STORY: Uganda completes renovation works at major airport ahead of NAM, G77+China summits
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 11, 2024
DATELINE: Jan. 13, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:46
LOCATION: ENTEBBE, Uganda
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Entebbe International Airport
2. various of planes landing at Entebbe Airport (Aug. 17, 2023)
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): AYUB SOOMA, Director of Airports and Aviation Security, UCAA
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): AYUB SOOMA, Director of Airports and Aviation Security, UCAA

STORYLINE:

Renovation and upgrade works at Uganda's Entebbe International Airport have been completed ahead of the Non-Aligned Movement and the G77+China summits, a senior official has said.

The East African country has been upgrading the arrival and departure units, as well as expanding the parking space at the airport, ahead of the two major international events scheduled to start next week.

"The airport has enough space to handle between 40 and 65 private jets as well as other aircraft," Ayub Sooma, director of airports and aviation security at the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), told reporters Thursday on a guided tour of the airport, located 40 km south of Kampala, the capital of Uganda.

Sooma said that although he did not expect congestion at the airport, plans have already been made with neighboring countries to use their international airports in case of any crisis.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): AYUB SOOMA, Director of Airports and Aviation Security, UCAA
"We are 100% ready. We are 100% to receive the Non-Aligned Movement and G77+China summits' delegates. We have planned for it. We have rehearsed for it. And I can reassure you that there will be a smooth flow at the Entebbe International Airport where we have our jurisdiction."

Several works have been completed, including the renovation of runways, the construction of a modern cargo handling center, the construction of new arrival and departure terminals, as well as expansion of the car parking lot.

Some of the works were part of the expansion and upgrade of the airport, a 200-million-U.S.-dollar project financed by the Import-Export Bank of China.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): AYUB SOOMA, Director of Airports and Aviation Security, UCAA
"We are going to have the Non-Aligned Movement and G77+China summits. Now all this needs good facilitation. So because of this we are trying to ensure that this facility is put in use early, in order to be able to ensure that the entry and exit of all our passengers including the delegates is comfortable and memorable."

At least 1,500 delegates and more than 50 heads of state from 134 countries are expected to attend the Jan. 15-20 NAM summit and the Jan. 21-22 G77+China summit, according to organizers.

The theme of the NAM Summit will be "Deepening Cooperation For Shared Global Affluence," while the G77+China Summit (Third South Summit) will be held under the theme "Leaving No One Behind."

Uganda says it will use the two summits to promote South-South cooperation and solidarity among member states.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Entebbe, Uganda.
(XHTV)