The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has highlighted its efforts to reduce carbon emissions and improve efficiency in the aviation sector through electric vehicles, cleaner aviation fuels and modern air navigation technology.
The authority presented the initiatives during the third Chief Executive Officers’ (CEOs’) Breakfast Meeting and High-Level Dialogue on Green Economy, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Sustainability held at the UNICEF Conference Centre in Mbuya, Kampala, on October 14, 2026.
The meeting, held under the theme “Accelerating Uganda’s Green Economy Transition through Digital Transformation”, was officially opened by Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth.
During a panel discussion, Vianney Luggya, UCAA’s manager of public affairs, outlined measures the authority is taking to promote environmental sustainability while improving the safety and efficiency of air transport.
One of the initiatives is the acquisition of five Kayoola electric vehicles, which support the shift towards cleaner transport and reduced reliance on fossil fuels.
UCAA is also developing a State Action Plan to address carbon emissions from aviation. The plan is intended to guide efforts to reduce the sector’s contribution to climate change.
The authority is participating in the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), a global programme designed to address carbon dioxide emissions from international flights.
Under the scheme, participating countries and airlines are subject to measures intended to offset or reduce emissions growth from international aviation in line with the programme’s requirements.
UCAA is also conducting a feasibility study on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), an alternative to conventional jet fuel that can help reduce aviation’s lifecycle carbon emissions, depending on how it is produced and used.
The study is expected to help establish the potential for adopting the fuel in Uganda’s aviation sector.
Beyond cleaner transport and fuel alternatives, UCAA is investing in digital technologies to improve air navigation and reduce the environmental impact of flights.
Luggya highlighted the establishment of a national Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) framework and the implementation of navigation procedures based on the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), in line with ICAO requirements.
These technologies allow aircraft to follow more precise routes using satellite-based navigation rather than relying solely on traditional ground-based navigation aids.
More direct flight paths can reduce unnecessary flying distances, shorten flight times and lower fuel consumption. They can also improve airspace capacity and contribute to safer and more efficient flight operations.
Uganda is also participating in regional Free Route Airspace initiatives, which allow airlines greater flexibility in planning routes within designated airspace, subject to air traffic control requirements and operational restrictions.
