The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has announced that it is fully prepared to receive international guests expected to attend the presidential swearing-in ceremony scheduled for May 12.
Speaking to journalists, the Director General of UCAA, Fred Bamwesigye, said Uganda expects about 65 foreign delegations for the event, with 32 already confirming their attendance.
“With the swearing-in ceremony coming up on May 12, we expect a total of 65 delegations and already 32 have confirmed to jet into the country,” Bamwesigye said.
He noted that the inauguration is a major state occasion that requires special arrangements for visiting dignitaries, including Heads of State and senior government officials.
“The swearing-in ceremony is a special occasion and the dignitaries coming, including Heads of State, deserve a warm reception beyond the usual arrangements,” he said.
Bamwesigye said UCAA has worked with other government agencies and local organising committees to improve traffic management and expand aircraft parking space at Entebbe International Airport ahead of the ceremony.
He added that the preparations have been coordinated jointly with several security and logistical teams to ensure smooth handling of guests arriving in the country.
In a related development, Bamwesigye also confirmed that the aviation sector is ready to handle Muslim pilgrims travelling to Mecca for Hajj starting today.
He said pilgrims will travel using several airlines, including Emirates and Ethiopian Airlines, among others.
Passengers have been advised to plan their journeys early due to the increased airport activity expected during the inauguration period.
On the ongoing upgrade of the country’s aviation infrastructure, UCAA management said Entebbe International Airport now meets most international standards, although some areas still require improvement.
Bamwesigye said additional funding is needed to continue modernising Uganda’s airports.
“We still need more money to remodel our airports to fully meet international standards because we largely depend on the revenue generated from airport operations,” he said.
Uganda currently has three major airports, namely Entebbe International Airport, Kabalega International Airport, and Arua Airport.
Bamwesigye added that plans are also underway to establish an airport in Kasese after completion of the feasibility study.
