UCAA Board, Airline operators discuss expired Air Service License

The Board of Directors of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has met seven airline operators to discuss and hear their applications, as they attempted to seek renewal of Air service licenses which expired last year.

The airlines seeking renewal of their licences include Uganda Airlines, Eagle Air, DHL Kampala Ltd, Kush Air Uganda, Aviation Fellowship and Kampala Executive Aviation among others.

The UCAA Board Chairperson, Retired Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma, explained that it’s compulsory for all air operators seeking Air service license or renewal of Air service license to first present their applications before the Aviation regulatory body for hearing and scrutiny. 

During a media briefing with the press, Justice Steven Kavuma disclosed that seven airline companies wrote to the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), five of them seeking for renewal of their Air service license while two of them are seeking for the Air service license for the first time.

“We invited key players in the Aviation sector to present to us their applications, before we renew or grant them Air service License. Upon hearing their submissions, we are now considering their application for renewal or to grant them Air service License. We shall sit at appropriate time and screen all the seven airline operators and thereafter licence those that meet the requiments. We have 26 airline operators and out of them five are seeking to renew their license while the other two are seeking to get a licence for the first time, so that they be able to operate legally in the Aviation sector. I appeal to all stakeholders to follow the necessary channels of communication so as to be able to get their licenses,” said Justice Kavuma.

“The way we performed during the recent International Civil Aviation Organization audit  reflects a good job the authority is doing. As Civil Aviation  Authority, we advise  government on matters related to air services. As speak today , Uganda has concluded bilateral  air services with 56 countries. Uganda Civil Aviation Authority reiterates it’s commitment to the growth of Aviation industry not only in Uganda but also globally.”

The Deputy Director General of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), Olive Birungi Lumonya, noted that to maintain quality assurance, every year all airline operators are required to apply for renewal of Air service license and then the authority issues license to those that fulfill the set requirements.

“It was necessary to meet the different key players in the Aviation sector and remember every year airlines write to us seeking for renewal of their licenses. In our interaction with the Airline-Operators, we discovered they face challenges, and as regulators we shall address them. We are also compliant with international aviation standards, and we want the aviation sector to grow to greater heights. Recently the authority underwent a Universal safety oversight audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and our performance is rated good at 72.2%. In terms of security audit at Entebbe International Airport ,Uganda performed very well as there was no significant safety concern registered. We have set up a new passenger building terminal which looks so elegant at Entebbe International Airport,” said Lumonya.

Lumonya said Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) is currently undertaking a review of it’s master plan and we welcome all stakeholders to give in their views.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Uganda Airlines, Jennifer Bamunturaki, expressed optimism that the national airline will have its Air service license renewed saying they have put everything in place required to be licensed.

She also revealed that  the airline has so far expanded it’s routes from five to thirteen routes.

“As we expand more routes, we make more revenue. We have so far recieved foreign operator permits for Lusaka , Riyadh and now we are working on Guangzhou and London. We are building capacities of our technical staff,” Bamunturaki revealed.

“We also intend to have a third party ground handling in the coming financial year 2024/2025. We shall improve the business class through provision of transport to our esteemed clients.”

The Chief Operating Officer for Kush Air Uganda, a company seeking renewal of its license, Ivan Denis Wanamba , asked the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority to increase its technical staff, saying the available few ones delay service delivery.