The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has raised concern over government ministries, departments and agencies owing it more than Shs166 billion, saying the accumulated debt is affecting the implementation of key developments at Entebbe International Airport.

UCAA Director General Fred Bamwesigye disclosed the figures on Thursday when he and other officials appeared before Parliament’s Physical Infrastructure Committee to update MPs on the state of Uganda’s aviation sector.

Bamwesigye said the outstanding payments have accumulated over time and are making it difficult for the authority to undertake some planned projects aimed at improving services at the airport.

“These monies are much. If we got this money, we would be able to get a new terminal,” Bamwesigye told the committee.

He said UCAA was engaging the government through the Ministry of Works and Transport to ensure that the outstanding debt is cleared.

“We will continue to lobby government through the Ministry of Works and Transport to ensure that the debt is cleared,” Bamwesigye said.

The committee, chaired by Tiyo William, the MP for Ayivu East in Arua, was also told that passenger numbers at Entebbe International Airport have been affected by instability and wars in the Middle East.

Bamwesigye said passenger numbers had dropped by about 30 percent due to the disruptions in the region.

“The Middle East is fast growing, and our passengers have reduced by 30 percent due to the wars in that region,” he said.

He explained that Uganda’s aviation sector remains vulnerable to disruptions caused by events outside the country, particularly conflicts that affect international travel and passenger movement.

The authority also cited pandemics and epidemics, including Ebola, as other factors that have affected aviation activity by restricting the movement of people.

Bamwesigye said UCAA would continue working with the Ministry of Health to strengthen measures aimed at preventing and controlling pandemics and epidemics that could disrupt air travel.

“UCAA will continue to work with the Ministry of Health to ensure measures to stop pandemics and epidemics,” he said.

Bamwesigye further told MPs that government needs to provide funding for the second phase of the expansion and upgrading of Entebbe International Airport, which is estimated to cost Shs741 billion.

He said the investment is necessary to enable the airport to cope with future growth in passenger numbers and improve its capacity to handle aviation traffic.

Despite the financial challenges and disruptions in international travel, UCAA reported an overall performance of 79.7% during the financial year 2025/2026.

The authority collected more than Shs346 billion in revenue during the financial year, while Entebbe International Airport handled about 2.3 million international passengers.

According to UCAA, the airport recorded no major safety occurrence during the year.