Uganda is a landlocked country. Air Transport is therefore of strategic importance to the nation as it guarantees an alternative gateway to the rest of the world. It provides the most efficient and quickest transport means to and from Uganda. The country’s perishable high value commodities like fish, flower, fruits and vegetables are exported by air. The development of a safe, efficient and reliable air transport industry is thus among government’s priority programmes.
International Airport
Uganda has one international airport, Entebbe International Airport, which is located about 40 kilometres South West of Kampala City. It lies astride the equator, for which reason it has often been described as the airport on the Equator. It also borders Africa’s biggest fresh water lake, Lake Victoria.
The Civil Aviation Authority welcomes visitors at the airport and provides a package of services for the benefit of visitors who go through the airport.
Domestic Airstrips
The country has the following domestic airstrips:
Arua
Gulu
Pakuba
Kidepo
Kasese
Airfields
The country has the following airfields:
Soroti
Mbarara
Lira
Masindi
Jinja
Moroto
Tororo
Kisoro
Air transport in Uganda has been summarised to include the following
- Entebbe International Airport
- Services and Facilities at the Airport
- Challenges
- Airlines with Offices
- Accommodation around Airports
- Passenger and Cargo
- Domestic Airport
- Airlines Operating at Entebbe Airport
LOCAL CAPACITY IN THE ROADS SECTOR
Equipment:
The local road construction and maintenance companies lack quality and do not have the capital to acquire them. The cost of essential machinery is often far more than start-up companies can afford. The expenditure of heavy ‘plant’ like bulldozers is well beyond the reach of smaller contractors. These unaffordable equipment costs are widely regarded as the main barrier to small companies gaining a foothold in the roads industry.
Engineers:
According to the Uganda Institute of Professional Engineers (UIPE), there are 588 registered engineers; of whom majority work under different consultant firms, construction companies, road firms, and government organisations like Ministry of Works and Transport, and United Nations Association among others. There are also other members who are not yet registered with UIPE but they do work in the engineering field. The estimated number of graduates with engineering degrees is over 800. The country still requires engineers with experience in road construction and maintenance.
Architects:
The Uganda Society of Architects, together with the Architects Registration Board, are the two professional institutional bodies for architects in Uganda. The corporate membership body today stands at 230 members with active practicing architects at 120. 120 practising architects are too few for the country