(Hoima) – Uganda’s Works and Transport State Minister Fred Byamukama has announced that Kabalega International Airport, the country’s second international airport, is scheduled to open on August 13, 2025. The assurance follows an inspection of the construction site on Thursday by the minister and his technical team. Kabalega International Airport, located near the Lake Albert oil region, is expected to support Uganda’s growing oil industry as well as its tourism and agriculture sectors.
The airport’s construction is being carried out by Shikun & Binui International (SBI/Colas Limited), a joint venture between Israeli and British firms. Byamukama shared updates on the airport’s progress on social media, noting that Uganda is “closer to the realization” of an airport capable of landing some of the world’s largest aircraft, with a capacity of up to 400 tonnes.
| Kabalega International Airport Details | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Runway | 3,500 meters long, 45 meters wide |
| Taxiway | 26 meters wide, connecting to apron |
| Lighting | Air Ground Lighting on runway complete |
| Capacity | Can handle aircraft up to 400 tonnes |
| Completion | Expected by August 13, 2025 |
The 3,500-meter runway is currently being grooved to meet international standards by reducing friction. Byamukama confirmed that the runway lighting and taxiway connecting to the aircraft parking area, or apron, are complete. He assured Ugandans that the airport will be fully functional by the targeted completion date.
Construction of the airport began in 2018 and is now 96.1% complete. The project, valued at $309 million, is financed by Standard Chartered Bank. In a statement, the works and transport ministry highlighted that an additional UGX 76 billion (around $20 million) is needed to complete the remaining activities for the airport’s operational readiness.
Kabalega International Airport’s strategic location is expected to support Uganda’s petroleum sector, particularly as the country prepares to commence oil production in 2025. The airport will also facilitate the transportation of goods in the tourism and agriculture sectors, according to the government.
In 2022, Uganda and Tanzania finalized a deal with Chinese and French oil companies on a $10 billion project that includes oil drilling and the construction of a pipeline to Tanzania’s coast. In early 2023, President Yoweri Museveni inaugurated a drilling campaign at Uganda’s Kingfisher oilfield, which is part of this ambitious project. The plan will see oil extracted from reserves under Lake Albert, with a pipeline transporting crude oil to the Indian Ocean for export.
