The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda, General Jeje Odongo, has met with with Senator Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the Foreign Affairs Ministry l in Kampala.
The Minister, welcomed the Senator and his delegation and commended the excellent, historic fraternal relations that exist between Uganda and Nigeria.
He further observed that these relations have continued to progress from strength to strength.
Regarding bilateral cooperation specifically in the Transport sector particularly Air transport /Aviation, Senator Sirika informed that the Federal Government has reviewed the bilateral air service agreement (BASA) with Uganda, and as part of efforts to facilitate direct air connectivity between the two countries.
The bilateral air service agreement provides for reciprocal international commercial air transport services between the two countries.
He further appraised the Minister of the meeting held with, General Katumba Wamala, the Minister for works and Transport, which took place on February2, 2023.
The two deliberated on measures to review the Bilateral Air service Agreement between the two countries signed in 2002 and reviewed in 2005.
The meeting provided the necessary administrative and technical support to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreed during the last International Civil Aviation Negotiation (ICAN) event, which was held in Abuja from 5th to 9th December, 2022.
Senator Sirika informed that following these successful deliberations with Ministry of Works & Transport and Uganda Civil Aviation Authority an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was concluded and signed.
This paves way for the commencement of direct flights from Entebbe to Lagos
In addition, the Senator highlighted that the meeting agreed that Abuja is reviewed and included as an additional route to the existing Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with Nigeria. The current BASA had initially only designated the Lagos route for Uganda Airlines
The Minister affirmed that the Ministry would provide the necessary political leadership that will facilitate the implementation of the Agreements reached during the meeting.
