Lois Larson
Uganda's tourism sector has been demanding the reopening of Entebbe International Airport, which has been closed since March 2020, to revive the industry and save companies from financial collapse. While the government has set strict aviation guidelines for airlines and travellers to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it has not announced a reopening date. However, sources indicate that the airport will reopen once the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) submits and receives approval for its standard operating procedures (SoPs). These SoPs include COVID-19 prevention measures such as mandatory handwashing, mask-wearing, and social distancing, temperature screening, sanitiser stations, and disinfection of seats and rails.
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What You'll Learn
The impact of airport closures on Uganda's tourism industry
The closure of Entebbe International Airport in Uganda due to the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the country's tourism industry. As a leading foreign exchange earner, the tourism sector in Uganda has been crucial in creating hundreds of thousands of jobs for Ugandans. However, the airport closure and the subsequent lockdown have driven many companies in the industry to the brink of financial collapse.
Even before COVID-19 reached Uganda, the tourism industry started experiencing cancellations and business losses as early as January and February 2020. The pandemic's impact on the industry has been widespread, with each subsector affected differently. Travel agents suffered about a 97% business loss with the announcement of airport closures, while tour operators experienced around an 80% loss in inbound tourism, amounting to 30.4 million US dollars.
The Uganda Tourism Association has been working to support the industry's recovery and future growth. They have emphasised the importance of constant marketing and promotion of Uganda as a destination to attract travellers once the pandemic subsides. Additionally, they have highlighted the need for capacity building and training to help businesses design strategies to respond to similar crises in the future. The association also plays a crucial role in coordinating the private sector, advocacy, product development, and harmonised quality assurance standards.
The Ugandan government has set strict aviation guidelines for airlines and travellers before reopening the airport. These measures, designed by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), aim to ensure the safety of travellers and prevent the spread of COVID-19. They include requirements for travellers to arrive early, wear face coverings, maintain social distancing, and use hand sanitisers. The UCAA is also addressing the risks associated with air conditioning systems that operate from a single source, as contaminated air can easily spread the virus.
While the airport closure has had a detrimental effect on Uganda's tourism industry, there is optimism for the future. With the development of vaccines and the expected increase in demand for tourism, both locally and internationally, stakeholders remain positive about the industry's recovery and potential growth.
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Conditions for reopening: health and safety measures
The Ugandan government has set strict health and safety measures as conditions for reopening Entebbe International Airport. These measures are designed to allow airlines to return to the skies, protect travellers, and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The government has formed a committee led by the First Deputy Prime Minister, Moses Ali, to oversee the reopening of Uganda's airspace for scheduled passenger flights. The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has developed a list of standard operating procedures (SOPs) in consultation with the government and various health organisations, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Airports Council International (ACI). These SOPs include:
- Mandatory negative PCR-based COVID-19 test certificates for all arriving passengers, conducted within 72 hours before travel.
- Health screenings for all arriving passengers, including temperature checks and assessments for other infectious diseases.
- Social distancing and the use of face masks or face coverings.
- Handwashing facilities and hand sanitiser dispensers at strategic points throughout the airport.
- Disinfection of all seats, rails, and other high-touch surfaces.
- Temperature checks for all airport staff.
The UCAA is also reviewing the frequency and timing of flights to facilitate physical distancing at the airport. These measures are in line with guidelines from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other health organisations.
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The role of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA)
The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) is the government agency responsible for licensing, monitoring, and regulating civil aviation matters in Uganda. It was established in 1991 as a state agency of the Ministry of Transport, Housing, and Communication. The UCAA is administered by the Uganda Ministry of Works and Transport and has its head offices at Entebbe International Airport, approximately 49 kilometres (30 mi) south of Kampala, the capital and largest city of Uganda.
The role of the UCAA is to provide oversight and regulate aviation in Uganda, including airports, aircraft, and pilots. The authority's main job is to set and enforce rules for everything related to flying, ensuring that all aspects of air travel adhere to strict regulations. This includes coordinating and overseeing Uganda's aviation industry, with specific responsibilities in licensing, regulation, air search and rescue, air traffic control, and the implementation of Ugandan and international aviation law.
