Time flies and sometimes flies really fast. Only late last year, the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) joined the global Aviation fraternity to mark the silver jubilee of their regulator, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), based in Montreal, Canada. ICAO is a UN Agency that overseas the safe and orderly development of civil aviation across the world.
ICAO guidance has resulted in billions of passengers using the air transport system every year. What is often forgotten is that in the 1940s, flying was considered an expensive luxury only affordable by the mighty wealthy. ICAO changed that during one week of meetings.
First celebrated in 1994 to mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Chicago Convention, Aviation Week is now celebrated globally between December 1 and 7.
In Uganda, the industry celebrated the Jubilee with the launch of this Industry Magazine, Nnyonyi.
The on-flight magazine is free. Published by Prime Media Network as the first of its kind in the region. Entebbe International Airport (EIA) is its main distribution point.
At the launch, UCAA Board Chairman, Eng. Mike Ndawula Kaweesi underscored the importance of civil aviation and the competitive nature of the industry. “This partnership will help popularise aviation as the fastest and safest means of transport.”
Dr. Warren Namara, the Prime Media Board Chairman, said the magazine would complement UCAA’s efforts to market Uganda as a tourism destination and Entebbe International Airport as an international gateway.
The then Minister of Transport and Works, Monica Azuba used the occasion to announce that at the 40th session of the ICAO Assembly in September 2019, Uganda was awarded of the ICAO Council President’s Certificate in Aviation Security.
She updated guests on the construction of the new Hoima International Airport in western Uganda. The project involves laying a CODE 4F runway, which can handle large aircraft, taxi ways, an apron and other associated facilities.
Other Aviation Week activities included the hoisting of the ICAO flag, unveiling a plaque at the Source of the Nile in Jinja, and other stakeholder engagement activities.
One month after the Magazine launched, however, the Aviation industry like the rest of the world got hit by the Coronavirus Pandemic. With Entebbe International Airport passenger traffic suspended, Nnyonyi Magazine could not publish its second Edition. With the restart of the Global Aviation Industry, our second edition is out.
One year later the Magazine is happy to announce its survival of Covid-19 this far and also to refresh its readers’ memories of the launch occasion at the Mestil hotel in Kampala.
Nnyonyi also joins the Industry to celebrate the 76th Anniversary of the founding of the International Civil Aviation organisation. The Editorial team also heartedly congratulates Uganda Airlines on resumption of its operations and expansion of tits fleet with A330neo Aircraft.
Nnyonyi pledges to keep the industry informed and entertained as was their pledge at the launch. The Magazine also welcomes the new members of UCAA Board of Directors to the fold.
