This archive report was first published on 28 November 2019.
On November 28, 2019, Kenya's Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) issued a warning to private drone owners, stating that using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in Kenya's airspace is prohibited. According to KCAA, individuals caught operating drones in Kenya will face a fine of Sh100,000 or a year in prison, or both.
Meanwhile, in Uganda, a drone service firm called Flexdrone Ltd has partnered with the Ugandan government to deliver blood packages, drugs, and medical equipment to public health facilities. The service is set to launch in March, with Flexdrone CEO John Goslino stating that the firm aims to provide essential products to patients and healthcare workers in rural areas.
Flexdrone has secured approval from the Information and Communications Technology Ministry and is awaiting endorsement from the Health Ministry. The company has partnered with Ugandan start-up firm Sysimo Technologies to develop a mobile app for the on-demand delivery service. Drones capable of carrying 5 kg each will be used, with the possibility of deploying larger drones as demand increases.
Uganda will join Rwanda, which launched a similar drone delivery service in mid-2016, operated by California-based robotics company Zipline. Zipline is an American medical product delivery company that designs, builds, and operates small drone aircraft for delivery of medical products, with a focus on providing services in Africa.
