The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has stepped up its efforts to enhance aviation security at regional airports by orienting key security stakeholders during a two-day workshop held at Lake View Hotel in Mbarara.
The workshop, which ran from August 5 to 6, brought together security committees from Kisoro, Kasese, and Mbarara aerodromes. It aimed to reinforce the roles and responsibilities of Airport Security Committees (ASC) in line with both national and international aviation security standards.
While opening the session, UCAA’s Director of Airports and Aviation Security, Eng. Ayub Sooma, underscored the critical role of collaboration in safeguarding Uganda’s airspace.
“Aviation security remains one of the National Aviation Security Committee’s top priorities,” Eng. Sooma said. “It is only through strong cooperation, coordination, and stakeholder engagement that we can uphold a secure and efficient aviation security system.”
The workshop attracted participants from city and district security departments, as well as heads of government agencies and security organs operating at regional airfields.
Sam Wonekha, UCAA’s General Manager for Regional Airports, highlighted the need to regularly review and update the mandate of ASCs in response to evolving security threats and in fulfillment of national, regional, and international obligations.
“Your feedback and critical input will guide how we improve security facilitation and adapt to emerging challenges in the sector,” he said.
Delivering a presentation on policy and compliance, Ms. Jane Nakimu, Manager of Aviation Security Facilitation, Policy, and Regulation at UCAA, reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to implementing global aviation security protocols.
“Through unified action and shared responsibility, we can uphold the highest standards and strengthen our collective capacity to respond to threats within the aviation ecosystem,” she noted.
The orientation comes at a time when regional air travel is expanding, with increased reliance on smaller aerodromes for domestic connectivity and tourism access—raising the need for robust and standardized security protocols across the country.
