The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) in partnership with the East African Community Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (EAC_CASSOA), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), hosted the Validation Workshop of the Follow-up Study for the Development and Implementation of a Strategic Plan for supporting and strengthening Regional Safety Oversight Organizations (RSOOs) in Africa.
The workshop has been organized from Monday, 28th April to Wednesday, 30th April 2025 at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala with over 100 delegates, including key representatives from ICAO, the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), EASA, and various Regional Safety Oversight Organizations (RSOOs) across the continent.
While officiating the event on Monday, Fred Bamwesigye, the UCAA’s Director General said that the role of Regional Safety Oversight Organisations (RSOOs) has become increasingly vital in supporting States to meet their obligations under the Chicago Convention, particularly in the implementation of effective safety oversight systems.
“Given the diversity of capacities and resources across States, RSOOs offer a structured and cooperative platform for shared expertise, best practices, harmonized oversight processes, and mutual assistance.”
In addition, he highlighted that the validation workshop is a key milestone in ensuring that the proposed frameworks, approaches, and institutional arrangements for the RSOOs are both practical and responsive to the needs of AFI States, and therefore encouraged participants to actively participate in the discussions, share experiences, and provide critical feedback to enrich the outcomes of this validation process.
“Your contributions are invaluable in shaping a stronger and more resilient oversight framework for our region,” he said.
Bamwesigye also revealed that Uganda remains committed to regional cooperation in civil aviation, saying, “We believe that through unified action, shared responsibility, and continued engagement with ICAO, partner organisations and other States, we can further enhance our collective capacity to uphold the highest standards of aviation safety.”
In conclusion, the Director General reaffirmed UCAA’s support for this initiative and expressed full readiness to continue working alongside all stakeholders toward the shared goal of safe, secure, and efficient skies.
During the same engagement, Richard Gatete, the Executive Director of EAC_CASSOA, said that it is not only a stocktaking of the progress made since the mini declaration in 2017 but a forward-looking road map for operationalizing effective, integrated and sustainable regional safety, overseas existence across the continent.
He also urged attendees to move beyond consultation towards commitment, saying, “Let us not limit our deliberations to what is desirable. Let us discuss what is feasible, measurable and implementable in the short and medium term.”
“Let this workshop be a further step toward demonstrating that our resources in Africa are not theoretical constructs, but giving institutions ready to shoulder the responsibilities of the modern aviation safety oversight system. The role of our resource in the enhancement of the safety of Africa depends on what we validate today, agreed upon between now and the last day of this workshop, and I’m confident that the shared knowledge, experience and goodwill within this room will help us reach consensus on a clear and compelling way forward,” Gatete said.
Lucy Mbugua, on behalf of the President of the ICAO Council, Salvatore Sciacchitano, expressed appreciation for the participants’ presence and their unwavering commitment to strengthening aviation safety in the region and beyond.
He also emphasized that aviation safety remains one of the ICAO’s highest strategic priorities, adding, “It is only through strong cooperation and meaningful engagement, as we are doing here today, that we can collaboratively advance our common goal of ensuring a safe, secure, and efficient global aviation system. Regional Safety Oversight Organisations (RSOOs) continue to play a key role in this endeavour.”
Mbugua, therefore, reaffirmed ICAO’s full commitment to work closely with all partners to support and coordinate efforts to strengthen RSOOs/ RAIOs and improve safety oversight and aircraft accident investigation systems across the continent.
Other attendees of the workshop include; Yves Koning the Senior International Cooperation officer – EASA, Eric Ntagengerwa on behalf of the African Union Commission, and Henry Okech, representing AFCAC, among others.
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