Urban sprawl, poor road infrastructure, and traffic congestion are daily challenges in cities like Nairobi, Kampala, Dar es Salaam, Kigali, and Addis Ababa, the implications of UAM are both timely and transformative.
Developments in the UAM aircrafts
- Drone Corridors and Initial AAM Progress: East Africa, particularly Rwanda and Kenya, is at the forefront of low-altitude logistics through drone technology, setting the stage for broader UAM adoption. Rwanda has established drone corridors for medical deliveries, led by companies like Zipline, supported by regulations enabling beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations—a key factor for scaling UAM. In Kenya, drones are used for wildlife monitoring and infrastructure inspections, paving the way for integrating these systems into larger air logistics networks. These efforts highlight the region’s readiness to embrace low-altitude aerial technologies, potentially transitioning to eVTOLs for passenger transport.
- Aviation Infrastructure and Funding: East Africa is enhancing its aviation infrastructure, which could facilitate UAM. Ethiopia’s new airport, backed by the African Development Bank, aims to establish the country as a regional aviation hub, potentially supporting future UAM operations. Rwanda and Kenya are testing drone hubs and exploring innovations like battery-swapping stations and solar-powered charging docks, which could be adapted for eVTOL vertiports. Development finance institutions and sovereign wealth funds are likely to fund these projects, leveraging UAM’s potential to lower emissions.
- Regulatory and Policy Efforts: The African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) and the East African Community (EAC), which includes Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and others, are advancing harmonized policies for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), encompassing UAM. The EAC is aligning with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards to ease UAM integration. Events like the Aviation Africa 2025 Summit, partnered with the African Drone Forum, emphasize regulatory alignment and the development of drone corridors, crucial for UAM. Cross-border operations are a focal point, given the interconnected economies of East African nations.
Infrastructure Developments
East Africa has not yet constructed any vertiports, but the region can leapfrog by adopting modular, scalable vertiport models tailored for smaller cities and lower flight frequencies.
Cities like Nairobi (Wilson and JKIA), Kigali International, and Addis Ababa Bole could become strategic launchpads. UAM could also serve remote regions such as northern Kenya, the Lake Victoria Basin, or island destinations like Zanzibar and Lamu, where ground travel is limited.
Certification and Regulation
Authorities such as Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA), and Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) have begun exploring drone regulation, but a specific UAM roadmap is still pending.
Early adoption of global best practices and setting up UAM trial corridors—for example between Nairobi CBD and JKIA or Entebbe and Kampala—would be a forward-thinking step.
Military and Humanitarian Applications
- Medical evacuations from rural or conflict zones
- Disaster response during floods, landslides, or drought
- Military logistics in areas with limited infrastructure
Rwanda’s experience with drone deliveries via Zipline sets a precedent for broader integration of aerial logistics platforms in humanitarian and security contexts.
Conclusion
For East Africa, the timing is right to plan, adapt, and experiment.
- While public transport, infrastructure, and affordability remain major concerns, early investment in UAM pilot zones, regulatory frameworks, and strategic partnerships could enable East Africa to leapfrog into the next generation of mobility.
- UAM won’t replace conventional transport anytime soon, but with the right policy and planning, it could unlock access, improve connectivity, and drive innovation in one of the world’s fastest-growing urban regions.
