Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has announced final plans for a new international airport in Nyakisharara, Mbarara City. The project, to be undertaken by Chinese and Brazilian partners, will be built to the same standards as Entebbe International Airport. Museveni said the new facility will shorten global routes, saving roughly 15 hours compared with traditional routes through Britain. Completion is targeted for 2030 as part of the government’s Party and Term Oriented Delivery initiative.
Once operational, the airport is expected to handle both regional and international flights, boosting economic growth in Mbarara and the surrounding Ankole and Kigezi sub‑regions. Officials project that the airport could triple Uganda’s economic output, making it a landmark development for the country.
Mbarara City Woman MP Ritah Atukwasa welcomed the announcement, stressing the need for complementary infrastructure. She called for the extension of electricity to currently unserved areas, as well as improvements to roads and security, to support the city’s expanding hospitality and nightlife sectors.
The existing airstrip at Nyakisharara, situated along the Mbarara‑Ibanda highway, will be upgraded into a full‑fledged international airport, creating new opportunities for economic growth and development. In September, President Museveni met with representatives from Base 7 Aviation International Academy and Hamster Business Solutions, granting approval for the project. The airport’s completion by 2030 will be a significant step forward for Uganda’s aviation sector, and the government must ensure that the necessary supporting infrastructure is in place to maximize its benefits.
Comments are closed for this story.