The UCAA plays a crucial role in maintaining a safe and efficient aviation industry in Uganda. It prioritises the safety and security of passengers, crew, and the public, integrating new technology, and supporting industry growth. The UCAA is responsible for developing and implementing standard operating procedures (SoPs) to ensure the safe resumption of air travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. These procedures include requirements for travellers such as early arrival, wearing face masks, social distancing, and the use of hand sanitisers. The UCAA also ensures the disinfection of seats and rails and the temperature screening of airport staff and travellers.
The UCAA has been recognised for its contributions to infrastructure improvement, staff training, customer care, support of tourism, and facilitation of agricultural exports through Entebbe International Airport. In 2019, the UCAA received the Government Agency of the Year Going Global Award in the Aviation Category from the International Trade Council. Additionally, in September 2023, the UCAA, together with Entebbe International Airport and Uganda Airlines, underwent the ICAO Oversight Safety Audit, scoring above the regional and global averages.
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Stakeholder pressure and government response
Uganda's tourism private sector has been demanding the reopening of the airport, with stakeholders interacting repeatedly with ATCNews to highlight the plight of the industry. Tourism was once the leading foreign exchange earner in Uganda, and the lockdown of the airport has driven companies to the brink of financial collapse. Stakeholders have accused the aviation ministry of sleeping on the job, pointing out that air transport has resumed in other parts of Uganda and that neighbouring countries with higher COVID-19 caseloads have reopened their airports.
The Ugandan government has set strict aviation guidelines for airlines and travellers before reopening Entebbe International Airport. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Diana Atwine, confirmed that the measures were designed to allow airlines to return to the skies, keep travellers safe, and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Dr Atwine said the government would first address the risks and ensure that the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) puts in place measures for travellers. These measures include requirements for travellers to arrive early, wear face coverings, maintain social distancing, wash hands or use sanitisers, and undergo a slow check-in process. Passengers with COVID-19 symptoms will be blocked from accessing the airport.
The government has formed a committee led by First Deputy Prime Minister Moses Ali to plan the reopening of Uganda's airspace for scheduled passenger flights. However, this announcement was met with some disbelief by industry stakeholders, who believe that not enough preparation has gone into the process compared to neighbouring countries like Rwanda and Kenya.
The readiness to reopen the airport lies with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which has developed standard operating procedures (SoPs) as required by the government. These SoPs have been shared with the Ministry of Health and key stakeholders, and operations will resume once they are approved. The SoPs include the installation of automated sanitisers, marks on the floor to ensure social distancing, and the acquisition of temperature guns.
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The status of Entebbe International Airport
The Ugandan government has set strict conditions for the reopening of the airport, which include standard operating procedures (SoPs) to be developed by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) and approved by the Ministry of Health. These SoPs are designed to allow airlines to resume operations while keeping travellers safe and preventing the spread of Covid-19. Some of the measures include mandatory handwashing, sanitiser stations, social distancing, mask-wearing, temperature checks, and disinfection of seats and rails. Inbound passengers will be required to present a valid health certificate or undergo rapid Covid-19 testing upon arrival. Outbound passengers will also be required to undergo testing or present a valid health certificate.
The UCAA spokesperson, Mr Vianney Luggya, has stated that they are in the final stages of engagement with stakeholders and that operations will resume once the SoPs are approved. However, President Museveni has indicated that the airport will remain closed until the situation abroad improves, as there is "so much chaos" in some countries with high Covid-19 caseloads.
The closure of the airport has had a significant impact on Uganda's tourism industry, which was once the leading foreign exchange earner and a source of numerous jobs for Ugandans. The continued closure, even as neighbouring countries reopen their airports, has driven many companies to the brink of financial collapse.
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Frequently asked questions
Uganda has not announced a date for the reopening of Entebbe International Airport. The airport was initially closed for 32 days, but the situation worsened as COVID-19 cases increased in Uganda and other countries.
The Ugandan government has set strict aviation guidelines for airlines and travellers before reopening Entebbe International Airport. These include mandatory handwashing, wearing of masks, social distancing, disinfecting seats and rails, and temperature checks for all airport staff and travellers.
The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has announced new measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 as it plans the reopening of the airport. These include COVID-19 testing for all arriving passengers, temperature screening, and observation of arriving passengers. Outbound passengers will be required to undergo a rapid test or present a valid health certificate.
The closure of Entebbe International Airport has had a significant impact on Uganda's tourism industry, which was once the leading foreign exchange earner for the country. The collapse of the industry since the initial lockdown has driven many companies to the brink of financial collapse.
