UGANDA: Uganda Civil Aviation Authority Sets Tough Conditions For AIrline Licence Applicants

The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has set tough conditions to airline companies that applied for licenses to operate local and regional flight services.

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

TANZANIA: Tanzania Remains Number One In Conservation

Since independence, Tanzania has been making efforts to protect lakes, rivers, natural forest, game reserves, national parks and other natural resources found in the country.

Indeed, a report by the World Tourism Organisation indicates that in 2015 more than 7.58 trillion US dollars was transacted in the industry around the world.

The report also indicates that the USA and France were the biggest earners while China sent more tourists around the World, who spent more than 165 billion US dollars. Other countries which more tourists came from are USA, UK, German, Russia, France, Canada, Italia, Australia, Brazil and Japan.

There are more than 19 different kinds of tourisms but cultural tourism, historical sites tourism, spiritual site tourism, beach tourism and wildlife tourism are more popular throughout the world.

In Tanzania, tourism industry contributes more than 17 per cent of the national income which is mainly generated by different national parks and game reserves. Australia, India, Canada, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and many countries in South America and Africa lead the wildlife tourism industry in the world.

With the exception of Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia which control major historical sites in Africa, other African countries especially those located south of Sahara their tourism industries depend on wildlife.

Africa has more than 374 national parks but main players are Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Namibia, Zambia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. This is an exceptional kind of tourism whereby tourists are able to visit different national parks where they are able to see animals in their natural environment. The report further points out that about ten national parks in Africa are preferred more by tourists from Asia, America and Europe.

The best national parks of Africa are Maasai Mara of Kenya, Chobe of Botswana, Serengeti of Tanzania, Luangwa of Zambia, Etosha of Namibia, Kidepo of Uganda, Hwange of Zimbabwe, Ngorongoro of Tanzania and Okovango of Botswana. Unlike other African countries, the report shows Tanzania managed to enlist more national parks than others.

Among the best national parks in Africa, Etosha leads with an area covering about 22, 270 square kilometres followed by Kruger with an area of 19,485 square kilometres. Serengeti follows with 14,750 square kilometres ahead of Hwange with 14,651 square kilometres followed by Chobe with 11,700 square kilometres then Luanga with 9,050 square kilometres.

With an area covering 8,292 square kilometres is seventh in size followed by Maasai Mara which covers an area of about 1,510 square kilometres followed by Bwindi with 331 square kilometres.

Zoologists say an area of a national park plays a crucial role on conservation activities for animal and vegetation in any sanctuary around the World. Africa has 54 countries but it is Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Madagascar, Angola, Gabon, Morocco, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Uganda and Algeria that are most preferred by tourists from other continents.

South Africa, Mali, Angola, Niger, Chad, Libya, Sudan, DRC and Algeria are the largest countries in Africa, each covering an area of more than 1,200,000 square kilometres.

With an area of 945,087 square kilometers, Tanzania has portioned more than 118,736. 56 for 28 game reserves available in different parts of the country. Since independence, about 56,698.80 square kilometres have been portioned for 17 national parks. Having such a big area for national parks and game reserves, Tanzania leads the world with a big number of animals roaming in the wild.

Tanzania’s Selous has one of the largest populations of elephants and African buffaloes. On the other hand, Ruaha is regarded as an almost virgin national park where big mammals such as elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, lions, leopards, hyena and cheetah are found in great numbers.

Unlike other parks in Africa, Ruaha is endowed with a good number of antelopes such as roan antelope, sable antelope, greater and lesser kudu and other species of bovines. Tanzania leads others in number of wildebeests, zebra, lions, hippos, buffaloes, Thomson’s gazelle, hyena and more than 400 different species of birds.

However, poaching and other man made obstacles are some of challenges which are holding back the industry from full growth. By implementing special operation such as Tokomeza the government is working hard to ensure that national parks and game reserve are well protected.

This goal will be attained if all good citizens join hands with the government to fight poaching and adhere to rules which protect national parks and game reserves.

Despite the economic slump which affected the world few years ago and other catastrophes such as Ebola disease, the number of tourists coming to Tanzania is rising year after year.

According to reports from the ministry of tourism and natural resources, in 2013 Tanzania received 1,095,884 tourists, but in 2014 the number increased to 1,140, 156.

The growth is equivalent to a four percent increment which may appear insignificant, but something is better than nothing as it indicates the sector is coming out from the economic crunch. Tanzania is located in a strategic position along the coastal area of East Africa where beautiful national parks are found. Along the coast there are elegant marine parks such as Mafia and Chumbe Marine Parks, stunning Jozani forest and Saadani national parks.

In different time of a year, these and other smaller parks along the coast provide a rare opportunity to tourists to different spices of marine mammals such as dolphins and whales.

Not only that, with a huge potential in the southern and western circuits where almost virgin national parks such as Gombe, Mahale, Katavi, Ruaha, Udzungwa and Kitulo are found the country possess a wider chance of generating more money from the sector.