UCAA failures result in suspension of international flights by Ugandan airlines

(eTN) – A very recent country audit by ICAO, the International Civil Aviation Organization, of operations by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, resulted, according to inside sources, in a series of citings where shortcomings were detected in UCAA processes and the application of international rules.

In a knee jerk reaction the UCAA yesterday suspended all Air Operators’ Certificates (AOCs) for international operations, with Air Uganda being hit the hardest, inflicting major losses on the affected carriers under the pretext of aviation safety.

Investigation today revealed that the airlines had complied with all UCAA requirements and were in up to date compliance with all regulatory demands but still fell foul over UCAA’s own failures, which triggered their reaction to halt international flights while sorting out their own house and then recertifying the affected airlines. This applies to not just Air Uganda but other operators licensed to fly international routes, mainly cargo services.

The fleet of 3 Bombardier CRJ200 jets of Air Uganda remains presently grounded until UCAA resolves their issues and returnes to full compliance with ICAO rules, leaving hundreds of travelers stranded. They have been rebooked by Air Uganda on other airlines’ flights, as U7’s own departures from Entebbe to Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Mombasa, Bujumbura, Juba and Mogadishu had to be cancelled.

No official statement was issued by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority but it is understood that ugly undertones have emerged already by the usual suspects who have in the past tried to influence government to launch a new national airline, which would constitute a major bread basket for those behind this white elephant idea.

His Highness the Aga Khan, the principal behind the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development which is the main shareholder in Air Uganda, and President Yoweri Museveni, had some time ago agreed that the Ugandan government will acquire shares in Air Uganda, turning it from a quasi-national airline into a proper national airline, but progress has been hampered by interference from those very individuals keen to see the Ugandan government spend hundreds of millions of US Dollars to start another national carrier from which they can then benefit.

Further investigation has also shown that CASSOA, the East African Community Safety and Security Agency, has gotten involved in the process of recertification now underway. The affected airlines have reportedly all once again submitted their entire documentation required for the granting of an AOC to the Ugandan Civil Aviation Authority and were promised that this would be expedited, but with an open timeframe which can keep the affected airlines on the ground for another one or two days.

Questions are being asked by the aviation fraternity now, as well as by the more informed aviation pundits and observers, how UCAA could have failed in observing and implementing ICAO rules to such and extent and subsequently failing key aspects of the country audit. It is with keen interest that the public is looking forward to hear from UCAA what happened and what measures are being taken to avoid future such incidents which put the country into a bad light among the international aviation community.