The 20th NAFISAT Supervisory Board Meeting, hosted this week by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) at Speke Resort Hotel Munyonyo in Kampala, underscores Uganda’s pivotal role in regional air navigation and connectivity.
The partnership surrounding the North-Eastern Africa VSAT network (NAFISAT), which includes 13 member states and key international bodies, is a silent but powerful engine driving safety and efficiency across the skies, directly impacting Uganda’s international trade and promising tourism sector.
The high-level meeting, which was officiated by the Director General of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), Mr. Fred K. Bamwesigye, was attended by delegations from Egypt, Ethiopia, South Sudan, the Republic of Sudan, Djibouti, Seychelles, Tanzania, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Kenya.
The delegations also included aviation experts and regional professionals from the International Civil Aviation Authority Organisation (ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Air Transport and Navigation Systems (ATNS).
Backbone of Regional Aviation
Addressing the attendees, Mr. Bamwesigye noted that NAFISAT, operational since 2007, provides a reliable, satellite-based platform for the Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunications Network (AFTN), Air Traffic Services Direct Speech (ATS/DS), and related data exchanges across the North-Eastern AFI region. “This critical infrastructure”, he noted, “addresses historical communication deficiencies and is vital for seamless air traffic management.”
Uganda’s Strategic Role
Mr. Bamwesigye highlighted that Uganda’s commitment to this partnership is solidified by its role as the host of the NAFISAT Maintenance and Management Centre (MMC) at Entebbe International Airport (EBB).
“This centre is crucial for maintaining the network’s operational integrity and providing technical coordination for the entire region,” he stated.
He underscored that hosting the MMC places Uganda at the epicenter of regional aviation technical expertise and cooperation, positioning it as a key stakeholder in the future of African air traffic management.
Direct Impact on Trade
Mr. Bamwesigye also pointed out that the NAFISAT partnership’s primary function, which is enhancing air navigation services and regional connectivity, has a direct, positive impact on Uganda’s trade dynamics, particularly for high-value and time-sensitive exports.
“This partnership has seen an increase in air cargo at Entebbe International Airport because of the seamless collaboration, innovation and capacity building between the member states, which necessitate easy knowledge and information sharing,” Mr. Bamwesigye noted.
Enhanced Air Traffic Efficiency
He also revealed that the network ensures safer and more efficient skies by providing a reliable communication backbone.
“This improved efficiency leads to reduced flight delays, which lowers the operational costs for airlines,” he observed.
He explained that lower operating costs can translate into more competitive air freight rates for cargo, particularly essential for Uganda’s non-traditional exports like fresh produce and floriculture.
Facilitating International Cargo Movement
A reliable air navigation system is a non-negotiable prerequisite for international air transport.
According to Gabriel Harvey Lekamisy, the Officer, Communications, Navigation and Surveillance at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the NAFISAT collaboration with partners like IATA and ATNS strengthens Uganda’s compliance with ICAO’s global performance objectives.
He noted that this compliance and the provision of robust CNS (Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance) infrastructure attract more international carriers to Entebbe, increasing cargo capacity and opening up direct routes to crucial global markets.
Strengthening Regional Trade Corridors
As a landlocked country, Uganda relies heavily on air transport for global market access.
Mr. Bamwesigye thus emphasised that NAFISAT links Uganda with other key regional members, including Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia.
“The seamless flow of air traffic information facilitates the movement of goods and business travellers, strengthening the East African Community (EAC) and wider African trade integration efforts, such as the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM),” he said.
Safety, Accessibility, and Confidence for Tourists
The collaboration’s focus on aviation safety and efficiency is the single most important factor for the sustained growth of Uganda’s tourism sector. As rightly pointed out by Mr. Bamwesigye, air access is the primary determinant of international tourist arrivals, and its quality significantly influences a destination’s appeal.
The consensus at the meeting was that the ultimate goal of the NAFISAT network is to ensure a safer airspace for all member states.
The continuous technical cooperation, capacity building, and commitment to ICAO standards, as highlighted by UCAA, translate into a high level of air safety oversight. This, in turn, boosts international traveller confidence in choosing Uganda as a destination, a critical factor for long-haul tourism.
Increased Accessibility and Frequencies
Reliable communication and navigation services allow airlines to operate with greater predictability.
This operational confidence, which was highlighted by Mr. Richard Ruhesi, the Director, Air Navigation Services at the UCAA, encourages carriers to increase flight frequencies and potentially introduce new routes to Entebbe International Airport.
Greater accessibility, coupled with a more competitive operating environment, typically leads to lower airfares, making Uganda’s world-renowned national parks and cultural sites more affordable and accessible to a wider pool of international tourists.
Mr. Bamwesigye observed that hosting the NAFISAT Supervisory Board Meeting itself is a short-term but high-impact benefit for the tourism and hospitality sector.
The event attracted high-level delegates from over a dozen member states and international organisations, providing a direct injection of foreign exchange into the local economy (Speke Resort Munyonyo) and offering a prime opportunity to showcase Uganda’s readiness to host major international conferences. Indeed, Mr. Bamwesigye called on the delegates to make sure they experience the ‘Pearl of Africa’ before returning to their respective countries after the meeting.
Foundation for Economic Prosperity
The NAFISAT partnership, with its foundation in mutual trust and a shared vision of safety and efficiency, transcends a mere technical network; it represents a commitment to regional cooperation that underpins a vast economic ecosystem.
For Uganda, hosting the Maintenance and Management Centre and actively participating in its governance ensures that its vital gateway to the world, Entebbe International Airport, remains technologically advanced, safe, and efficiently integrated into the African and global air traffic network.
This sustained technical and institutional collaboration is essential for unlocking the full potential of Uganda’s trade and tourism sectors for years to come.