The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Works and Transport, has signed a landmark deal to upgrade Kasese Airfield into the country’s third international airport. This follows last year’s announcement of plans to elevate Kasese, Kidepo (Karamoja region), and Gulu (Northern Uganda) airfields to international status.
The latest development involves a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry and China State Engineering Construction Company (CSECC). Under the agreement, CSECC will pre-finance the airport’s first phase—estimated at $57 million (approximately UGX 208 billion).
According to the Ministry, the Chinese firm has been tasked with reviewing the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority’s (UCAA) master plan, developing new airport designs in line with that plan, and submitting them for approval. The project will include construction of the runway, terminal building, and related infrastructure.
Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, Minister of Works and Transport, emphasized the strategic importance of the upgrade. “This development is expected to significantly boost the region’s economy and tourism,” he said.
In September last year, UCAA confirmed that construction was scheduled to begin in the final quarter of the financial year, following the completion of land acquisition. Wonekha Sam, the UCAA’s manager in charge of upcountry airfields, noted that negotiations were ongoing with some landowners over compensation concerns.
The Kasese upgrade is poised to unlock the tourism potential of the Rwenzori region, home to Queen Elizabeth and Rwenzori Mountains National Parks. The parks are celebrated for their biodiversity, scenic landscapes, and rich cultural heritage shared by communities in Uganda and the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
“In addition to tourism, the airport will also facilitate trade—particularly in agricultural produce, given the region’s farming potential,” Gen. Wamala added. “The Rwenzori region has long been held back by poor connectivity, especially since the collapse of Uganda Railways four decades ago. People don’t want to drive 12 hours from Kampala to Queen Elizabeth—they want to fly in, explore, and fly out.”
The new airport will be capable of handling large aircraft, such as the Boeing 737, and will complement regional travel under the East African Community’s single tourist visa initiative. This could allow tourists to fly directly from destinations like Kenya to Kasese, bypassing Entebbe altogether.
Kasese will become Uganda’s third international airport after Entebbe and the under-construction Kabalega International Airport in Hoima, which is nearing completion. Another ongoing airport project is in Arua, near the borders with South Sudan and the DRC. Arua Airport was recently upgraded to Category 4C, with additional works currently underway.