Uganda has been elected to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council for the 2025–2028 term, securing a historic seat in global aviation governance and cementing its growing influence in international air transport.
The announcement was made during the 42nd ICAO Assembly, where Uganda garnered 155 out of 185 votes in a highly competitive election under Part III, which guarantees equitable geographic representation.
Uganda’s delegation was led by Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, Minister of Works and Transport, alongside Ambassador Allan Kajik, Uganda’s High Commissioner to Canada; Fred Bamwesigye, Director General of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA); and senior officials from the Ministry and UCAA.
Their campaign emphasized Uganda’s recent investments in aviation infrastructure, enhanced safety oversight, and efforts to boost regional connectivity—factors that positioned the country as a credible candidate for the Council.
The ICAO Council, elected every three years, is mandated to adopt international standards and recommended practices (SARPs) that shape the safety, security, and efficiency of global aviation. Uganda now joins 13 other nations in Part III of the Council, including Angola, Belize, Cuba, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and Uruguay.
Africa’s voice in global aviation has grown stronger, with eight African Member States now represented on the Council: Angola, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda accounting for nearly a quarter of total seats. This comes at a time when African air traffic is projected to double by 2040, underscoring the continent’s strategic importance.
For Uganda, the victory represents not only a milestone in aviation diplomacy but also a chance to influence decisions that will shape safer skies, stronger airlines, and more efficient global travel in the years ahead
