UGANDA, Hoima | Real Muloodi News | The eagerly anticipated handover of Kabalega International Airport in Hoima, faces a delay, with the official completion pushed to February next year.
Initially scheduled for December 26th, the handover has been rescheduled to allow for the conclusion of crucial remaining works, including the construction of the control tower, power substation house, and other vital facilities at the airport.
The joint venture of Israeli-British firms, Shikun & Binui International-SBI/Colas Limited, handling the construction, cites the delayed release of additional funding by the government as the primary reason for the setback.
Anurag Kalvagunta, the construction manager at SBC, clarified that the construction progress currently stands at 95 per cent, with essential facilities such as the 3.5-kilometre-long runway, cargo terminal building, limited-capacity passenger terminal building, air rescue firefighting house, and the air-ground lighting system completed.
Originally slated for completion in June of this year, the project faced successive delays, extending the timeline to October and subsequently to December.
Kabalega International Airport, with a budget of USD 309 million financed by Standard Chartered Bank, is poised to become a critical component of infrastructure supporting upcoming commercial oil production activities.
Designed to accommodate four cargo planes simultaneously, the airport boasts a range of facilities, including a fire station, apron, control tower, accommodation facilities, parallel runways, taxiway, power substation house, communications and navigation systems, perimeter fence, and air-ground illumination system.
In February, construction came to a halt as the contractor cited a lack of government funding. The pause resulted from the government’s failure to allocate over USh126 billion needed to complete the remaining works.
Despite repeated appeals to the government for additional funding to expedite the project, the contractor faced challenges, ultimately leading to the suspension of construction activities.
As the completion date is extended to February 2024, stakeholders express optimism that the additional time will allow for the meticulous finalisation of the remaining tasks, ensuring that Kabalega International Airport stands as a state-of-the-art facility ready to contribute significantly to Uganda’s aviation landscape and the burgeoning oil sector.
READ MORE LIKE THIS:
Delays Push Handover of Kabalega International Airport to October
Construction of Hoima International Airport Suspended over Lack of Funds
Hoima Oil City International Airport to be Completed in February 2023
