Uganda plans to open Kabalega airport in 2025

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Works and transport state minister Fred Byamukama has assured the country that Kabalega International Airport will open by August 13, 2025.

He gave the assurance on Thursday (November 7) after inspecting the ongoing construction works with his technical team at Uganda’s second international airport.

The construction was undertaken by a joint venture of Israeli-British firms known as Shikun & Binui International (SBI/Colas Limited).

Works and transport state minister Fred Byamukama has assured the country that Kabalega International Airport will open by August 13, 2025. (Courtesy photo)

“Uganda is closer to the realization of having a second international airport capable of landing some of the world’s biggest aircraft with a capacity of up to 400 tonnes,” the minister said on X (formerly Twitter).

He said currently, the contractor is on-site “grooving the 3,500 metres in length and 45-metre-wide runway to reduce friction according to international standards”.

“The 26-metre-wide taxiway connecting the runway to the apron is complete, Air Ground Lighting on the runway is also complete. Ugandans can look forward to a complete and functional airport by August 2025,” Byamukama added.

Construction of the first phase of the airport commenced in 2018 and is currently at 96.1% with an estimated completion date of August 13, 2025, according to the works and transport ministry statement.

According to the ministry, the airport, which is financed by Standard Chartered Bank at a tune of $309m, is a key piece of infrastructure that will boost not only the country’s nascent petroleum sector but also tourism and agriculture.

“The project requires sh76,085,000,000 for completion of the pending project activities, which are part of the Operational Readiness, Activation and Transition,” the ministry said on X after Byamukama’s inspection tour of the project site.

Works and transport state minister Fred Byamukama has assured the country that Kabalega International Airport will open by August 13, 2025. (Courtesy photo)

Uganda has already moved into the development and production phases with first oil expected in 2025.

In February 2022, Uganda and Tanzania signed a deal with Chinese and French oil companies finalising terms of a $10b drilling and pipeline project. The project's backers say it will usher in economic development across the region.

On January 24, 2023, President Yoweri Museveni officially commissioned the start of a drilling campaign on the Kingfisher oilfield, which is part of a $10b scheme to develop the country’s oil reserves under Lake Albert and build a vast pipeline to ship the crude to international markets via an Indian Ocean port in Tanzania.