Uganda has announced that a successful test flight was run at the country’s second international airport.
The government announced that the test flight was carried out Kabalega International Airport located in the oil-rich western region, commonly referred to as the Albertine Region.
“The flight assessed its (airport) readiness for aircraft. The airport is designed to facilitate landing and take-off for an Antonov, the biggest cargo plane,” government said in an early November statement.
“The airport is part of the Kabalega Industrial Park, one of our key projects in Hoima,” government added.
Located in Hoima district, the airport will be key in facilitating transport in a region soon expected to commence commercial production of oil.
Construction of the 1st Phase of the international airport commenced in 2018 and is currently at 96.1% with an estimated completion date of 13th August, 2025.
“The Airport is a key piece of infrastructure that will boost not only the country’s nascent petroleum sector but also tourism and agriculture,” the works and transport ministry noted in a recent post on X.
The pending project activities are part of the Operational Readiness, Activation and Transition (ORAT).
Development of Kabalega International Airport is being undertaken by SBC (Uganda) Ltd, a joint venture of SBI International Holdings AG and Colas, UK.
The Project is financed 85% by UK Export Finance (UKEF) and 15% by Commercial Source-Standard Chartered Bank.
The Phase 1 Scope of Works already completed include:
Runway, 3,500 metres length, 45 metres width with shoulders of 15 metres on each side.
Platform of 75,000 metres designed to receive 4 Antonov’s 124 or Boeing 747-8 aircraft
Cargo terminal
Airport Rescue and Firefighting Building
Fuel farm
Airport Ground Lights
Mobile Air Traffic Control Tower
Access roads and parking
Power and Water Supply
