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Uganda is advancing towards signing an agreement, the Single African Air Transport Market for Africa (SAATM), which is expected to improve connectivity and provide cheaper airfares, according to the Minister of Works and Transport, Katumba Wamala. 

The Single African Air Transport Market for Africa is a flagship project of the African Union Agenda 2063, an initiative of the African Union. This is expected to create a single unified air transport market in Africa to advance the liberalisation of civil aviation in Africa and act as an impetus to the continent's economic integration.

“Uganda will sign the agreement by June this year,” said Fred Byamukama, the State Minister for Transport.

Byamukama said the agreement aims to develop the air transport sector in Eastern and Southern Africa to improve the quality of transport services through improved efficiency, direct routing, improved connectivity, and reduced fares.

He was speaking on Monday, February 25, during the opening of the Support to the Air Transport Sector Development Programme (SATSD) taking place at the Golf Course Hotel on February 26, 2024, ending February 28, 2024. Byamukama was representing works and transport minister Katumba Wamala.

The meeting attracted representatives from the regional economic communities of the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC), and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

Also, delegates from partner organisations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) attended.

This second consultative workshop is taking place in Kampala following the successful implementation of the Support to Air Transport Sector Development (SATSD) programme being sponsored by the European Union. The first workshop took place in Eswatini and was attended by member states under COMESA, the IOC, and SADC.

The outcome of the meeting in Kampala is expected to culminate in a validation workshop, which will go a long way in facilitating the operationalization of the Single African Air Transport Market.

“You are aware that Africa Agenda 2063 is currently being implemented, and one of the African Union's flagship projects is the Single African Air Transport Market, which aims to strengthen intra-regional connectivity between the capital cities of African countries and ensure the availability of a single unified air transport market in Africa as an impetus to the continent’s economic integration and growth agenda.

“It is good to note that Uganda provides air connectivity between Eastern Africa and the Central African region and beyond, hence the importance of the country in facilitating air transport between cities in Africa,” he says.

He also pointed out that the relaunch of Uganda Airlines will boost this interconnectivity and improve trade and tourism for the benefit of the entire continent, hence recognising Uganda’s role in the implementation of one of the Africa Union’s flagship projects.

The Government of Uganda also remains committed to implementing and achieving sustainable operations while embracing both infrastructural and economic developments in the sphere of aviation.

“As the government and people of Uganda embrace the dynamics of air transport liberalisation, we commit to continuing to work with key stakeholders at the regional and continental level to ensure that Uganda and Africa at large achieve passenger and cargo growth and optimisation per nautical mile,” stated Wamala in the speech read by Byamukama.

“I believe following this workshop most of you will continue participating in various other activities of the programmes,” he says, adding that COMESA is spearheading the programme on behalf of EAC, IGAD, IOC, and SADC.

The workshop will require you to give input into the draft document already developed to improve its acceptability. Further, the success of this workshop depends entirely on your commitment and active participation, according to Wamala.

Countries that have SAATM are Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea (Bissau), Guinée, and Kenya. Others are Lesotho, Liberia, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sénégal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Chad, Togo, and Zimbabwe.

COMESA’s Adikiny Olenge, team leader (Air Transport and Aviation Expert Sector Development), said the agreement is going to enhance economic growth in the region.

Eng. Ronnie Balongo, director of safety, security, and economic regulation, said restrictions in different countries had created barriers that needed to be overcome to attract more airlines and also create collaboration as well as alliances.