%.
Uganda has been undergoing a Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme – Continuous Monitoring Approach which is an on-site audit conducted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) from September 6 -18, 2023.
According to the minister of state for works and transport, Fred Byamukama, the international audit was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of Uganda’s safety oversight systems in compliance with the ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices.
“At the closing meeting of the audit held on September 18, 2023, ICAO’s Lead Auditor issued the preliminary results for Uganda with a score of 72.17%,” the minister said.
The latest score put Uganda ahead of the eastern and southern African regional average score of 55.66% as well as the global average of 67.68%.
Byamukama said the audit score was a vote of confidence in Uganda’s aviation safety system, “which shows the entire international Aviation community that the country complies with ICAO standards.”
To get the score, several elements of the country’s effective implementation of the State Safety Oversight System among others, were considered.
These included primary legislation, organisation, personnel licensing, flight operations, airworthiness, aircraft accident investigation, air navigation services, and aerodrome and ground aids.
The good news is that during the period under audit, Uganda did not register any significant safety concern.
More good news
“In another development, as part of the on-going progress in Uganda’s aviation industry, international passenger traffic through Entebbe International Airport continues to rise,” the minister said.
“In August 2023, Entebbe International Airport recorded 93,560 arriving passengers and 97,947 departing passengers, a total of 191,507 passengers, an average of 6,177 per day, the highest figure to be ever recorded in a single month in the history of the airport,” he added.
The January to August 2023 international passenger traffic figures reflect a growth of 20.37%.
According to the minister, the amount of cargo handled by Entebbe International Airport is quickly bouncing back almost to the pre-COVID levels.
The recovery rate for exports from pre-covid times stands at 92.58%, the minister asserted.
