FACT CHECK: Here’s the Truth about Rumors of Rebranding of Entebbe Airport to ‘Huen Airport’ in Alleged Chinese Takeover

Uganda’s Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has cleared the air on reports of the alleged rebranding of Entebbe International Airport by the Chinese government over a loan. 

The rumor was sparked by a tweet by NTV Uganda news anchor Andrew Kyamagero.

“Go to google and type “Huen airport” see the results and have a good day,” wrote Kyamagero.

Some Ugandans quickly jumped to conclusions, accusing the governing of allowing Beijing to take over the country’s main airport.

But UCAA spokesperson Vianney Luggya has clarified that HUEN is the the International Civil Aviation Organization (Icao) code for the Entebbe Airport.

“Please note that HUEN is the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO code for Entebbe International Airport, just like HKJK is for Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and HTDA for Julius Nyerere Airport. Some people had misconstrued this morning’s Kyamagero’s teaser,” wrote the spokesperson of Uganda’s air transport regulator.

The NTV news anchor later said he wanted to teach Ugandans how bad it is to jump to conclusions. 

“Well, the entire exercise of google the Huen airport was meant to trigger how much do we know before we react or jump to conclusions,” he later wrote.

“Googling didn’t mean ‘don’t read beyond the first link.’ Many of us react without clear facts and deep analysis. Now have a good day.”

There has been reports of a planned takeover of Entebbe Airport by the Chinese over a loan. (Read Story Here).