Uganda pushes for fair skies as Africa aviation experts meet in Munyonyo

Kampala, Uganda – The Director General of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), Mr. Fred K. Bamwesigye, has called for stronger competition safeguards in Africa’s aviation sector, warning that liberalized airspace must be backed by robust regulatory systems to ensure fairness and protect consumers.

Mr. Bamwesigye made the remarks on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, while officially opening a three-day capacity-building workshop on “Drafting, Revising, and Implementing Competition Regulations in Air Transport Services in Africa” at Speke Resort Munyonyo.

The workshop, running from May 6–8, 2026, is organized by the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) in partnership with the McGill Institute of Air and Space Law, and funded by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. It is part of broader efforts to operationalize the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) under the Yamoussoukro Decision, which seeks to liberalize and integrate Africa’s aviation industry.

In his address, Mr. Bamwesigye said Africa’s push for open skies must go hand in hand with strong competition frameworks to prevent market distortions and ensure a level playing field for airlines across the continent.

“Open skies must be matched with fair competition,” he said, stressing the need for effective regulations that safeguard consumer interests and promote healthy industry growth.

He reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to building a transparent and competitive aviation sector, highlighting key reforms undertaken by the country. These include the enactment of a Competition Act in 2024, the establishment of a Consumer Protection Unit within the UCAA, and the development of draft competition and consumer protection regulations aligned with continental standards.

Although Uganda is not yet a full member of SAATM, Mr. Bamwesigye noted that the country is making deliberate progress toward accession, including ongoing stakeholder consultations and preparations for Cabinet consideration.

The workshop has brought together aviation regulators, legal experts, and representatives from Regional Economic Communities across Africa. Participants are expected to strengthen technical capacity in drafting and implementing competition laws, improve coordination among institutions, and promote harmonized regulatory approaches across African air transport markets.

Through technical presentations, comparative legal analysis, and practical drafting exercises, delegates will develop tools and frameworks to support the enforcement of competition regulations within the aviation sector.

Mr. Bamwesigye commended AFCAC and its partners for their continued support in strengthening Africa’s aviation regulatory capacity, and urged all SAATM signatory states to take decisive steps toward full implementation of the initiative to accelerate continental integration and aviation growth.