Uganda to host African Aviation Conference

May 30, 2023

Works and transport minister, Gen. Katumba Wamala, said the summit will also among other things, discuss how air transport can be made affordable on the African continent.

Jennifer Bamuturaki CEO Uganda Arlines arrival with other officials at the Uganda Media centre. (Photos Nancy Nanyonga)

Henry Sekanjako
Journalist @New Vision

Uganda is set to host the 55th African Airlines Association (AFRAA) Annual General Assembly and Summit in Kampala, starting November 19-21, 2023 at the Speke Resort Munyonyo.

The FRAA annual general assembly will be hosted by Uganda Airlines under the high patronage of the Government of Uganda.

The event is expected to attract high-profile delegates from the aviation industry in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North America.

Ofwono Opondo Executive Director Uganda Media Centre interacting with Jennifer Bamuturaki CEO Uganda Airlines after a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre on May 30, 2023.

Ofwono Opondo Executive Director Uganda Media Centre interacting with Jennifer Bamuturaki CEO Uganda Airlines after a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre on May 30, 2023.

The conference is the biggest aviation summit in Africa and will be attended by chairmen and chief executive officers from African airlines, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and the International Air Transport Association (IATA)

Others are the African Civil Aviation, civil aviation authorities of different countries private sector operators both in Uganda and outside at airports, air navigation service providers, as well as aircraft and engine manufacturers.

Jenifer Bamuturaki, the executive officer of Uganda Airlines and president of AFRAA, said Uganda was voted to host the conference in November last year, following the AFRAA conference in Nairobi, Kenya.

“At the summit, delegates will gain valuable insights from industry leaders on how to enhance business in the evolving market as well as discover how to leverage new technology smartly and cost-effectively,” Bamuturaki said.

Bamuturaki who took over the presidency of AFRRA in December 2022 said she pledged to focus on four areas including cutting the bureaucracy and red tape of regulatory regimes that impede intra-Africa connectivity which she said she will use the summit to reecho.

Katumba Wamala Minister of works and Transport and Jennifer Bamuturaki CEO Uganda Airlines pose for a photo with other officials after a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre on May 30, 2023.

Katumba Wamala Minister of works and Transport and Jennifer Bamuturaki CEO Uganda Airlines pose for a photo with other officials after a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre on May 30, 2023.

“Uganda Airlines is a victim of this, creating pathways of increased partnerships and collaboration within the continent to reduce the fragility of startup airlines as you are all aware we are a startup airline,” she said.

Works and transport minister, Gen. Katumba Wamala, said the summit will also among other things, discuss how air transport can be made affordable on the African continent.

Speaking during the launch of the conference at the Uganda Media Center in Kampala on Tuesday, May 30, Gen. Katumba said the conference will also deliberate on the connectivity of air transport in Africa.

“These are the things we need to address, sometimes it is very annoying that you leave Cameroon and you go to Paris and then you link up to come to Uganda and yet we command about 85% of air industry but then you find you cannot move on the continent connectivity is very poor,” Gen. Katumba said.

According to the Government, the event is a great opportunity for Uganda to showcase its tourism potential to the various delegates that will be traveling to Uganda to attend the conference.

Katumba Wamala Minister of works and Transport addressing journalists during a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre on May 30, 2023

Katumba Wamala Minister of works and Transport addressing journalists during a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre on May 30, 2023

“With the Uganda airline hosting the 55h AFRAA AGM our country is set to be marketed on the global stage, the delegates, will enjoy the beauty of nature by visiting our game parks, tracking the gorillas in Bwindi and they immerse themselves in our culture, food, and hospitality of Uganda for which we are best known,” Katumba Wamala said.

The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) is a trade organization open to the membership of airlines of African states. AFRAA membership of 44 airlines across the African continent and includes all the major international African Operators.

The current members represent over 85% of total international traffic created by African airlines across the world.

Berthe Abderahmane, the secretary general of AFRAA, who joined the summit AGM launch via a Zoom call, said the issue of affordable air transport is very important for the easy movement of Africans across the continent.

“Affordability is a very big issue because, only a class of African citizens today can afford air transport because of the environment, high cost of ticket fares which is not affordable for Africans. Our mission is to promote and champion African aviation,” Abderahmane told reporters in Kampala on Tuesday.

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