The airport is expected to become operational in September 2025, with heavy equipment for oil production being transported by cargo planes.

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport said that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has initiated the process of publication of Kabalega International Airport and the name of the airport in the official gazette together with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

ICAO is the international organization responsible for regulating air transport.

Speaking during the site inspection tour last week, the Minister of State for Public Works and Transport, Mr Fred Byamukama, announced that the Civil Aviation Authority will name the airport Kabalega International Airport following the Cabinet decision to change the name from Kabale Airport.

“I’m here to fulfill my oversight duty. It is clear that the work is 95 percent ready and the airport has passed all tests. The government has renamed it Kabalega International Airport and CAA has already released the name. “CAA is monitoring the Airport together with ICAO, the international organization responsible for air transport,” he said.

When asked when the airport will be operational, he said they expect the airport to start receiving heavy cargo planes carrying heavy equipment for oil production by September 2025.

Mr. Byamukama also disclosed that they are carrying out feasibility studies, starting with passenger services, for passengers wishing to support tourism in the Bunyoro region and connect to Northern Uganda.

The Shs1.18 trillion airport is larger than Entebbe International Airport and is close to the industrial area and oil wells.

Last Thursday, the minister and Civil Aviation Authority officials toured the airport, whose construction started in 2018 and is planned to be completed in 2022.

When asked why the contract was extended by two years, Mr Byamukama said the airport, like all other sectors, was affected by Covid-19 and the increase in commodity prices such as cement had also increased the cost of construction works.

According to him, the construction of the hangar, airport terminal, runways and fire fighting area has already been completed. All that’s left to do, he adds, is the introduction of a mobile control tower, hydropower and heavy-duty generators.

Mr. Byamukama also disclosed that some staff from the Civil Aviation Authority in Entebbe have been deployed at the new airport to begin the process of handing over the airport from the contractor to the government and will also train more Ugandans on how to run airport operations.