Today, Uganda joined the rest of the world to mark the International Civil Aviation Week that runs from December 1-7 annually.
Civil Aviation Authority Public and Corporate affairs manager Vianney Luggya said that the week is celebrated by the global aviation communication to commemorate the memorable week of meetings that led to the signing of the famous Chicago Convention that was inked on December 7, 1944 resulting in the establishment of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The theme for this year’s celebration globally is: Working together to ensure that no country is left behind. This has emphasis on ICAO’s efforts to assist states in implementing ICAO standards and
Mr. Luggya said that as part of the activities to mark the Aviation week, the authority sponsored several social responsibility causes like the Uganda Seniors Golf Open that run from December 2 to December 3 at a tune of Shs20m and the Rwabushenyi Memorial Chess Championship at Forest Cottages in Bukoto that took place from November 30 to December 3.
Entebbe International Airport expansion work has gained pace with main contractor China Communications and Construction Company (CCCC) and Seyani Brothers working hard to finish the project in time.
The government, through CAA, secured a 20-year soft loan from the Export and Import Bank of China to finance the project which is part of the National Civil Aviation Master Plan.
The first phase includes construction of new passenger and cargo terminals whose completion deadline is 2020. The new passenger terminal building, covering 20,000 square metres, shall have automated baggage sorting facilities. Up to $200 million was budgeted for the ongoing upgrade.
Officials say airport capacity will be boosted to handle three million passengers annually. According to official statistics, Entebbe’s passenger traffic reached 1,337,261 in 2014.
