By Faith Kwagala
SOROTI CITY– The East African Civil Aviation Academy (EACAA) celebrated its 3rd graduation ceremony on Friday, March 27, 2026, as 53 students entered the professional ranks. The class included 24 pilots, 21 aircraft maintenance technicians, and 8 flight operations specialists.However, the milestone was overshadowed by a dire warning from Director Col Ronald Turyamubona, who revealed the academy is facing a significant operational crisis. Insufficient financial resources have led to critical shortages in aircraft spare parts, fuel, and insurance coverage. These hurdles threaten to ground future training and delay the progress of upcoming classes.Retired Deputy Chief Justice Steven J.B. Kavuma urged the new graduates to embrace innovation to navigate the industry’s challenges. While the Ministry of Works and Transport acknowledged the funding gaps, the academy is now calling for a dedicated government budget vote to ensure its long-term survival as a regional aviation hub.