Bush Visit Stops Planes
Jul 07, 2003
FLIGHTS in and out of Entebbe International Airport will be temporarily disrupted when US President George Bush visits Uganda on Friday, works, transport and communications minister John Nasasira said yesterday.
By Grace Matsiko
FLIGHTS in and out of Entebbe International Airport will be temporarily disrupted when US President George Bush visits Uganda on Friday, works, transport and communications minister John Nasasira said yesterday.
Nasasira told journalists at the VIP Lounge that six airlines will be affected by Bush’s visit and had been accordingly informed through the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to reschedule their flights.
“Flight schedules will continue normally until around mid-day. There is going to be controlled air traffic,†Nasasira said.
“There will be temporary flight restrictions for security reasons and this is going to be between 11:00am to 6:30pm,†he added.
“The six airlines to be affected are Kenyan Airways, United Arab Emirates, South Africa Airways, MK, Ethiopia Airlines and East Africa Airlines. The airlines have to come early or later,†Nasasira said after touring the airport and the neighbouring areas with CAA chief Ambrose Akandonda and others.
He said non-scheduled flights will not be allowed into Entebbe that day. Importers, exporters and clearing agents will also be excluded. He said the UN and European Union forces based at Entebbe had been informed of the restrictions.
Nasasira said adequate preparations had been made to ensure a successful visit by Bush.
Presidential Protection Brigade personnel were deployed at key installations in Entebbe town to guard Bush’s advance team. The guards took over security at the Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel, the Windsor Lake Victoria Hotel and the entrance to the airport.
US marines manned the entrance to one section of the Imperial Hotel where the US delegates are staying, while others were holding walkie-talkies and mobile phones in corridors.
US Ambassador Jimmy Kolker, officials of the US State Department and the American security personnel in plain clothes also visited the hotel, the venue of a scheduled meeting of Bush and presidents, and the nearby TASO clinic where Bush will meet HIV/AIDS patients and orphans.
A Ugandan official denying reports that the Entebbe peninsula had been put under the control of the US, said a joint security system between the American and Ugandan agencies had been put in place.
Motorists and passengers to Entebbe airport went through a hectic time as they were moved out of their cars by the presidential guards and the Police and made to line up for a body search. Car boots and luggage were opened and searched.
US State Department officials joined the UPDF colour party at the airport tarmac to rehearse the Ugandan and American national anthems, as well as the welcome ceremonies for Bush. There was also a mock 21-gunfire salute.
A huge US Airforce craft arrived at Entebbe earlier offloaded food, medicine and military equipment before flying back to the US.
Ends
FLIGHTS in and out of Entebbe International Airport will be temporarily disrupted when US President George Bush visits Uganda on Friday, works, transport and communications minister John Nasasira said yesterday.
Nasasira told journalists at the VIP Lounge that six airlines will be affected by Bush’s visit and had been accordingly informed through the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to reschedule their flights.
“Flight schedules will continue normally until around mid-day. There is going to be controlled air traffic,†Nasasira said.
“There will be temporary flight restrictions for security reasons and this is going to be between 11:00am to 6:30pm,†he added.
“The six airlines to be affected are Kenyan Airways, United Arab Emirates, South Africa Airways, MK, Ethiopia Airlines and East Africa Airlines. The airlines have to come early or later,†Nasasira said after touring the airport and the neighbouring areas with CAA chief Ambrose Akandonda and others.
He said non-scheduled flights will not be allowed into Entebbe that day. Importers, exporters and clearing agents will also be excluded. He said the UN and European Union forces based at Entebbe had been informed of the restrictions.
Nasasira said adequate preparations had been made to ensure a successful visit by Bush.
Presidential Protection Brigade personnel were deployed at key installations in Entebbe town to guard Bush’s advance team. The guards took over security at the Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel, the Windsor Lake Victoria Hotel and the entrance to the airport.
US marines manned the entrance to one section of the Imperial Hotel where the US delegates are staying, while others were holding walkie-talkies and mobile phones in corridors.
US Ambassador Jimmy Kolker, officials of the US State Department and the American security personnel in plain clothes also visited the hotel, the venue of a scheduled meeting of Bush and presidents, and the nearby TASO clinic where Bush will meet HIV/AIDS patients and orphans.
A Ugandan official denying reports that the Entebbe peninsula had been put under the control of the US, said a joint security system between the American and Ugandan agencies had been put in place.
Motorists and passengers to Entebbe airport went through a hectic time as they were moved out of their cars by the presidential guards and the Police and made to line up for a body search. Car boots and luggage were opened and searched.
US State Department officials joined the UPDF colour party at the airport tarmac to rehearse the Ugandan and American national anthems, as well as the welcome ceremonies for Bush. There was also a mock 21-gunfire salute.
A huge US Airforce craft arrived at Entebbe earlier offloaded food, medicine and military equipment before flying back to the US.
Ends