Uganda signs bilateral air service agreement with Oman

Uganda has signed a bilateral air service agreement (BASA) with Oman and has reviewed its air service negotiations with Ethiopia, Qatar and UK. 

The country has also held new air service negotiations with Latvia and Sudan, as well as bilateral consultations with India, Botswana, Russia, and Malaysia. 

The developments arose during a five-day global aviation conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from October 21 to 25, 2024.

A delegation from Oman led by Naif Al Abri, the chairman of civil aviation authority with a delegation from Uganda led by Olive Lumonya, the deputy director general of Uganda Civil Aviation Aviation after signing a bilateral air service agreement during the air service negotiation event held in Malaysia. (Courtesy Photo)

Olive Birungi Lumonya, the deputy director general of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), led the Uganda delegation.

Other officials included those from the ministries of works and transport, justice and constitutional affairs, finance, planning and economic development and Uganda Airlines.

A bilateral air services agreement is a treaty between two countries that allows commercial air travel between their territories.

Uganda represented by Olive Lumonya, the deputy director general for Uganda Civil Aviation Authority reviewed its air service negotiation with the United Kingdom during a conference held in Malaysia. (Courtesy Photo)

Lumonya said such agreements are negotiated by the governments of the two countries before an airline can begin operating international services (flights): "It covers several aspects such as the traffic lights, routes that airlines can fly plus the cities they can serve and capacity, among others".

According to Lumonya, a bilateral air service agreement is one way of attracting airlines into one’s territory, thereby increasing passenger numbers, attracting tourism and increasing business opportunities. 

"These agreements are crucial for facilitating travel and trade between Uganda and other countries with increased traffic on both sides," she said, adding that tourism is one of the main areas of focus for the strategic direction of the country hence such agreements are triggers and opportunities to drive tourism.

Lumonya (3rd left) with a delegation from Qatar after reviewing the air service negotiations. (Courtesy Photo)

The air services negotiation Event is an annual global event under the International Civil Aviation Organisation. It includes bilateral air services agreement negotiations and consultations between states regarding air services.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Uganda, Uganda has concluded BASAs with 56 countries namely.

These include  Algeria, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso,  Burundi, China, Colombia, Djibouti, D.R. Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, Gabon, Ghana, Germany, Iceland, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kenya and Kuwait. 

Others are Libya, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland (Eswatini), Switzerland, Rwanda, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, USA, USSR (Russia), Zambia and Zimbabwe.