The Director General of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. Fred K.
Bamwesigye, officially opened a three-day capacity-building workshop on
“Drafting, Revising, and Implementing Competition Regulations in Air Transport
Services in Africa” at Speke Resort Munyonyo on Wednesday May 6,
2026.
The workshop, organized
by the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) in partnership with
the McGill Institute of Air and Space Law and funded by the European Union
Aviation Safety Agency, is running from May 6–8, 2026. It forms part of
ongoing efforts to operationalize the Single African Air Transport Market under
the Yamoussoukro Decision.
In his remarks, Mr.
Bamwesigye emphasized that while liberalization has opened up Africa’s skies,
“open skies must be matched with fair competition,” noting that strong
regulatory frameworks are essential to prevent market distortions, safeguard
consumer interests, and ensure a level playing field for airlines. He
reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to building a fair, transparent, and competitive
aviation sector, highlighting key milestones including the enactment of a
Competition Act in 2024, the establishment of a Consumer Protection Unit within
UCAA, and the development of draft competition and consumer protection
regulations aligned with continental frameworks.
Although Uganda is not
yet a full member of SAATM, he noted that the country is taking deliberate
steps toward accession, including ongoing consultations and preparations for
Cabinet consideration. The workshop brings together aviation regulators, legal experts,
and representatives from Regional Economic Communities across Africa among
others. It seeks to strengthen technical capacity, enhance understanding of
legal and economic principles, improve coordination among institutions, and
promote harmonized approaches to enforcing competition regulations in line with
continental standards.
Through a mix of
technical sessions, comparative legal analysis, and hands-on drafting
exercises, workshop participants will develop practical tools and frameworks to
support the effective implementation of competition regulations across African
air transport markets.
Mr. Bamwesigye also
commended AFCAC and its partners for their continued efforts in strengthening
Africa’s regulatory capacity and called on all SAATM signatory states to take
decisive action toward full implementation for the benefit of the continent’s aviation
growth and integration.
