UGANDA, Hoima | Real Muloodi News | Kabalega International Airport is entering its final phase ahead of official handover to the Ministry of Works and Transport in March 2026, as Uganda positions the facility for both local and international aviation certification.
Project officials say the contractor, SBC, is completing outstanding installations required before formal transfer to government. These include the fixing of a Mobile Air Traffic Control Tower and continued construction of a meteorological facility designed to support real-time weather monitoring, a mandatory requirement under standards set by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Ministry representative on the project, Engineer Fred Kayima, confirmed that the airport’s core infrastructure is now operational and compliant with key technical benchmarks. He said the facility is powered by a dedicated 2.5-megawatt hydropower substation, supported by standby generators to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply for critical aviation systems.
Kayima made the remarks on Jan. 9, 2026, while hosting a technical inspection team from the ministry led by Works and Transport Minister Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala. He said coordination with the aviation regulator was ongoing to facilitate certification once construction obligations are formally declared complete.
“We are working closely with the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority as we prepare for national and international certification in line with ICAO requirements,” Kayima said, adding that the remaining works were on schedule.
He also noted that land acquisition for access and approach roads had been finalized and that construction on those routes was complete, improving connectivity to the airport site.
During the inspection, Katumba encouraged project managers to integrate renewable energy solutions, particularly solar power, to support security lighting and non-critical systems. He said the area’s favorable weather conditions presented an opportunity to reduce operational costs while strengthening energy resilience.
Construction of Kabalega International Airport began in 2018 but experienced delays due to several factors, including disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which slowed progress across the construction sector.
The airfield sits on approximately 5.1 square kilometers of land, with the airport facility itself covering about 600 square meters. Once operational, the airport is expected to accommodate up to four wide-body cargo aircraft simultaneously, alongside more than 10 medium-sized planes.
Originally planned as a four-year project, the construction timeline was extended to account for unforeseen challenges. Officials say the upcoming handover marks a major milestone in Uganda’s aviation infrastructure expansion and sets the stage for the airport’s entry into commercial and cargo operations following certification.
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