Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has promised Ugandans and foreign travelers an immediate end to long queues at the country’s biggest airport, Entebbe International Airport going forward.
Through a statement on Monday, the airport’s handlers acknowledged in the recent past, all passengers arriving through Entebbe have been subject to ‘mandatory scanning of their luggage’ on exit at Customs after Immigration and baggage pick-up.
“The unprecedented move was implemented in the national security interest following the inception of various prohibited items entering the country. These could have originated from some States that did not exercise adequate due diligence,” CAA said.
They started the campaign of doing away with any recurrence of long queues from last week and the measures are cognizant of the need to balance security and passengers facilitation.
“Management has addressed the outcry caused by the initiative through putting in place mitigation measures from Thursday 6th July, 2017,” CAA assured Entebbe airport users.
TheUgandan understands that the situation at the airport has improved and CAA Public Affairs Manager Vianney Luggya (pictured above) confirmed they were receiving positive feedback from stakeholders.
Entebbe’s big strides in Aeronautical information
After successfully hosting the global Aeronautical information management conference in Kampala in which 61 countries too part, CAA board chairman Mr Michael Ndawula, is confident the transition from aeronautical information service to aeronautical information management will ensure that there is enhancement of safety through reduction of human errors.
“The ultimate objective is for the aeronautical information service to provide information that can facilitate safe conduct of flights, the conference seeks to map better ways of aeronautical information service” he said.
In the coming months Uganda, will undertake upgrade of the communication line from Aeronautical fixed telecommunication network to the more modern Air Traffic Services Message handling System to support transfer of more advanced data over the line.
CAA has embarked on modernisation of the airport with a budget that is approximately $586 million.
