KAMPALA- UGANDA: As President Yoweri Museveni told crowds who turned up this morning in Kakumiro District to celebrate the 37th Anniversary of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) that he would stamp corruption out of Uganda, the Civil Aviation Authority was taking notes.
Last week, the UCAA was thrown into the deep following reports of extortion of passengers going through the airport. The reports were relayed in a video on social media by citizen journalists promoting the airport authorities to admit that there was a problem.
For example, an employee at Entebbe International Airport is reported to have received $10,000 as a bribe to allow a passenger to travel to Brazil without proper documentation. This incident occurred at the National Aviation Services (NAS) passenger handling terminal. A passenger traveling to Brazil did not have all the documents to proceed with the trip until an undisclosed NAS employee demanded a bribe to let the traveler through. According to Uganda’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the employee has been relieved from their duties.
“The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU), together with the Directorate of Immigration Control and other authorities, will be handling the situation,” Mariam Natasha, the spokesperson of the corruption watchdog, told the public.
“Investigations have commenced and already some of the suspects are culpable. More information on the investigations will be available in due course,” Ms. Natasha is quoted speaking to simpleflying.com
How UCAA is rising above the storm
Hit with these storms, the UCAA has said they would publish a list of individuals whose security passes have been withheld because of corruption and other unethical practices at Uganda’s famous international airport.
As Uganda’s only international airport and a hub for African aviation, the airport welcomes many guests throughout the year. Located astride the equator at latitude 00.020 North and longitude 320 East, it is affectionately known as the “Airport on the Equator.”
The airport is on a peninsula bordering Africa’s largest freshwater body, Lake Victoria.
The airport serves some of the biggest airlines worldwide, including Kenya Airways, Emirates, KLM, and Ethiopian Airlines, to mention a few. Other guests include school children and plane spotters who visit to learn about the airport’s history and to enjoy a scenic view.
“To cater to the increasingly growing traffic, Entebbe is undergoing expansion and refurbishments. Passengers traveling to the East African nation will enjoy a revamped runway, a new passenger terminal, and a cargo center,” says Mr. Vianney Luggya, the UCAA Spokesman.
Together, the renovations will increase passenger traffic and welcome even more visitors throughout the year. Authorities revealed that the project will be complete by 2024.
Congratulations to Ugandans
Meanwhile, the Board of Directors, Management, and Staff of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority wish to extend hearty congratulations to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda and all Ugandans on this occasion to mark the 37th NRM Liberation Anniversary.
Mr. Luggya tells MediaScape News that the conducive environment ushered in by the Government has enabled the aviation industry to thrive.
“The Authority is committed to continuing contributing towards the transformation of the country through maintenance of the highest standards of safety, security, and service in civil aviation,” he says.
Entebbe International Airport is currently being expanded and upgraded for better passenger facilitation and experience.