The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has responded to the flooding incident at Entebbe International Airport which occurred on Saturday, April 6, 2024.
In a statement dated April 7, UCAA said the Airport experienced a heavy downpour, which overwhelmed the drainage system, causing backflow in some parts of the car parking area.
“We would like to assure every one of our concerted efforts to implement corrective measures aimed at ensuring a better passenger experience,” read the statement.
The Authority further apologized for the incident which lasted for more than half an hour and disrupted operations at the Airport.
“The unfortunate situation lasted about 30-45 minutes before the water completely drained. The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority deeply regrets this incident and apologizes for any inconvenience caused to the public and users of the facilities,” read the statement in part.
UCAA said multiple projects are currently underway at the Entebbe airport while others are already completed.
The ongoing work includes the construction of a new terminal building and the inter- connection of the drainage system to accommodate the new developments.
According to the Authority, these pending works are scheduled for completion within 2024.
“We kindly urge the public to bear with us during this period of inconvenience, as all these projects are being carried out to provide a seamless experience for airport users,” the Authority said.
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2023 Flooding Incident
The Airport experienced similar floods in September 2023 amid constructions by the Uganda’s Peoples Defence Forces Engineering Brigade.
Army Spokesperson Brig Kulaigye said the flood was caused by leaking of the second and third floors of the terminal building.
He explained that the gutters on those floors were weak since they had not been repaired for a long time hence the leakage.
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Entebbe Construction Plans
The incident also comes a day after the Minister of Works and Transport, Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, said Entebbe International Airport will undergo significant upgrades in 2024.
In an interview in January 2024, Katumba revealed that the upgrade will include the construction of a second terminal, scheduled to be completed by July 2024.
He said the expansion projects were divided into different phases with the first one focusing on completing the second terminal.
“These were activities that were planned to make sure the airport meets international standards, and it has been done,” Katumba said.
Katumba also explained that both arrival and departure areas were part of the improvement plans.
Also, he revealed that the constructions were done in less than a year with the support of the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF).
