The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has underscored the urgent need for a harmonised regional framework for flight crew and flight dispatch skill testing across the East African Community (EAC), a move expected to significantly boost aviation safety, efficiency, and cross-border collaboration.
Speaking on behalf of UCAA Director General, Fred Bamwesigye, at the opening of the Regional Workshop on Flight Crew and Flight Dispatch Skill Test Standards at Skyz Hotel in Naguru, UCAA’s Director of Safety, Security and Economic Regulation, Eng. Ronny Barongo, described the initiative as a critical step toward aligning the region with global aviation benchmarks.
“The workshop is a crucial step towards aligning the region's practices with global best standards,” Barongo said. He noted that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) underscores the importance of standardised training and assessments for pilots and dispatchers, adding that the workshop aims to enhance safety, improve competency, and strengthen cooperation among partner states.
The regional workshop is expected to review and contribute to the development of standardised skill-testing guidelines for flight crew and dispatchers, share best practices in assessment, and foster consensus on competency-based training requirements.
Barongo highlighted the rapid growth in Uganda’s air traffic as evidence of the need for stronger, uniform standards. Passenger numbers increased from 1,932,094 international travellers in 2023 to 2,243,104 in 2024.
“In October 2025 alone, Entebbe International Airport recorded 214,165 passengers—101,713 departing and 112,452 arriving—averaging 6,908 passengers per day. This represents a significant increase of 32,568 passengers compared to October 2024,” he said.
He described the proposed framework as a “game-changer” for aviation in the region. “The regional formulation framework is going to help our pilots and flight dispatchers mainly in improving safety, enhancing efficiency, and strengthening collaboration among partner states,” Barongo said.
The Director Technical at the Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA), Paul Lukanga, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to harmonising pilot licensing standards across all eight EAC member states.
“The goal is to ensure that pilot qualifications issued in one country are recognised and valid across the entire East African Community. This will help us, as a region, achieve better standards and maintain safe skies,” Lukanga said.
He noted that although ICAO provides minimum global requirements, individual states often set higher or varying standards, creating inconsistencies that restrict pilot mobility across borders.
“For example, ICAO sets the minimum age for becoming a pilot at 16 years, but Uganda requires 18 years while Burundi sets it at 20. Such differences hinder cross-recognition of licences,” he said.
CASSOA aims to unify these standards to create seamless practice across the region for both pilots and flight dispatchers.
The Vice President of the Uganda Professional Pilots Association, Captain George Mazige, expressed strong support for the harmonisation efforts.
“Our wish as pilots is for harmonised practical test standards across the region. We have Ugandans who train in various East African countries, and when they return home, they are subjected to fresh examinations. This is costly and cumbersome,” he said.
Mazige noted that standardising test procedures would ensure exam quality is consistent in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and other EAC states.
“Students who train in Uganda and those who train elsewhere in the region will be licensed automatically without redundant assessments,” he added.
The harmonisation of flight crew and dispatch skill test standards is expected to elevate aviation safety, improve operational efficiency, and make it easier for aviation professionals to work across borders within the East African Community.
UCAA and CASSOA are collaborating closely to ensure the process aligns with global best practices. The outcomes of the workshop will feed into the development of a comprehensive regional framework for flight crew and dispatcher skill testing, set to be implemented across all EAC member states.
Once adopted, the unified framework is poised to mark a major milestone in the region’s efforts to build a safer, more integrated, and more competitive aviation sector.