Hoima, Uganda – Kabalega International Airport, also known as Hoima International Airport, successfully conducted a test flight to assess its readiness for aircraft operations.
The airport is designed to accommodate the world’s largest cargo plane, the Antonov, positioning it as a crucial infrastructure asset in Uganda’s nascent petroleum industry development.
As part of the Kabalega Industrial Park in Hoima District, the airport’s construction is progressing towards operationalizing this vital infrastructure, bolstering the oil and gas, agriculture and tourism industries in the Albertine Region.
With a completion rate of 96.1%, the project is nearing its estimated completion date of August 2025.
Hon. Fred Byamukama, the Minister of State for Works and Transport, recently inspected the project site and held meetings with the technical team to expedite the completion of works.
He emphasized the airport’s importance in handling some of the world’s heaviest aircraft and transforming Uganda’s export industry.
Funded 85% by UK Export Finance (UKEF) and 15% by Commercial Source-Standard Chartered bank, the €309,100,256 contract value primarily covers construction costs, with SBC (Uganda) Ltd, a joint venture of SBI International Holdings AG and Colas, UK, leading the development efforts.
As Uganda’s second international airport, Kabalega International Airport is set to open new opportunities, enhance connectivity and drive the nation’s socio-economic progress.
