Uganda has renewed its pledge to strengthen regional air travel and promote sustainable tourism across the continent during the ongoing Second ICAO/UN Tourism Ministerial Conference on Air Transport and Tourism in Africa, taking place in Luanda, Angola.
The conference, held from July 22 to 24, 2025, has attracted top-level representatives from across Africa, including ministers, aviation regulators, tourism boards, and private sector players.
Uganda’s delegation is being led by the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Hon. Tom Butime, who held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines with Angola’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Marcio Daniel.
The two ministers exchanged ideas on how their countries could deepen cooperation, improve regional air connectivity, and promote seamless travel experiences for both tourists and business travelers.
Their discussions emphasized the need for sustainable tourism practices and stronger policy alignment to overcome barriers such as high airfares, restrictive visa regimes, and limited intra-African flight routes.
The summit, co-organized by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UN Tourism), is focused on unlocking Africa’s vast tourism and aviation potential.
Uganda’s participation, coordinated in partnership with the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), reflects its strategic intention to align with broader frameworks such as the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
As the national aviation regulator, UCAA has played a key role in positioning Entebbe International Airport as a reliable regional hub by investing in infrastructure modernization, service delivery improvements, and international collaboration.
UCAA’s efforts are central to Uganda’s broader vision of making air travel more accessible, safe, and efficient, both within East Africa and across the African continent.
“Uganda is committed to contributing to the harmonisation of aviation policies and liberalisation of African skies, while ensuring inclusive and sustainable growth in tourism and aviation,” the UCAA stated.
By engaging directly with Angola and other regional stakeholders, Uganda is actively working to dismantle long-standing obstacles that have restricted the growth of intra-African air travel and tourism.
The Ministerial Conference aims to foster a common policy platform that encourages open skies, regulatory cooperation, and increased private sector investment in aviation and hospitality sectors.
Participants are also addressing climate resilience, affordability, and equitable growth to ensure that air transport and tourism benefit all segments of society.
Uganda’s presence at this high-level forum reinforces its commitment to regional integration, the development of people-centered transport systems, and the unlocking of economic opportunities through cross-border collaboration.
UCAA welcomed the opportunity to be part of this continental dialogue, expressing its readiness to support regional initiatives that pave the way for a more connected and economically vibrant Africa.
