Uganda is on the verge of a great leap, poised to become a regional hub of trade, tourism, innovation, and industry. From world-class infrastructure to booming ICT innovations, the country has laid the groundwork for takeoff. But just as a plane can be ready for flight, a weak runway can bring everything to a halt.

One of the most alarming threats to Uganda’s rise isn’t external, it lies within. At the heart of this storm is the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), an institution whose dysfunction is increasingly seen as a bottleneck in the country’s transformation journey.

A Critical Sector in Turmoil

Aviation isn’t just about planes, it’s about positioning. For Uganda, civil aviation is key to unlocking global trade, attracting investors, and boosting tourism. But recent events suggest that UCAA, the institution charged with steering this vital sector, is flying blind.

President Yoweri Museveni recently issued a blunt directive: fire 152 UCAA employees. His letter cited widespread incompetence, corruption, and a broken recruitment process that saw unqualified individuals take up sensitive posts. For an agency tasked with upholding international aviation standards, such revelations are nothing short of alarming.

The Lift Incident That Exposed the Rot

Sometimes, it’s the small things that expose deeper problems.

When Maama Maria Nyerere, former First Lady of Tanzania, got stuck for four minutes in a malfunctioning elevator at Entebbe International Airport, it made headlines across the region. But beyond the embarrassment, it served as a metaphor for UCAA’s state; antiquated, mismanaged, and stuck in a bureaucratic mess.

Museveni called it “one glaring embarrassing problem,” but the deeper concern was what the incident symbolized: a sector collapsing under its own inefficiencies.

Millions for Trolleys? The Math Doesn’t Add Up

A parliamentary probe, led by Nakawa West MP Joel Ssenyonyi, dug even deeper.

It was discovered that 60 airport lounge seats and 40 baggage trolleys were purchased at a shocking cost of UGX 243.3 million, an average of UGX 2.4 million per item. When questioned, UCAA cited durability and international standards. But the justification did little to quell public outrage. This raised fundamental questions: Who approved these costs? Was due diligence followed? And what value, really, is Uganda getting in return?

Credentials That Don’t Fly

Perhaps most troubling was the scrutiny of those behind key airport projects. One “expert,” Vica Patel, was found to have allegedly earned a diploma at the age of 13, a near-impossible feat that cast doubt on the authenticity of his academic records.

This isn’t just a paperwork problem. It reflects a systemic flaw in how critical appointments are made – favoring connections over competence, and leaving Uganda’s most strategic sectors in the hands of underqualified individuals.

Silence Isn’t Strategy: UCAA’s Public Relations Vacuum

While the procurement and recruitment failures dominate headlines, another issue simmers quietly: a dangerous detachment from the public.

UCAA’s communications team has been repeatedly criticized for failing to engage proactively, issue timely updates, or build public trust. This aloofness only worsens the institution’s image, turning silence into complicity in the eyes of Ugandans.

Why It Matters: Aviation Shapes National Image

Uganda’s dream to become a regional transport and logistics hub hinges on how it manages institutions like UCAA. When foreign dignitaries, investors, and tourists land in Entebbe, their first impression is shaped by airport services.

An unresponsive, inefficient aviation authority doesn’t just hurt service delivery—it damages Uganda’s brand on the global stage. And beyond aviation, UCAA’s shortcomings reflect a broader danger: how poor governance in one institution can stall an entire nation’s transformation.

Charting a New Flight Path: What Must Be Done

To restore public confidence and realign UCAA with Uganda’s development goals, urgent reforms are needed:

• Merit-Based Recruitment: Transparent hiring processes vetted by independent panels.
• Procurement Oversight: Rigorous value-for-money audits on all infrastructure spending.
• Strategic Communication Revamp: A responsive, citizen-facing public relations unit.
• Institutional Accountability: Frequent audits to prevent corruption and reinforce professionalism.

Institutions Must Rise Before a Nation Can Soar

Uganda has the vision. It has the ambition. But no plane can ascend with failing instruments and a distracted crew. UCAA’s collapse into mismanagement isn’t just its own crisis, it’s a national setback. As we build roads, power dams, and tech parks, let us not forget the institutions meant to run them. The lesson is clear: for Uganda to rise, its institutions must first rise to the challenge.