• Uganda mulls separating airport operations from civil aviation regulation
• Proposed split aims to align with global norms, boost oversight, and investment
• Reform details expected soon; model mirrors Morocco and Kenya practices
  

Uganda’s Ministry of Works and Transport said on Thursday it had received a report from the Civil Aviation Authority recommending that the regulator be separated from airport operations. The proposal is part of a wider plan to bring the country’s aviation sector in line with international practice.

Under the recommended model, airport operations would be placed under a separate, autonomous entity, while the Civil Aviation Authority would keep responsibility for regulation, safety oversight, air navigation services, economic regulation of charges, and consumer protection.

A split between operations and regulation, aviation specialists say, would remove conflicts of interest and strengthen oversight. A dedicated airport operator would also have more flexibility to plan investments and run facilities efficiently, while a standalone regulator would gain credibility and transparency.

Several African countries, including Morocco and Kenya, already use this structure. Ugandan officials believe the change could help attract investors, support upgrades to airport infrastructure and improve the quality of service.

Local media reported that the government is expected to release details on how the reform will be implemented in the coming weeks.

Henoc Dossa