Assessment of Air Services Infrastructure Development And Maintenance Funding at The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority
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Date
2025-10-03
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Makerere University Business School
Abstract
This study aimed to assess the development and maintenance of air services infrastructure at the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), focusing on challenges of underfunding and potential solutions. The research was prompted by ongoing concerns that UCAA struggles to meet its infrastructure needs, especially for capital-intensive upgrades, despite being perceived as financially self-sustaining. The study set out to achieve three objectives: to examine the current funding gaps for air services infrastructure, to identify the causes of underfunding, and to explore strategies for addressing these challenges. To achieve these aims, the study employed a qualitative cross-sectional design. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews targeting senior and executive management staff of UCAA as well as officials from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, and the Ministry of Works and Transport. Out of a total population of 36 eligible individuals, 32 were purposively selected for interviews based on their roles and knowledge relevant to infrastructure development and financing. Data collection relied on an interview guide to ensure consistency while allowing flexibility for respondents to elaborate on their views. Thematic analysis was used to process and interpret the data, following Braun and Clarke’s six-step framework. The findings revealed that UCAA’s infrastructure faces several pressures, including ageing equipment, maintenance backlogs, and limited capacity expansion. The primary causes of underfunding included macro-economic constraints, organizational inefficiencies, and a public perception that UCAA is financially self-reliant. These issues limited UCAA’s ability to access or utilize available funds efficiently. Respondents proposed a range of strategies to address these gaps including, the adoption of public-private partnerships, innovations in non-aeronautical revenue generation, as well as policy and institutional reforms to improve efficiency and flexibility. The study recommended an air service infrastructure development and maintenance fund, adoption of a regular inter-agency financial clearing system to enhance debt recovery from public institutions, piloting innovative user-based funding models, and strengthening stakeholder coordination frameworks. These steps would enhance UCAA’s financial capacity to sustainably xi develop and maintain critical air services infrastructure. The findings provide practical guidance for decision-makers seeking to strengthen Uganda’s aviation sector.
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This is a master's thesis.
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Citation
Musinguzi Simon, T. (2025) Assessment of Air Services Infrastructure Development and Maintenance Funding at The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority. Makerere university business school, Kampala Uganda.