Entebbe International Airport is now ready to receive more than 1,000 dignitaries for the African Union Agriculture Summit slated for next month in Kampala according to the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA).
On Friday, the airport management completed a two-day dry run, simulating the arrival and departure processes of 50 heads of government and over 1,000 VIP delegates. The dignitaries are expected to attend the extraordinary Summit on Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programmes (CAADP) at Speke Resort, Munyonyo from January 9-11, 2025.
UCAA principal public affairs officer, Kenneth Otim said all is in place to give the visitors the best experience without major disruptions for other ordinary travels. Otim advised departing passengers to plan and get to the airport early enough to avoid missing their flights as the single road to the airport will likely be busier than usual.
Otim says that the airport traffic police will be directing motorists to park at designated parking areas to have seamless facilitation for both departing and arriving passengers.
The CAADP is organised by the AU with dignitaries expected to deliver statements on the consideration of the draft Kampala Declaration – a vision for transforming Africa’s agrifood systems for the period 2026-2035 and the CAADP ten-year Strategy and Action Plan (2026-2035).
Also due to be deliberated on is the draft Statute of the Africa Food Safety Agency; and the report on the selection of African Union Centres of Excellence for Research and Training in Fisheries, Aquaculture, Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystems Management.
The Kampala summit comes at the time when Uganda continues to default on some commitments in the CAADP, particularly on agriculture financing.
For example, CAADP aims for a 6 per cent annual growth rate in the agricultural sector, with African Union member states required to allocate at least 10 per cent of their budgets to agriculture. The sector is said to grow by about 5 per cent annually while its contribution to GDP grew by 0.5 per cent to 24.6 per cent last financial year.
However, Uganda’s annual budgetary allocation towards the sector fell by half from Shs 2.2 trillion to Shs 1.6 trillion this financial year. The government insists that it allocates much more resources to the sector through related programmes like research, Operation Wealth Creation, roads and water, among others.
However, the AU reports that despite the CAADP commitments by governments, not more than 20 per cent of sub-Saharan African countries have achieved the 10 per cent threshold.
Frank Tumwebaze, minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries has urged all Ugandans, particularly political leaders to support Uganda’s hosting of the summit, saying it will improve Uganda’s global reputation as a conference destination, and showcase Uganda as an icon of peace in Africa.
“It is an opportunity for the country to guide and shape continental policies and strategies in the agricultural sector and related sectors for the next 10 years,” Tumwebaze said.
If the airport is ready, then there should be no disruption to the flow of any traffic! But no; our aiport, which is the size of a bedroom, can only be ready for the VIPs at the expense of the ordinary users. What a shame!
Funny, only Africa useless rulers, dignitaries, heartless tribalists tribal leaders, useless mps & ministers live in real houses with running water, power & they are so so proud +70% of population live in hand built dangerous huts without water, grow food with 18 century tools…!
Do we still wonder why they want Africa to remain undeveloped while poor population have no National Leadership, no National Common Goals!
What a shithole Africa is & heartless rulers, dignitaries…ensure it remain so!
But of course, only a UNITED people can give themselves chance to real living under real leadership!
The AU Agric Summit is insult to Africa as nothing is done to help MODERNISE Agriculture, yet Africa dictators/rulers are the richest in the world!
May be you’re right, but what you need to know is that Africa is in the first stages of reconnaissance, and all these inequities are commonplace because of that. Read European history, or Japan, China, even American history. For your information, Africa has done more in the last 50 or so years of its independence more than those European countries did in the first 100 years of the reconnaissance.
We may not have sophisticated technologies like the western world or the Middle East, but we our airports, Highways and cities are growing at stellar rates, every where you turn , new factories are being built, New frontiers in science and Technology are now within our reach.
Yes we have such leaders but let’s not forget the achievements we have made as a country and as a continent, it’s very important to remember where we have come from!