The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has conducted a full-scale security exercise at Entebbe International Airport to test stakeholders’ readiness to respond to a security bomb threat.
The exercise was conducted on Thursday, October 26, 2023, at Entebbe International Airport.
Fred Bamwesigye, UCAA’s Director General, said that the exercise simulated a scenario involving flight AF 347, with 40 passengers and 3 crew on board, who notified Air Traffic Control of a bomb threat note discovered by a member of the crew in the aircraft lavatories as the aircraft was taxiing for take-off.
“All concerned airport stakeholders, who include airline operators, ground handling agents, joint security operatives, the United Nations, UCAA staff, health personnel, and other government agencies, were involved to test their response per the security contingency plan,” Bamwesigye said.
He said the exercise aims at testing their emergency contingency response plans and evaluating the communication processes, procedures, and methods for working with valued partners, stakeholders, and
government agencies.
Bamwesigye added that the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was issued to operators of commercial flights in and out of Entebbe International Airport, alerting them that the exercise would be going on between
2.00 and 4.00 pm.
UCAA last conducted such a full-scale security exercise on November 4, 2019. According to Bamwesigye, the security exercise is a mandatory requirement for international airports of countries that are contracting member states of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
