(Kuala Lumpur) – Uganda has officially signed a bilateral air services agreement (BASA) with Oman and engaged in discussions to expand its air service networks. During a global aviation event held from October 21 to 25 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Uganda reviewed its air service agreements with Ethiopia, Qatar, and the United Kingdom and initiated new talks with Latvia and Sudan. Bilateral consultations were also held with India, Botswana, Russia, and Malaysia.
The Uganda delegation was led by Olive Birungi Lumonya, Deputy Director General of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), and included officials from the ministries of Works and Transport, Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Finance, Planning and Economic Development, as well as Uganda Airlines.
A bilateral air services agreement is a treaty that allows two countries to enable commercial air travel between their territories. Lumonya explained that such agreements are negotiated at the governmental level to establish terms under which airlines may operate, including permitted routes, frequency, and capacity.
| Country | Status of Air Service Negotiation |
|---|---|
| Oman | New agreement signed |
| Ethiopia | Existing agreement reviewed |
| Qatar | Existing agreement reviewed |
| United Kingdom | Existing agreement reviewed |
| Latvia | New negotiations initiated |
| Sudan | New negotiations initiated |
| India | Bilateral consultations held |
| Botswana | Bilateral consultations held |
| Russia | Bilateral consultations held |
| Malaysia | Bilateral consultations held |
Lumonya stated that these agreements can enhance passenger volumes, promote tourism, and foster business opportunities. She highlighted that aviation agreements like these facilitate travel and trade, which is particularly beneficial for Uganda’s tourism sector, an area of focus for the country’s economic strategy.
The air services negotiation event, organized annually by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), offers a platform for countries to conduct bilateral discussions and negotiate air service treaties. Uganda has signed bilateral air services agreements with 56 countries to date, enhancing global connectivity and promoting economic partnerships.
Countries Uganda has signed BASAs with include Algeria, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, China, Colombia, Djibouti, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, Gabon, Ghana, Germany, Iceland, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Libya, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland (Eswatini), Switzerland, Rwanda, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, USSR (Russia), Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
| Country | Total BASAs |
|---|---|
| Uganda | 56 countries |
According to Uganda’s Civil Aviation Authority, the new agreement with Oman is part of Uganda’s ongoing efforts to expand its global aviation links.
