President Yoweri Museveni has directed government agencies to fast-track the construction of a proposed international airport in Mbarara, Western Uganda, a project officials say could capitalize on rising passenger traffic across Africa and position the country as a refueling and transit hub.
According to Chimp Reports, in a letter dated 11 February 2026, Museveni instructed Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and key ministries to support a private developer, Base Seven, in implementing what he described as a “mega international airport” at Nyakyisharara near Mbarara City.
The facility would be developed around an existing government aerodrome and is envisioned as a long-haul stopover linking South America, Europe, Asia and China. Museveni said the site’s geographical location offers a strategic advantage for intercontinental routes.
“It takes nine hours from South America to Nyakyisharara and eleven hours from Nyakyisharara to China,” he wrote, describing the area as suitable for refueling and transit operations.
Base Seven, a private aviation company that operates the Base 7 International Aviation Academy, says it is already developing an aviation training organization and an aircraft maintenance facility at the Nyakyisharara airfield. The company states that it was founded with a vision to transform African aviation by training the next generation of pilots and aviation professionals.
The airport project is expected to follow a build-operate-transfer model, under which developers would finance construction and recover costs through user fees from airport services, hotels and related infrastructure. Financiers have been identified as Hunan and BlackRock, while the airport operator would be appointed by the investors.
Plans indicate the airport would cover approximately 21 square kilometers and feature two 5.5-kilometer runways, in addition to a 3.7-kilometer reserve runway intended for VIP or contingency use. Government land surrounding the existing aerodrome would form part of the site, with additional parcels to be acquired from neighboring landowners if required.
Museveni also directed authorities to study the possible relocation of the Ibanda–Mbarara road east of the aerodrome if necessary. He further instructed the Ministries of Works and Transport, Lands, Finance and the Attorney General’s Chambers to coordinate efforts to expedite implementation.
The proposal comes at a time when Uganda’s aviation sector is recording steady growth. Entebbe International Airport handled approximately 2.24 million international passengers in 2024, up from about 1.93 million in 2023, according to the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority.
Traffic continued to rise in 2025, with 2.24 million passengers recorded between January and November alone, already surpassing the entire 2024 total before the peak December travel season. Monthly figures have also reached record highs, with 243,089 passengers recorded in August 2025, the airport’s highest monthly total on record.
Across Africa, demand has also been increasing. The African Airlines Association projected 113 million passengers for African carriers in 2025, up from 98 million in 2024. Industry forecasts suggest African passenger traffic will grow by approximately six percent annually through 2044, driven by urbanization, a growing middle class and new airport investments. Data from the International Air Transport Association show African airlines recorded 7.8 percent traffic growth in 2025, outperforming several other regions.
Uganda currently relies on Entebbe as its primary international gateway, while smaller upcountry airfields handle limited traffic. In recent years, authorities have revived or proposed airport projects in Gulu, Hoima, Kidepo and other regions to support tourism, oil development and cargo exports.
If implemented, the proposed Nyakyisharara International Airport would rank among the most ambitious aviation infrastructure projects in Uganda’s history, signaling a strategic push to capture a share of long-haul transit traffic as African passenger numbers continue to rise.
