By KT Reporter
The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has conducted a full-scale emergency simulation at Entebbe International Airport in a pseudo-exercise aimed at testing its crisis response systems, stakeholder coordination, and emergency preparedness.
The exercise, on Saturday, involved over 600 participants from more than 50 agencies, including medical services, security forces, and firefighting units.
Smoke billowed from designated areas of the airport as responders raced to manage a simulated aircraft crash scenario involving multiple fatalities and injuries.
According to UCAA Director General Fred K. Bamwesigye, the drill, though costly, was a critical investment in readiness, aligned with international aviation safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), of which Uganda is a contracting state. “Yes, these exercises are expensive, but the cost of not being ready is far higher,” Bamwesigye told journalists at the scene. “In the simulation, 26 people were presumed dead and 33 injured.”
The exercise included a coordinated response from various airport and national emergency stakeholders. Bamwesigye mentioned that 41 individuals were “rescued” by airport firefighting and emergency medical teams and transported to simulated treatment centres, including facilities as far as Kampala.
The simulation, held every few years by ICAO requirements, serves to expose gaps in communication, logistics, and response speed during aviation emergencies. A debriefing will follow, in which stakeholders evaluate successes and identify areas needing improvement. “Feedback from these exercises has always been invaluable,” said Bamwesigye. “It’s better to find our weaknesses now than in the middle of a real tragedy.”
He revealed that past simulations have tackled scenarios including bomb threats and aircraft runway accidents. The UCAA insists that such exercises are not hypothetical but based on real incidents that have occurred in airports globally. The objective is to build resilience and prevent panic, something aviation, Bamwesigye noted, “has no room for.”
The emergency exercise took place against the backdrop of major expansion works at Entebbe International Airport, a facility grappling with a surge in passenger and cargo traffic. In April 2025 alone, Entebbe recorded 185,466 international passengers, an average of 6,182 per day, up from 5,490 daily passengers in April 2024. “This 20,000-passenger increase in one year is massive,” said Bamwesigye. “We must keep pace with this growth, or we risk being overwhelmed.” Cargo volumes are also on the rise.
In April 2025, the airport handled 6,098 metric tons of cargo, compared to 5,721 metric tons in the same month last year. The recently upgraded cargo facilities are now nearing capacity, sparking discussions about future expansions. “The numbers are telling us something: we’re outgrowing the current infrastructure faster than expected,” he noted. “We are not going to stop expanding.”
Entebbe International Airport is Uganda’s sole international aviation hub and a critical node in East Africa’s transport network. Its ongoing expansion includes runway refurbishments, terminal upgrades, and improved cargo handling capabilities. The airport’s enhanced capacity is also timely given Uganda Airlines’ recent launch of direct flights to the United Kingdom, an ambitious new route expected to drive even more traffic through Entebbe. “These new routes are exciting, but they come with security and logistical challenges that we must be ready for,” Bamwesigye emphasised.
Bamwesigye urged Ugandans to take pride in their national aviation infrastructure and support its growth. “These facilities belong to the people of Uganda. The support we receive, whether financial, institutional, or community-based must reflect the responsibility we all share in making aviation safe and sustainable.”
He also underscored the UCAA’s continued regulatory oversight, stressing that safety and compliance remain non-negotiable as the industry expands. Bamwesigye ended the press conference with a plea to the media and the public: do not misreport the emergency exercise. “This was a simulation. No one was injured or killed. Let’s not cause unnecessary panic,” he said.
The full-scale emergency drill is a potent reminder that while Uganda’s aviation sector is poised for strong growth, its success hinges on preparedness, investment, and the seamless coordination of all stakeholders, and as a rising aviation center, Entebbe International Airport is clearly not just expanding physically it is evolving strategically to meet the demands of a safer, busier, and more connected future-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
