New project to enhance aviation safety, conservation at Entebbe Airport

Uganda Airlines Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jenifer Bamuturaki has revealed that the newly launched Flight Path Sustainability Project is set to reduce bird concentration near the flight paths at Entebbe International Airport by about 40 per cent, ensuring safer aviation.

Flight Path Sustainability Project is a groundbreaking waste management initiative designed to support environmental sustainability around the airport.

“This initiative, which aligns with the mission of ensuring safety in the skies, is set to mitigate bird strikes and foster sustainable practices within the surrounding communities,” Bamuturaki noted at its launch on Thursday.

She added: "We are not just addressing safety but also taking a holistic approach to environmental conservation by protecting the Mabamba Bay ecosystem and promoting sustainable waste management practices.”

Under the project, Uganda Airlines will be working with key stakeholders, including local communities, to foster behavior change and support innovative recycling solutions such as repurposing fish scales as industrial raw materials.

Bamuturaki said the project seeks to uplift livelihoods and improve sanitation in Kigungu and other landing sites by supporting women fish traders along Lake Victoria shores.

“When aircraft are landing or taking off, these birds that come to eat fish hit our windscreens and can cause accidents. Uganda Airlines has suffered six bird strikes since we started. Most of our partners have had their aircraft grounded in Entebbe because of bird strikes,” she observed.

Entebbe Mayor Fabrice Rulinda said the project is an opportunity for transformation in waste management.

"Supporting women fish traders and improving hygiene practices will lead to significant improvements in the quality of life for residents in Kigungu and beyond,” he noted.

Minet Insurance Brokers Chief Operations Officer Winnie Kiwuwa said bird strikes which are a common challenge to many airlines lead losses in the aviation sector.

“If a plane has to stay down for three months because of a bird strike, just think about the business interruption, the loss of revenue that you would suffer for that period. So sometimes it's not just the physical damage, but the additional losses that you suffer,” she explained.