UCAA Seeks Shs120 Billion to Finalise Jinja Aerodrome Upgrade

The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has approached Parliament with a request for an additional Shs120 billion to successfully wrap up the ongoing rehabilitation and expansion of Jinja Aerodrome. While inspecting the facility, parliamentary legislators noted that the project requires more funding alongside prompt resolution of land constraints to meet global aviation standards.

Currently, the upgrade involves the tarmacking of the runway, apron expansion, and putting up a perimeter fence. However, UCAA officials highlighted that finishing the facility requires extending the runway to 2.4 kilometres, building an air traffic control tower, and installing crucial firefighting infrastructure.

A major hurdle facing the project involves securing extra land. The expansion depends on acquiring about 10 hectares from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) at Gaddafi Barracks, which was reportedly pledged by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Additionally, authorities need to relocate Ambercourt Market, which occupies about three acres near the facility. UCAA’s Director of Airports and Aviation Security, Sam Wonekha, pointed out that the market attracts birds, posing a severe bird-strike hazard to incoming and outgoing aircraft.

Members of Parliament on the Physical Infrastructure and Works Committee expressed concern over the delayed implementation of the presidential directive regarding the military land. The committee, led by Vice Chairperson William Taylor Tiyo, pledged to summon officials from Jinja City Council and the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs to address the bottlenecks.

Lawmakers emphasized that modernising aerodromes across the country is vital for boosting tourism, easing transport, and stimulating regional economic growth. The committee promised to lobby for the required budget allocation so that the Jinja facility can achieve its full operational capacity. Read more details about this development in the Nile Post report.