UGANDA, Entebbe | Real Muloodi News | The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has provided an update on the ongoing expansion works at Entebbe International Airport, reporting that the construction of a new 20,000-square-meter passenger terminal building is 60% complete.
During a guided tour of the airport expansion project, UCAA Director General Fred Bamwesigye stated that the completion of the new passenger terminal building represents a significant milestone in the airport’s development.
The overall expansion works at Entebbe Airport, including other phases, are at 90%.
“Overall works at the new 20,000 square meter terminal building currently stand at 60%,” Bamwesigye noted on Friday. “However, overall, expansion works at the airport are at 90% in the first phase.”
According to Ayub Soma, UCAA’s Director of Navigation and Airport Security, the new terminal building will be connected to the existing 30,000-square-meter terminal building, enhancing the airport’s capacity.
Soma emphasized the benefits of the connection: “By connecting the new terminal building to the old one, we will have increased the capacity and now we will have a 60% increase.”
The Entebbe Airport construction project is being carried out by Chinese contractor China Communications Construction Company for a total cost of $200 million.
The expansion includes reconstruction of the main runway and associated taxiways, rehabilitation of runways and aprons, construction of a cargo complex, a new terminal building, and enhancements to water supply and storage capacity.
Eng. Ayub Soma highlighted plans to upgrade the runways to accommodate larger aircraft, such as the A380, which have wider wingspans.
“We want to enhance the runways to be able to accommodate bigger aircraft like the A380, which have larger wings. If we do that, our runways can move to the highest type of runway that exists on earth. By doing this, we are calling in more airlines to come to Entebbe Airport.”
Bamwesigye acknowledged the potential inconveniences to the public caused by the ongoing expansion works but asked for patience during the construction process.
He also addressed recent flooding at the airport, stating that the situation was temporary and ongoing drainage improvements would help resolve the issue.
“This place is a home of water since it was originally a lake before the airport was built. The water will always try to reclaim its original habitat. Those criticizing us should take into account these facts,” Bamwesigye remarked.
The UCAA aims to increase passenger capacity at the airport, with plans to accommodate up to 6 million passengers per year in the future. This expansion will help the airport meet the growing demand for passenger and cargo services.
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