The Government of Uganda has officially inaugurated the National Committee on Wildlife Hazard Management, a strategic body aimed at tackling the rising threat of wildlife hazards particularly bird strikes at the country’s aerodromes.
The ceremony, held on Wednesday morning at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, marked a significant step in enhancing aviation safety in Uganda.
The Committee was established under the Civil Aviation (Aerodromes) Regulations, 2022, and is mandated to analyze wildlife-related challenges at airports, spearhead research and development, and assess the effectiveness of current mitigation strategies.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Works and Transport, Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Board Chairman, Hon. Justice Steven Kavuma, highlighted the urgency of the initiative.
“The increasing frequency of wildlife strikes, particularly bird strikes, poses a significant challenge to aviation safety not only for Uganda but across the globe,” he said.
“This is one area of aviation safety where proactive and collaborative management can make a real and lasting difference.”
The newly-formed Committee brings together experts from the aviation sector, environmental sciences, wildlife management, and key government institutions, reflecting a multi-agency approach to addressing wildlife threats near airports and in controlled airspace.
Fred K. Bamwesigye, Director General of the Uganda CAA and Chairperson of the Committee, emphasized its operational importance.
“This Committee is not simply a formality. It is a working body with a clear mandate, measurable outcomes, and accountability to the aviation industry,” Bamwesigye said, stressing the need for a data-driven and coordinated strategy to mitigate risks such as bird strikes, which remain a global concern.
Committee members include representatives from the Uganda CAA, Uganda Wildlife Authority, Uganda Peoples’ Defence Air Forces, Makerere University, and several government ministries and agencies.
The Committee’s establishment is viewed as a proactive move to strengthen Uganda’s aviation safety framework in line with international standards.
