According to the aviation body’s Managing Director, Mr David Kakuba, the tough conditions are intended to ensure safety and high standards because worldwide, the industry is highly regulated.
The sector manages risk at almost 100 percent. Therefore, if you want to come and fly in the air space of this country, you must go through very many procedures to be cleared, he said.
He was speaking on Thursday in Kampala, during the Civil Aviation Board Air Services Licensing Committee public hearing session where six companies were defending their applications.
A public hearing session is one of the conditions, where companies have to defend their proposals.
The public is free to raise any objections against the companies that have applied for either new license or renewal of license with the aviation body.
According to David Kakuba, the managing director for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), 48 operators are currently licensed to access Uganda’s airports.
Upon the arrival of Uganda’s aircraft Bombardier CRJ900 into the country on April 23, Lilly Ajarova, the Chief Executive Officer for Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), expressed optimism at the benefits, the carrier was to bring to Uganda’s tourism industry.
Likewise, several aviation operators revealed plans aimed at tapping into Uganda’s improving tourism potential, saying the number of tourists visiting the country, is increasing day by day.
Anthony Njoroge the country manager of AeroLink, noted that the company currently operates three aircraft which fly within different national parks in Uganda.
World over, tourism numbers are increasing and Uganda is one of the key tourist destinations. We, therefore, want to position ourselves for such a viable market, intimated Njoroge.
He added that the planes are chartered to fly tourists to Semuliki national park, Kidepo, Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth national park and Bwindi impenetrable forest.
This was during a public hearing of applications for air services licensing which was conducted at Mestil hotel in Kampala, on Thursday where aviation operators were subscribed to public scrutiny, as one of the processes for renewing or acquiring an aviation operating license.
According to David Kakuba, the managing director for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), 48 operators are currently licensed to access Uganda’s airports.
He also noted that some operators have already expressed interest in increasing the number of flights into Uganda, for there carriers.
Every operator must, however, embrace competition which is very stiff in the aviation industry, advised Kakuba.
He, however, intimated that Uganda airlines will be accorded preferential treatment like free office space and exemption from parking charges. As a national airline, its screens shall be used to market Uganda’s tourism sites and destinations, stated Kakuba.
McKenzie Ongwen the chairperson for the licensing board revealed that licensing process has been eased for air service operators in the interest of promoting Uganda’s tourism sector.
When an airplane is fit for flying and has competent and qualified personnel, as well as a certificate of regular maintenance, other processes are easier.
He called upon more air service operators to join Uganda’s aviation industry, saying, there are ongoing expansion works being carried out at Entebbe, Arua, Kabale and Gulu airports.
Meanwhile, Godfrey Kitagenda of AirServ company said, their operations are centered to humanitarian works among which include medical services. He, however, acknowledged the booming tourism industry in Uganda, saying it’s tempting.
According to Ephraim Kamuntu, the minister for tourism, wildlife, and antiquities, Uganda has seen steady growth in tourism, in terms of tourists arrivals, foreign exchange earnings and tourism contribution to Gross Domestic Product(GDP).
Kamuntu said the sector accounted for 7.3 percent of GDP, foreign exchange earnings worth US$1.45bn and more than 600,000 jobs in the year 2017.
Six companies have been shortlisted for licensing to operate local and regional flight services, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has revealed.
Among the airline companies shortlisted is Sun Guru Limited which applied for new licenses to operate private and domestic non-scheduled passenger flight service and Misk Air Limited which applied for domestic non-scheduled passenger flights.
Four companies applied for license renewal and they include; Aero Link, Air Serv Uganda, Premier Services East Africa, and Jobihani Investments. Speaking during the Civil Aviation Board Air Services Licensing Committee public hearing session, where the six companies were defending their applications on Thursday in Kampala, CAA’s Managing Director, David Kakuba said they have set tough conditions for the applicants to ensure safety and high standards because worldwide, the industry is highly regulated.
The sector manages risk at almost 100 percent. Therefore, if you want to come and fly in the air space of this country, you must go through very many procedures to be cleared, he said.
According to Kakuba, a public hearing session is one of the conditions, where companies have to defend their proposals and the public is free to raise any objections against the companies that have applied for either new license or renewal of license with the aviation body.
He said companies interested to operate in Ugandan must have aircrafts which have a valid certificate of air of worthiness, qualified and competent personnel, regular maintenance records, the economic viability of the operation among other requirements.
The shortlisted companies will give competition to the recently revived government-owned Uganda Airlines in the provision of flight services.
On April 23 two Bombardier CRJ900 jets touched down at Entebbe International Airport, marking the official revival of Uganda’s national carrier, which was grounded in 2001.
Vule Airways
Vule Airways Limited, is a privately owned airline in Uganda. Established in March 2017, the airline expects to begin scheduled commercial flights in November 2017.
According to the company website, the corporate headquarters are at 515 Mbogo Road, Kibuli Hill, Kampala, Uganda.
The airline maintains a sales office in the central business district of Kampala, at 13-15 Kimathi Avenue, and another office in southwest London, in the United Kingdom.
As of August 2017, the company is waiting for the award of an air operator's certificate by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA).
The company plans to hire 60 employees initially and lease 6 aircraft to provide domestic, regional and international passenger and cargo services.
In August 2017, Ch-aviation reported that Vule Airways had secured an Air Services Licence (ASL) from the Ugandan Civil Aviation Authority.
The company's shares are owned by Ugandans (55 percent) and non-Ugandans (45 percent).
Vule Airways expects to start services to 6 domestic airports. Services will then expand to the regional airports, within the countries of the East African Community.
The company also expects to serve Johannesburg, Tunis and London; services will be expanded as demand grows.
According to the company website, the company expects to lease 6 aircraft, including a one 40-seater Bombardier Dash 8-200, one 78 seater Bombardier Dash Q400, three 128-seater Boeing 737-700 and one 300-seater Boeing 777-200ER.
The six-person board of directors includes the following individuals:
- Robert Mwesigwa Nviiri, the Chairman and Managing Director
- Lameck Nsubuga Mukasa, Company Secretary
- Fixon Akonya Okonye, Director Finance and Administration
- Jones Yosiya Kyazze, Director Public Relations
- Margaret Anne Mazzi Wampamba, Director Marketing
- Perpetua Kabaitira Biraaro, Director Internal Audit.
Tourism Observer
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