Kabalega International Airport in Hoima District is on course for completion, with the facility expected to be handed over to the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) by October 31, 2026, as Uganda prepares to strengthen logistics support for the oil and gas sector.
Construction works at the airport have reached 98 per cent completion, with the remaining works largely focused on the installation of the Air Traffic Control Tower, according to SBC Uganda, the contractor handling the project.
Amos Muriisa, the company’s Public Relations Officer, said the control tower is the final major component required before the airport starts operations.
“The Air Traffic Control Tower delayed the project, but it is already on site, and we are working on it,” Muriisa said.
He said installation of the facility is expected to be completed by the end of August, after which the airport will be ready to commence operations.
“This is the only remaining component required to make the airport operational. We hope that by October 31, we shall hand over the airport to the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority,” he added.
Muriisa was speaking on Wednesday while briefing a delegation of officials from the Judiciary, Bank of Uganda and Uganda Revenue Authority who were visiting oil and gas facilities in the Albertine Graben.
The airport is expected to play a central role in Uganda’s oil and gas value chain by providing a dedicated facility for cargo and personnel involved in petroleum activities. Muriisa said the airport will be capable of handling up to four cargo aircraft carrying equipment for oil and gas infrastructure at the same time.
Beyond oil and gas, the facility is also expected to boost trade, investment and industrial activities in the region, particularly supporting operations at the Kabalega Industrial Park.
To increase passenger handling capacity, SBC is also planning an additional passenger terminal ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Uganda is scheduled to co-host with Kenya and Tanzania. The terminal is expected to be completed by mid-2027.
The USD309 million airport project, financed by Standard Chartered Bank, started in 2018 and was initially expected to be completed within three years. However, completion was delayed by challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic and funding constraints.
In February 2023, SBC suspended works after citing financial challenges, with the contractor indicating that an additional Shs126 billion was required to complete the remaining works.
Once operational, Kabalega International Airport will become Uganda’s second international airport after Entebbe, positioning it as a key infrastructure asset for supporting oil production, cargo movement and economic activity in the Albertine Graben.
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