Africa-Press – Uganda. Local government leaders in Kasese District have undergone specialized training on aircraft emergency response and crash management, as authorities heighten disaster preparedness in the region’s increasingly busy airspace.
The sensitization session, held at the Kasese Multipurpose Hall, was conducted by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) and brought together sub-county officials, medical personnel, police, disaster response teams, and community stakeholders.
According to UCAA, Kasese lies beneath one of Uganda’s most active inland aviation corridors, making it vulnerable to in-flight technical emergencies, emergency landings, and potential crash incidents—despite the absence of a major airport in the district.
“Kasese sits along one of the busiest inland air routes. While the town may not have a commercial airport, it is still at risk if an aircraft makes a distress call overhead,” said Alexander Babimba, Air Traffic Management Supervisor at Entebbe Airport.
“This makes local preparedness and coordination essential.”
The training covered key areas such as first response at crash sites, coordination with aviation and medical services, preserving crash evidence, and managing affected communities.
Lt. Joe Walusimbi, the Kasese Resident District Commissioner, praised UCAA for selecting the district for the session and called on local leaders to put their training into action.
“We should not just take notes and go back home. Let’s implement what we’ve learned to save lives and ensure we are ready in case an aviation crisis occurs,” Walusimbi said.
The sensitization comes as Kasese continues to record occasional near-miss incidents due to its proximity to the Rwenzori Mountains, which often experience volatile weather and poor visibility.
Experts say strengthening local capacity is vital for reducing casualties and improving coordination between ground responders and national aviation authorities in the event of an aircraft emergency.
UCAA officials indicated that similar sensitization campaigns will be extended to other high-risk districts as part of a national aviation safety strategy.
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