The SAATM is a project of the African Union to create a single market for air transport in Africa. The single market is supposed to allow significant freedom of air transport in Africa to and among member states, advancing the AU's Agenda 2063 (Sustainable, inclusive growth and development strategy over fifty years.
Uganda has committed to join the continental arrangement for a joint air transport
market by the end of June.
The commitment was made by Transport
and Works State Minister Fred Byamukama on Monday at the opening of a meeting on the Single African
Air Transport Market (SAATM) at Golf Course Hotel – Kampala.
The meeting convened by COMESA
(Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa ), the European Union, the Africa
Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), IGAD, and the East African Community
attracted twelve countries from Eastern and Southern Africa.
Byamukama said that Uganda has not yet
signed to SAATM but by the end of June, after the Cabinet’s full consideration of
the matter, the country will ratify to partake of the benefits of the single
market.
//Cue
in … During your short stay...
Cue
out … you very much.//
The
SAATM is a project of the African Union to create a single market for air
transport in Africa. The single market is supposed to allow significant freedom
of air transport in Africa to and among member states, advancing the AU's
Agenda 2063 (Sustainable, inclusive growth and development strategy over fifty years.
The
African Civil Aviation Commission, an organ of the African Union (AU) drives
the SAATM agenda, part of whose overall objective is to promote the movement of
goods and people across the continent that is pursuing a common market (Africa
Continental Free Trade Area).
Byamukama said the launch of Uganda Airlines five years ago was just in line
with the AU’s 2063 agenda and SAATM’s removal of restrictions will spur
growth. The minister said the Uganda
Government’s commitment to developing the aviation industry was
unwavering.
//Cue
in … You are aware …
Cue
out … of the state.//
The
SAATM pursues the removal of restrictions by member states against air operators
from each other’s countries. Many of the
restrictions are commercial but others extend to security and
politics.
Eng Ronny Barongo, the Director of Security, Safety, and Economic Regulation at the Uganda Civil
Aviation Authority (UCAA) said that there was no need for worry as some capacity has been built, in addition
to mitigations like code-sharing. Code
sharing allows two or more air operators to jointly use a code and share air routes
as agreed.
//Cue
in … I am Engineer Barongo Ronny…
Cue
out … Single African Air Transport
Market.//
Emmanuel Butera Mwesigye, the AFCAC
consumer protection specialist, disclosed that of the fifty-six African countries, only
thirty-seven are signed to SAATM currently, and even then, not all those signed
are implementing the commitments they made.
He said the Commission was continuing
to sensitize the different states about the benefits of a single African air
transport market to get them on board.
ICAO Eastern and Southern deputy
regional director Athermon Ndikumaana whose office oversees Eastern Africa and
the Indian Ocean said the removal of restrictions is the one that can help the air
transport industry grow. He also
underscored the need to harmonize regulations to facilitate SAATM fast-tracking.
The workshop was the second following
one for Western Africa in 2022 following which officials say, a continental
workshop bringing together five economic blocks from across the continent will
be convened.
IGAD Director for Integration, Dr
Osman Mohamed observed that Africa was dominated by road transport and the
continent annually spent US $ 85 billion to construct road infrastructure and
there was a need to think about what this meant environmentally and otherwise.
