As Uganda begins to re-open after a long lockdown and ease movement in spite of a still-raging pandemic, Entebbe International Airport has felt the harshest brunt of the travel restrictions.
Uganda has been under lockdown since March 18, and the country’s only international airport and other border entry points were closed a week later, sending chills through the aviation, tourism and hospitality industries in particular.
For the first time in its history, Entebbe airport has been closed for more than two months, a move that has left the self-supporting Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) gasping for financial breath.
According to UCAA’s Manager Public Affairs Vianney Mpungu Luggya, the authority has now asked government for Shs 150bn support to ready the airport for resumption of flights in accordance with standard operations procedures as required by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and health ministry.
However, Members of Parliament have asked the Authority to revise downwards, the money needed for reopening the Airport.
According to CAA to cover the recurrent wage bill and sustained operations, port health infrastructure and systems, enhanced security and modification of the terminal building to meet social distancing requirements. Part of the funding is needed to complete and furnish the concession block, and improvement of regional Airport passenger facilitation.
But MPs accused CAA of taking advantage of the COVID-19 crisis to ask for huge sums of money. The matter came up today, when a team from CAA, appeared before the National Economy Committee of Parliament to among others, discuss the effects of COVID -19 on the aviation industry.
Budiope County MP Geoffrey Dhamuzungu says that his analysis shows that CAA needs only 30 of the 150 billion Shillings they asked for. He says for instance, the 72 billion Shillings that they are requesting to cover the wage bill cannot arise because they already had this covered in their annual budgets.
He says that the required for 33.5 billion Shillings for security, and 15 billion Shillings for a concession block is not urgent. Dhamuzungu says that the most vital items are the ones related to COVID-19 measures like port health infrastructure and systems and the modification of the terminal to meet social distancing guidelines.
Benard Atiku, the Ayivu MP says that although CAA has asked for a lot of money, they have not showed how the regional airlines will be equipped.
Jimmy Akena, the Lira Municipality MP said the 150 billion Shillings has been perceived as a way to make money and asked CAA has to clear the air. He says that this could be a huge amount on the tax payers.
Elijah Okupa, the Kasilo County MP asked CAA to categorise which item requires a stimulus, and which one can hold on, but reduce the money. He says the major thing now is categorise the funding they are asking for.
The Deputy Director of CAA Fred Bamwesigye Downplays statements that they are taking advantage of COVID-19 to make unnecessary requests. He says the money they needed is for the development of the airport in relation to COVID-19 regulations.
