East African countries, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania are finalizing a set of regulations that will lead to the adoption of uniform aviation standards, a Uganda government official has said.

The Minister of State for Works, Francis Babu was quoted by local press on Wednesday as saying that the air traffic and air navigation regulations would lead to the creation of the East African Community (EAC) Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Organization.

"It is the spirit of collaboration that will ensure the future and efficiency of regional civil aviation," Babu was quoted as saying.

Babu who was opening a Uganda Civil Aviation Regulations Stakeholders' workshop that brought together delegates from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and the US Federal Administration said that air transport played a pivotal role in the development process of any country, more so for a landlocked country like Uganda.

"It is incumbent upon you, the experts in the air transport industry in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania to ensure that the industry is safe, efficient and affordable for people to use," Babu said.

He said that commerce, trade and tourism were dependent on an efficient transport system.

The Secretary General of the EAC, Amanya Mushega was also quoted by local press as saying that when the regulations are promulgated, they would facilitate the operationalization of regional air institutions.

"The regulations will elevate the region to an elite set of regional organizations to effectively address deficiencies in air transport oversight and surveillance," Mushega added.

(Xinhua News Agency September 8, 2005)