Despite fire gutting the National Medical Stores (NMS) Ware house at Entebbe International Airport early this months, preliminary results issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), indicate that Uganda has scored 72.17%.
The fire outbreak in the NMS stores occurred at the time when officials from ICAO where doing their Auditing activity at the Airport and they witnessed fire destroying the Ministry of Health mosquito nets that were procured pending distribution.
The Minister of State for Works and Transport Fred Byamukama while addressing journalist at Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, said that the fire outbreak in the NMS stores at the Airport was a blessing in disguise because the ICAO officials witnessed on how police fire brigade responded to put out fire and stopping it from spreading and this help the country to score more marks on the side of safety.
Fred Byamukama Minister of State for Works and Transport addressing journalist at Uganda Media Centre
“ The fire outbreak at NMS helped us to perform well because it occurred amidst the presence of ICAO officials when they were exactly doing their audit exercise and they also witnessed how we responded to put it out.’’ Hon. Byamukama said.
He said that the results indicated the overall improvement in the safety performance of the state of Uganda ranking the state above the region, well as the Eastern and Southern Africa regional ranking averages stands at 55.6% and the global average is at 67.68%.
The minister also said that the 72.17 % was reached at after an assessment of Uganda’s effective implementation of the eight critical elements of the State Safety Oversight Systems as well as the Status of Compliance with the ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices.
The Executive director of the National Civil Aviation Fred Bamwesigye said that the assessment exercise carried out by the ICAO also considered the expansion the Airport facilities that they found ongoing and its nearing its completion stage which also helped us to score highly compared to other countries in the region.
He said that the two projects that are under construction at the Entebbe International Airport are 88% complete. Project I which is the modernization and Expansion of the current terminal building including modification of the checkup counters delayed due to the delayed procurement of materials that are being used but he was very optimistic that by end of November 2023 every work will be complete.
“ The terminal building have been expanded by 30,000 square meters increasing the current total to 50,000 sq. meters and the cargo storage capacity handling have been increased to 100, 000 metric tons per day.’’ Mr. Bamwesigye said
He also said that the two projects that are being under taken at the Airport are funded by government using the loan of US $ 200 m (Ushs 760 billion) acquired from EXIM bank of china which will be paid in a period of 20 years.
The Executive Director also refuted the allegations the Airport was privatized and taken by a Chinese company re-affirming that it’s still completely totally owned and managed by government of Uganda.
He also told reporters that Uganda Airlines will start flying direct to Lagos (Nigeria) and to Mumbai (India) with effect from October 1st, and 19th 2023 respectively and Ugandans who want to enjoy the flight to go and visit the two destinations at half price.
By George Bukenya