Alliance Media has the right to manage advertising space at Entebbe International Airport, the Civil Aviation Authority has said.

The clarification now clears the air over the lawful owner of the rights, following a heated press battle between Alliance Media and Clear Channel Independent, two rival outdoor advertising agencies, in the past few weeks.

In an interview, Mr Ignie Igundura, CAA Public Relations Manager said Alliance Media has the advertising concessionaire, to manage space at the airport emphasising the High Courts' declaration, on who owns the rights.

Entebbe which is Uganda's only airport is located about 40 kilometers Southwest of Kampala, is a major attraction for the nation's leading companies including MTN Uganda, Uganda Telecom, Zain (formally Celtel), Warid Telecom and Barclays Bank among others.

Although the CAA could not reveal the value of the deal, a bid security of ($30,000) Shs50 million was required to apply for the rights indicating that the deal could be in excess of the security.

On August 11, Katende, Ssempebwa & Co, lawyers of Clear Channel, warned would-be advertisers at the airport against seeking advertising space at the airport with Alliance Media, Uganda following an advertising notice thorough which the latter notified the public of its rights.

Based on a High Court ruling delivered by Justice Yorokamu Bamwine in the presence of Arthur Ssempebwa, on August 5 2008, the lawyers said, "Existing and intending advertisers are warned that any attempt to regularize or book space at Entebbe International Airport with Alliance Media (U) Ltd is also in contravention of the above ruling and order," said the statement from the law firm.

The ruling in question is Misc. Cause No. 156 which was delivered by the High Court of Uganda on August 5 2008. Clear Channel's warning appears to be based on one of the orders with out considering the second, according to a copy of the order which this newspaper has seen.

"A stay of the award of the award of the Tender to Manage Advertisement Space at Entebbe Airport to Alliance Media Limited by the CAA until hearing and final determination of Application for Judicial Review by the Applicant or until further orders of this Honourable Court," the second order states.

Clear Channel's warning followed an advertisement that was published in the Daily Monitor and New Vision newspapers on August 4 informed the public that Alliance Media (U) was appointed the new advertising concessionaire for the airport effective of July 1 by the CAA.

A report by the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) compiled in April this year indicates that Clear Channel lost the bid to own the concessionaire because the company did not meet three requirements for the CAA.

According to the CAA, the complainant failed to convince the body that it meets all its Uganda Revenue Authority tax obligations or had obtained all its tax clearance, and it fulfils its obligations, to pay Social Security Contributions.

CAA awards the tender to advertising agencies to enhance efficiency and quality of advertising at the airport that can attract premier companies within and outside Uganda, and also seeks to guarantee the maximisation of revenue from advertisers.