UGANDA has entered into an agreement with a business association from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to construct a new international airport, President Yoweri Museveni’s office announced on Friday. This development marks Uganda’s third international airport and extends the UAE’s economic involvement in the region beyond its existing interests in renewable energy and oil and gas.
Project details:
- Location: The new airport will be situated just outside Kidepo National Park in northeastern Uganda, near the Kenyan border.
- Developer: The project will be undertaken by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
- Construction Timeline: According to Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, chairman of the Sharjah business body, construction is set to begin in August.
Economic and tourism impact
The new airport is expected to significantly boost tourism by increasing accessibility to the 1,442-square-kilometre Kidepo National Park, renowned for its wildlife, including lions, giraffes, and buffaloes. President Museveni highlighted the agreement as a symbol of the strengthening relations with Gulf partners and an opportunity to enhance cooperation in investment and trade.
‘This agreement is a sign of the deepening relations with our Gulf partners and another opportunity to cooperate in investment and trade,’ Museveni remarked in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The partnership reflects a strategic effort to diversify and expand Uganda’s infrastructure and tourism sector, while also cementing economic ties with the UAE. The new airport is anticipated to facilitate greater international tourist arrivals and contribute to the regional economy.
