Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1321 EAT on Thursday 7 May 2026

The Director General of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), Fred Bamwesigye, has called for stronger competition frameworks in Africa’s aviation sector, warning that airspace liberalisation without effective regulation risks undermining fairness and consumer protection.

Opening a three-day continental workshop on competition regulation in air transport at Speke Resort Munyonyo on May 6, Bamwesigye said Africa’s push for open skies under the Yamoussoukro Decision must be supported by enforceable rules to ensure a level playing field.

“Open skies must be matched with fair competition,” he said, cautioning that without robust regulatory frameworks, liberalisation could result in market distortions, unfair practices and weakened consumer confidence.

The May 6–8 workshop has brought together aviation regulators, legal experts and representatives from regional economic communities across Africa to strengthen capacity in drafting, revising and implementing competition regulations in the air transport sector.

The meeting is organised by the African Civil Aviation Commission in partnership with the McGill Institute of Air and Space Law, with funding support from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, as part of efforts to operationalise the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).

The initiative is anchored in the Yamoussoukro Decision, a continental framework designed to liberalise Africa’s air transport sector while ensuring fair market access, consumer protection and the prevention of anti-competitive practices.

Fred Bamwesigye said aviation plays a central role in driving economic growth, boosting trade and tourism, and deepening regional integration across Africa, adding that it is also key to the success of broader continental initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area and the free movement of people and goods.

He noted that although Uganda has not yet fully joined the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), it is steadily advancing towards accession through a series of policy and institutional reforms.

These measures include the enactment of the Competition Act in 2024, the creation of a Consumer Protection Unit within the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, and the development of draft competition and consumer protection regulations designed to align with continental aviation standards.

Uganda has also implemented key liberalisation measures, including multiple designation of airlines, unlimited flight frequencies, and the granting of fifth freedom traffic rights on selected routes, in a bid to improve connectivity and expand market access.

The Director General said ongoing consultations are expected to culminate in a Cabinet memorandum that will guide Uganda’s formal accession to the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).

Participants at the workshop are expected to review global best practices from regions including the European Union, ASEAN, and the United States, while also undertaking practical drafting exercises aimed at harmonising Africa’s competition rules in air transport.

The training is intended to address persistent challenges such as limited technical capacity, fragmented institutional coordination, and weak enforcement of competition regulations across the continent.

Through technical sessions and collaborative work, delegates are expected to develop regulatory tools, align national frameworks with continental standards, and propose a roadmap for effective implementation of competition rules.

Fred Bamwesigye commended the African Civil Aviation Commission and its partners for supporting regulatory capacity building across Africa, urging countries that have signed up to SAATM to take concrete steps towards full implementation.

He said a well-regulated and competitive aviation market will be essential in unlocking Africa’s economic potential and ensuring sustainable growth in the sector.

-Independent

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