A full-scale aviation
security exercise was successfully conducted at Entebbe International Airport
on Friday, June 26, 2026, reaffirming the airport’s commitment to maintaining
the highest standards of aviation security and emergency preparedness.
The exercise, code-named
‘EX 2026’, simulated the hijack of a commercial aircraft shortly before
take-off. This exercise provided a realistic platform to test inter-agency
coordination, incident command, airport emergency response, and collaboration
under high-stress conditions. The scenario involved a fictional “Fenna
Airlines” flight, FY 506, presumed to be carrying 67 people, which was
simulated to have been hijacked before departure.
Addressing the media
after the exercise, Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) Director General,
Mr. Fred K. Bamwesigye commended all participating agencies for testing and
evaluating their response capabilities.
“We have successfully
concluded a full-scale aviation security exercise to test stakeholder readiness
to respond to a hijack incident involving a commercial aircraft,” Mr.
Bamwesigye stated. “I commend all stakeholders who participated for testing and
evaluating their response capabilities in accordance with the Airport
Contingency Plan.”
The exercise brought
together a wide range of stakeholders, including security agencies, airline
operators, ground handling companies, health personnel, and other government
entities. Mr. Bamwesigye further noted that the simulation successfully
achieved its primary objective of evaluating the country’s preparedness to
respond to sophisticated aviation security threats.
The Director General
noted that such exercises are a mandatory requirement for international
airports of Contracting Member States of the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) to test their emergency plans and procedures every two
years. Furthermore, it ensures strict compliance with ICAO Annex 17 to the
Chicago Convention and the Civil Aviation Security Regulations, 2022.
A comprehensive debrief
involving all participating agencies was conducted on the same day to identify
strengths and areas for improvement. Mr. Bamwesigye emphasized that these
debriefings consistently produce valuable feedback, which remains an essential
part of the airport’s ongoing preparedness process.
Importantly, the
Director General reassured the traveling public that these exercises are
carefully planned to ensure uninterrupted daily airport operations.
“During such exercises,
normal aviation operations continue, so passenger and cargo operations were not
affected,” he clarified.
As part of the briefing,
Mr. Bamwesigye also highlighted Uganda’s continued progress in aviation
oversight. He noted that the country’s most recent Universal Security Audit
Programme – Continuous Monitoring Approach (USAP-CMA) conducted by ICAO saw a
score of 81.6%, which was well above the global and regional averages.
UCAA continues to invest
in regular emergency preparedness exercises to strengthen collaboration among
aviation stakeholders, enhance operational readiness, and ensure the safety,
security, and resilience of Uganda’s civil aviation system.
