The 48th East African Consultative Meeting on the Facilitation of Air Transport (EACFAL) officially convened at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala, today, bringing together high-level delegates from East African Community (EAC) member states and key continental aviation bodies.
The meeting, which included delegations from Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Somalia, South Sudan, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA), is a critical platform for enhancing regional integration, trade, and tourism by ensuring seamless air travel across the bloc.
Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala , the Minister of Works and Transport, who officially opened the meeting, which was jointly hosted by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) and the Ministry of Works, emphasised the session’s role in appraising compliance with international aviation standards.
Regional Integration and Compliance
In his opening remarks, Gen. Wamala said, “The EACFAL meeting serves as a vital forum for the inspection, appraisal, and audit of compliance at international airports across the EAC, ensuring adherence to the facilitation requirements outlined in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Annex 9.” He noted that this standard is crucial for the seamless movement of passengers, cargo, and aircraft.
Gen. Wamala revealed that the core mandate of the EACFAL stems directly from Article 92 of the EAC Treaty, which commits Partner States to:
Harmonise civil aviation policies, rules, and regulations.
Ensure air transport services are safe, efficient, and profitable.
Establish common measures to facilitate passenger and cargo services within the Community.
Gen. Wamala noted that the outcomes of the meeting will recommend policy developments, advise Member States on ICAO Annex 9 enhancements, and strengthen regional cooperation in aviation safety, security, and economic regulation.
Uganda’s Role as an African Connectivity Hub
Uganda, which hosted the 48th meeting as Vice Chairperson of the Secretariat, underscored its central role in regional connectivity.
Ms. Olive Birungi Lumonya, the Ag. Director General of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) proudly highlighted the recent achievements and commitment to ICAO standards.
“The UCAA confirmed that Uganda registered a very high level of compliance in the security auditable aspects of Annex 9 during the ICAO Universal Security Audit Programme (USAP) conducted in 2024,” Ms. Lumonya told the meeting.
“This success directly contributes to improved border security and a seamless passenger experience, thereby contributing to economic growth,” she added.
Key Traffic and Infrastructure Updates:
According to Ms. Lumonya, following Uganda’s compliance with the ICAO and CASSOA standards, the UCAA is already registering significant wins as illustrated below;
Passenger Traffic Growth
She revealed that Entebbe International Airport (EIA) registered 1,133,366 international passengers in the first half of 2025, showing a growth of 4.3% in arrivals and 7.6% in departures from the previous year.
Infrastructure Expansion
Ms. Lumonya noted that to meet this rising demand, the government is expanding EIA’s passenger terminal capacity from 2 million to 3.5 million passengers annually.
Cargo Capacity
She revealed that the new cargo center at EIA, operational since March 2022, has a capacity of 100,000 metric tons annually.
Regional Connectivity
Ms. Lumonya revealed that the relaunch of Uganda Airlines, now serving 17 destinations, is further set to boost trade and tourism in Uganda and across the region.
Future Projects
She also disclosed that the government, through the UCAA, is constructing a new international airport in Hoima District (Kabalega International Airport) to support the oil refinery in the Albertine Graben.
Streamlining Processes for Trade and Tourism
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works and Transport, Mr. Bageya Waiswa, who was represented by Mr. Winstone Katushabe, the Commissioner for Transport Regulation and Safety at the Ministry of Works, emphasised the importance of national coordination through the National Air Transport Facilitation Committee (NAFAL).
“This coordinated approach to handling facilitation issues has yielded tremendous results, including the improvement of facilities… streamlining processes for clearing passengers and cargo to promote international trade, as well as advancing environmental conservation…” Mr. Katushabe said.
He revealed that on Day One of the meeting, the delegates had inspected Entebbe International Airport, and both the Minister and the Permanent Secretary encouraged them to offer candid criticism and recommendations to guide Uganda’s ongoing improvement efforts for the benefit of the entire African air transport industry.
Gen. Wamala concluded by welcoming delegates to explore Uganda’s historic sites and renowned tourist attractions of the “Pearl of Africa” during their stay, so that they can tell the country’s story when they return to their respective countries.