Inadequate funding is one of the major impediments to the operations of a regional aviation body, officials said last week. They called for more funding from partner states to enable the East African Community Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (Cassoa) carry out its activities. Cossao executive director Barry Kashambo, urged partner states to work closely to salvage the institution. Cassoa was established to oversee the development of an effective and sustainable civil aviation across the EAC. Currently, the institution runs on an annual budget of $2.2million (Rwf14.7 billion) contributed by the five member states of the bloc. “It’s a challenge that we do not have enough funds to facilitate our activities,” he said. Last week, Kigali hosted the 3rd EAC aviation conference during which experts discussed safety and security as well as challenges affecting the sector. Officials who spoke to The New Times said the agency lacks experts in flight operations, among others. The agency is also mandated to develop standardised procedures for licensing, approving, certifying and supervising civil aviation activities and providing guidance and assistance to partner states. Phillip Wambugu, the director of infrastructure at the EAC Secretariat, said unless partner states inject more funds intoCassoa, the region will continue lagging behind in terms of aviation development. “Most of our specialists go to the Middle East, depriving our region of vital human resource,” he said. The EAC aviation authorities meet every three months to discuss challenges to the sector and how they can be addressed.
