In a critical move to bolster national emergency response capabilities, the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), in conjunction with the Ministry of Works and Transport’s Maritime Department and the Uganda Red Cross Society, has successfully concluded a series of intensive sensitisation workshops on Search and Rescue (SAR) operations in Western Uganda.
Held from July 21 to 25, 2025, in Kanungu, Rukungiri, and Kasese districts, these workshops underscore Uganda’s proactive commitment to safeguarding lives in the event of air or water-related incidents.
Coordinating and directing search and rescue services across Uganda is a core function of the UCAA, a national obligation that demands the efficient utilisation of all available resources to locate, remove, and provide initial medical and humanitarian assistance to persons in distress.
These recent workshops were meticulously designed to fortify this national framework, extending critical knowledge and coordination skills to the grassroots level.
Multi-Sectoral Collaboration for Comprehensive Preparedness
The success of these workshops lay in their multi-stakeholder approach, bringing together a diverse array of participants crucial for effective emergency response. Attendees included: Local government leadership, representatives from Uganda Police and various Security agencies, hospitals and schools, National Forest Authority, Uganda Prisons Services, fisheries, Uganda Red Cross Society, journalists, officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport – Maritime Department, plus UCAA personnel.
This broad representation ensured a holistic understanding of SAR protocols and fostered inter-agency collaboration essential during crises.
The workshops were officially opened by the respective Resident District Commissioners (RDCs): Mr. Ambrose Mwesigye Amanyire of Kanungu, Mr. Wilberforce Ahimbisibwe of Rukungiri, and Lt. Joe Walusimbi of Kasese.
The RDCs uniformly commended UCAA for organising these vital sensitisation sessions, emphasising the indispensable role of community collaboration in emergency response.
They strongly urged residents to report emergencies through proper channels and encouraged all participants to widely disseminate the acquired information within their districts.
Furthermore, recognising the profound impact, the leadership in all three districts formally requested UCAA to organise additional workshops to involve an even larger number of district personnel.
Proactive National Strategy for Safety
These workshops in Western Uganda are not isolated events but are part of UCAA’s broader, sustained national strategy to enhance SAR capabilities across the country. UCAA has previously conducted similar impactful sensitisation programs in numerous districts, including Soroti, Pallisa, Ngora, Moyo, Adjumani, Kabale, Kisoro, Kaabong, Kaberamaido, Isingiro, Ntungamo, Kyotera, Masaka, Mukono, Kalangala, Buvuma, Kamuli, Nakasongola, Buliisa, Packwach, and Zombo, among others.
This consistent and widespread outreach demonstrates UCAA’s unwavering commitment to building a resilient national search and rescue network.
By empowering local communities and fostering seamless inter-agency cooperation, Uganda is significantly strengthening its capacity to respond effectively to aviation and maritime incidents, ensuring the safety and security of its citizens and visitors, and reinforcing its adherence to international safety standards.