Planning of National Transport Infrastructure
In the Islamic Countries
88
1 Establish an air transport regulatory framework that will enable the industry to respond to
demand, and at the same time ensure safe, secure, regular and efficient air transport services
to, from and within Uganda;
2 Develop cost-effective infrastructure and services;
3 Create a healthy competitive environment for provision of aviation facilities and services;
4 Develop and sustain an efficient network of scheduled services;
5 Also encourage non-scheduled operations, especially where traffic volumes do not permit
economic operation of scheduled services;
6 Ensure a high level of aviation security through the Civil Aviation Security Programme;
7 Harmonise air transport policies with those of other countries, especially those within the
East African Community and COMESA, including exchange of freedom rights with other
COMESA the States;
8 Give favourable consideration to ‘open skies’ policies with other states, if such agreements
are judged likely to benefit the Ugandan air transport sector;
9 Promote and develop Entebbe International Airport (EIA) as an international hub;
10 Ensure provision of efficient ground handling services at EIA;
11 Entrust the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) with the roles of (i) advising Government on air
transport policy, international civil aviation regulations and conventions, and bi-lateral and
multi-lateral air service agreements, (ii) operating and managing air navigation services, and
(iii) operating and managing gazetted aerodromes, either directly or through concession
agreements;
12 Retain air navigation services as a CAA responsibility for the foreseeable future;
13 Privatise airport operation functions of the CAA when justified by traffic levels – specifically
consider the privatisation of Entebbe International Airport through a long-term concession
agreement;
14 Encourage the private sector to play a role in developing and managing private aerodromes,
and in maintaining and managing Government upcountry aerodromes;
15 Subsidise essential loss-making CAA activities that cannot be charged out to customers;
16 Support and seek technical and financial assistance for the East African Civil Aviation
Academy at Soroti;
17 Ensure that adequate regard is paid to environmental issues, including aircraft noise, the
problem of bird strike, and the need to restrain smoking on scheduled passenger flights.
Projections see total aircraft movements and cargo follow a similar trend, from 43,000 to
124,000 movements and from 56,000 to 172,000 tonnes, respectively. The forecast for up-
country airports projects a significant increase in traffic, from 14,000 passengers in 2012 to
660,000 passengers in 2033, which would see these airports account for 10% of commercial
traffic. The NTMP proposes that Entebbe be privatized and the upcountry aerodromes put out
to concession. These actions will surely test the confidence in the demand forecasts.
Public Transport
Public transport is fragmented system, which is dominated by private mini busses (matatus)
and motorcycles (boda-bodas). In the city region Bus Rapid Transit and Light Rapid Transit are
being considered to alleviate congestion and bring some order to chaotic public transport
services. The NTMP objective is to supply well organised safe and affordable public transport
services and this opens the door for public transport subsidy that will be vital for social
objectives to be achieved. However, to date there are not PT services receiving subsidy
according to the Kampala City Council (KCC).