By the end of June, Uganda is expected to join the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), which is a big step toward the integration of the aviation industry on the continent. At the beginning of the SAATM meeting at the Golf Course Hotel in Kampala, State Minister for Transport and Works Fred Byamukama made this assurance.
Representatives from twelve Eastern and Southern African nations attended the conference, which was arranged by a number of regional organizations, including COMESA, the European Union, the Africa Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), IGAD, and the East African Community. Byamukama stated that Uganda intends to confirm its membership in SAATM once the Cabinet has given the issue careful thought.
The African Union’s SAATM effort seeks to create a single air transport market throughout the continent of Africa in order to promote increased connectivity and ease the flow of people and products between member states. This program is in line with Agenda 2063 of the African Union, a comprehensive development plan designed to foster sustainable growth and development over the course of the next 50 years.
Uganda’s choice to become a member of SAATM is consistent with its larger objective to grow the aviation sector, as demonstrated by the founding of Uganda Airlines five years ago. SAATM aims to promote aviation industry growth and support regional economic integration by lifting constraints on air operators.
The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority provided assurances that appropriate steps, including code-sharing agreements, had been taken to guarantee safety and operational effectiveness within the scope of SAATM, in response to queries on security and regulatory compliance.
AFCAC consumer protection specialist Emmanuel Butera Mwesigye emphasized that in order to fully benefit from SAATM, additional African nations must be encouraged to sign up. Of the fifty-six African countries, only thirty-seven have signed up for SAATM, with differing degrees of implementation.
In order to support the expansion of the aviation sector under SAATM, Athermon Ndikumaana, the deputy regional director of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for Eastern and Southern Africa, underlined the necessity of harmonizing laws and removing obstacles.
The Kampala workshop is the second in a series of gatherings intended to advance SAATM; a continental workshop encompassing all five of Africa’s economic blocs is planned. IGAD’s Director for Integration, Dr. Osman Mohamed, was among the observers who emphasized the need of air travel in lessening the continent’s dependency on road infrastructure, which has serious negative effects on the environment and the economy.
Uganda’s move to become a SAATM member is an indication of a larger commitment to regional aviation cooperation and integration, which will enhance connectivity and spur economic growth throughout Africa.
