Transport sector

Productivity is fundamental in every sector of the economy and is affected by the quality and performance of a country’s transportation, water, power supply and other types of infrastructure.

Access to and efficiency of infrastructure is paramount to Uganda’s competitiveness. There are four modes of transport used in the country; road, rail, water and air. However, road transport is the most dominant mode that accounts for over 90 percent of freight and passenger traffic.

Relatedly, infrastructure is the first of the five pillars in the East African Community (EAC) Vision 2050 that seeks to ensure access to modern, fast and affordable infrastructure that is essential for the economic development and wellbeing of the population. Additionally, the Uganda Vision 2040 aims to have access to world-class infrastructure and services, and modern technology to improve productivity and production.

However, transport infrastructure and services in Uganda are still inadequate and disjointed due to:

a) the bias of infrastructure investments towards road transport over other modes b) High cost of transport infrastructure and services

c) inadequate integrated land use and transport planning d) Inadequate transport asset management; and

e) Weak and disjointed policy, legal, regulatory, and institutional framework for infrastructure and services.

During FY2018/19, 96.5 percent and 95 percent of freight cargo and passenger traffic, respectively, were delivered by road. As a result, the country is not able to optimally utilize the different transport modes to efficiently and effectively service the other sectors of the economy.

3.4.1.1 Air transport

Uganda has one operational International Airport at Entebbe which is currently being expanded and upgraded to accommodate the increasing demand of passengers and cargo traffic. The government is also constructing a new international airport at Kabaale in Hoima district, to meet the demands of the oil industry. In regard to regional and local transport, there are thirteen (13) regional aerodromes under the management of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA).

These include; Arua, Gulu, Soroti, Kasese, Kisoro, Jinja, Kidepo, Lira, Pakuba, Tororo, Masindi, Mbarara and Moroto. The government intends to upgrade five (Arua, Gulu, Pakuba, Kidepo and Kasese) regional aerodromes to promote trade and tourism.

80 In 2015, the government of Uganda and the Republic of Korea through KOICA signed an MoU to modernize and automate the Entebbe International Airport (EIA). The USD 9.5 million project is anticipated to;

a) Improve the efficiency and safety of civil aviation operations through the modernization and automation of facilities at EIA.

b) Enhance passenger convenience facilities

c) Share technology and operational know-how through invitational training and expert dispatch program.

Table 3.12: Status of the modernization and automation of the Entebbe International Airport

INSTALLATION WORKS Works completed Status

Improvement of Air Traffic Management (ATM) procedures

100 % completed

Installation of Air Traffic Service (ATS) Message Handling System (AMHS)

100% completed

Establishment of a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS)

95 % ongoing

Establishment of an Airport Operations Database (AODB) and Integration with Flight Information Display System (FIDS)

95% ongoing

Upgrade of the Terminal Operations Control Centre (TOCC)

100% completed

Supply and installation of Air navigation system (NAVAIDS)

100% completed

Building a CCTV system for Air Traffic Control on the RW/TWs and provide indoor/outdoor CCTV cameras

50% ongoing

(Shipping) Building an LED Indicator System (Electronic Signage/

Boards)

40% Ongoing

(Under production) Capacity building through invitational and on-site

training for UCAA personnel

100% completed

Source: KOICA, 2021

81 Some of the activities on the project were delayed because of the ban on air travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the project, which is expected to be completed in December 2021, will make significant improvements to Uganda’s Air Transport, such as;

a) Improved safety and air traffic management procedures to match International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirements.

b) Automated and timely Aeronautical information publication and exchange.

c) Real time monitoring of terminal operations and quick emergency response.

d) CCTV monitoring of Runway/Taxiways to minimize obstacles and improve air traffic flow.

e) Preventive maintenance which improves safety and enhances efficient resource use.

f) A uniformly designed Airspace as per ICAO and East African Air Navigation Service standards.

g) Improved capacity of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) staff.

3.4.2 Green Growth (Solid waste and Fecal Sludge Management) infrastructure

The Uganda Vision 2040 identifies industrialization and urbanization as opportunities that will enable Uganda to realize its aspiration of a middle-income country by 2040. It also envisions that 60 percent of Ugandans will live in the urban centers by the same year. Further to this, improved health and hygiene through proper waste management and fecal sludge and enhanced environmental and ecological planning within the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA) is a key strategic intervention in the current NDP3.

At a global scale, the republic of Korea has been among the key proponents of the “Green New Deal”, being the first country in East Asia to commit to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The deal advocates for targeted policy interventions that address climate change along with achieving other social aims such as job creation and reducing income inequality.

The Korean Government through KOICA has agreed to partner with European Union (EU) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) as the operating partner to implement the project

“Strengthening solid waste and sludge management capacity of the Greater Kampala Metropolitan area phase 1”. The project will be implemented from 2020 to 2024.

However, KOICA’s funding has started in October 2021, following the signing of an MoU between KOICA and GGGI on 13^th September 2021.

In addition, Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute (KEITI) and its consortium partners (K-Water, Saman Corporation, Sungil Entech) conducted a feasibility study and developed a water supply and wastewater management master plan for Wakiso district in 2020.

This master plan will feed into the project and enhance the capacity for waste management in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.

82 The major stakeholders on this project include Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) as well as other Urban Municipalities in the greater Kampala metropolitan area.

In the first phase, the funding from the Republic of Korea to the project will focus on three key outcomes which include;

a) Outcome 1: Sustainable and inclusive solid waste and fecal sludge management strategy (and its accompanying implementation plans) and local Government ornaments/by-laws approved and adopted by Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE), the local government(s) and KCCA.

a) Outcome 2: Enhanced solid waste management in the GKMA b) Outcome 3: Enhanced fecal sludge management in the GKMA

Figure 3.11: Project site within the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area

Source: Global Green Growth Institute, proposal concept paper