Members of the National Committee on Wildlife Hazard Management in a group photo with UCAA Board Chairman, Justice Steven Kavuma (seated on front row-Centre)
Uganda has formed the National Committee on Wildlife Hazard Management in a move aimed at mitigating bird and wildlife strikes as aviation safety remains critical not only in Uganda but globally.
Speaking at inauguration of the National Wildlife Hazard Management Committee at Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Kampala on 21 May 2025, Fred K. Bamwesigye, the Director General at UCAA, who doubles as the Chairman of this newly established Committee, noted that the Committee has not been established by chance, saying it is a deliberate and strategic response to a pressing issue that has grown in significance over the years: the threat posed by wildlife, particularly bird strikes, to aviation safety in Uganda.
He pointed out the most significant bird strikes that has occurred at Entebbe International Airport.
“A KLM Airbus A330-200 on October 10th, 2010, had a bird strike while performing flight KLM562 from Entebbe (Uganda) to Amsterdam (Netherlands), ingesting a bird into the right-hand engine, shortly after take-off,” Bamwesigye said.
A bird strike is a collision between an aircraft and a bird.
“Besides impacting operations at the airport, this incident came with huge associated costs relating to procurement of a new aircraft engine.
Each wildlife strike is a potential threat to human life, to aircraft, and to operational efficiency,” the UCAA boss added.
According to ICAO statistics, thousands of such incidents occur annually, with millions of dollars in damages and airport and airspace disruptions. Bamwesigye said considering the growing air traffic, with increasing settlements near airports, and evolving wildlife behaviour, it is imperative to adopt a national, coordinated approach in minimising wildlife hazard around airports.
“This Committee will be the primary national platform for policy coordination, data sharing, and inter-agency collaboration on wildlife hazard management. Its formation signals a shift—from a reactive to a proactive, scientific and systematic response to the wildlife threat in aviation,” Bamwesigye said.
He further noted that bird and wildlife strikes remain one of the most persistent operational risks facing airports globally and locally.
“The impact of such incidents goes beyond economic losses; it directly affects the safety of passengers, crew, aircraft, and airport operations. Entebbe being a bird sanctuary means that we inevitably must co-exist with the birds, while putting in place mitigation measures that ensure that the runways are free of birds prior to a landing or take-off. This comes at a huge cost and requires a lot of communal sensitization efforts, among others,” he said.
Over the years, he said, air traffic has expanded rapidly, airports have expanded, and proximity of human settlements and natural ecosystems to critical aviation infrastructure has increased significantly.
“These changes, while indicators of growth and development, also come with rising operational and safety risks, chief among them, wildlife strikes, particularly bird strikes requiring us to respond with a national, integrated strategy in bird and wildlife hazard management,” he said, adding: “As Chairman, I emphasize that this Committee is not simply a formality; it is a working body with a clear mandate, measurable outcomes, and accountability to the aviation industry.”
He noted that its success will depend on consistent engagement, accurate data, and the political will to act decisively when risks are identified.
“I am confident that with the expertise in this Committee and the institutional backing we have, we are well positioned to make meaningful progress,” he said.
Speaking at the same event, UCAA Board Chairman, Justice Steven Kavuma, who represented Minister of Works and Transport as Chief Guest, highlighted the need for proper coordination at a national level.
“I would like to draw your attention to the activities of August 2024, the Kiteezi disaster, and proposal for the relocation of waste from Kampala to Nkumba. The relocation of the landfill close to the airport was arrived at hastily to avert a crisis, without adequate consultation, underscoring the need for coordination at the National Level. Fortunately, the proposal did not come to pass,” he said, adding that the formation of this National Committee is both timely and necessary.
“It signals a decisive step forward in the Government of Uganda’s commitment to systematically address the risks posed by wildlife around airports and in airspace. It brings together the essential minds and authorities from aviation, Makerere University, environmental science, wildlife biology, airport management and government agencies,” Kavuma said.
He said what makes this Committee special is not just its expertise.
“Together, you will be shaping policies, guidelines, developing integrated wildlife hazard management plans and recommending actions that will make our air travel safer. Your work will not only support airport operators and aviation authorities but will also contribute to global benchmarks in wildlife hazard management in Aviation,” he said, adding that wildlife hazard management is not about exclusion, but about balance.
“It is about respecting the natural habitats while creating secure zones of operation for aircraft. That balance is delicate, but with science, data and dialogue, it is achievable. I urge you all to approach this with urgency. Let this Committee be known not only for its policies, but for its impact on Aviation safety, and on the future of aviation in our country,” Kavuma said.
