By Wamala Sipirian
Published: October 1, 2026
Uganda’s Kabalega International Airport in Hoima had reached 96.1% completion as of November 2024, according to the Ministry of Works and Transport, with the project expected at the time to be ready for operations by August 2025.
The airport, which is intended to become Uganda’s second international airport, is being developed in the Albertine region, where it is expected to support the oil and gas industry while also serving the tourism and agricultural sectors.
The Ministry of Works recently shared images showing progress on the project, prompting mixed reactions from members of the public. While some Ugandans welcomed the reported progress, others questioned differences between the architectural designs initially presented and some of the structures visible in the latest photographs.
Airport construction details
Phase One of the project began in 2018 and includes a 3,500-metre-long runway measuring 45 metres wide, with 15-metre shoulders on either side.
The project also includes a 75,000-square-metre aircraft parking platform designed to accommodate four Antonov 124 or Boeing 747-8 aircraft at a time.
Other facilities under the first phase include a cargo terminal, rescue and firefighting building, fuel farm, airport ground lighting, a mobile air traffic control tower, access roads, parking facilities, and power and water infrastructure.
The construction contract was awarded to SBC (Uganda) Ltd, a joint venture between SBI International Holdings AG and Colas UK.
The project has a contract value of Shs1.2 trillion. Its financing was structured with 85% provided through UK Export Finance (UKEF) and 15% through Standard Chartered Bank.
Shs76 billion needed for final activities
Despite the reported 96.1% completion rate, the Ministry of Works said an additional Shs76.085 billion was required to complete outstanding activities under the Operational Readiness, Activation and Transition (ORAT) phase.
The ORAT phase involves preparing the airport and its systems for full operations, including completing pending installations and ensuring operational readiness.
State Minister for Works and Transport Fred Byamukama said the airport would support economic activity in the Albertine region and contribute to the oil and gas, agriculture and tourism sectors.
“The Airport is designed to carry some of the world’s heaviest aircraft and will be a game changer for Uganda’s export industry,” Byamukama said.
The airport is also expected to improve access to Hoima and the wider region by providing an international transport hub for passengers, goods and services.
Public reaction to airport images
The latest photographs of the project generated different reactions online.
One social media user questioned why the images appeared to show smaller structures compared with the larger facilities depicted in earlier architectural designs.
“We’ve seen the small building; now show us the main building you promised. Don’t make us celebrate over something minor when the main structure is what we were waiting for.”
Another social media comment attributed the differences between the original architectural drawings and the structures under construction to factors including changes in construction materials, layout adjustments, cost constraints, safety regulations and environmental considerations.
The source material does not provide an official Ministry of Works response to the specific public concerns about differences between the architectural designs and the completed or ongoing structures.
Expected operational date
In November 2024, authorities said the airport was expected to be ready for operations by August 2025.
The Ministry also stated that the remaining Shs76.085 billion would be used to complete activities required under the ORAT phase before the facility could enter full commercial operations.
The information above reflects the project status and projected completion timeline reported in the source material in November 2024.