Inside Shs 652.5bn to upgrade Arua Airport
Uganda is set to boost regional air transport and unlock new economic opportunities following the approval of €155.99 million (about Shs 652.5 billion) by the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group for the upgrade of Arua Airport. The funding will support Phase I of the Uganda Airports Development Programme, aimed at transforming Arua Airport into an […] The post Inside Shs 652.5bn to upgrade Arua Airport appeared first on Daily Star.
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Uganda is set to boost regional air transport and unlock new economic opportunities following the approval of €155.99 million (about Shs 652.5 billion) by the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group for the upgrade of Arua Airport.
The funding will support Phase I of the Uganda Airports Development Programme, aimed at transforming Arua Airport into an international-standard facility.
Located about 450 kilometres northwest of Kampala, Arua serves as a key gateway to the West Nile region and neighbouring markets in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, limited air transport infrastructure has long constrained the region’s economic potential.
The project is designed to improve domestic and regional connectivity through safer, more efficient and climate-resilient aviation infrastructure.
Planned works include construction of a 3.5-kilometre paved runway capable of accommodating wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777, as well as new taxiways and aprons. The project will also deliver a modern passenger terminal with capacity to handle up to 700,000 travellers annually, alongside a cargo terminal designed for 25,000 tonnes per year.
Additional components include a new control tower, access roads, parking facilities and upgraded safety systems.
Of the total programme cost of €157.76 million, the AfDB will provide €141.15 million, while €14.84 million will come from the African Development Fund, the Bank’s concessional lending arm. The Government of Uganda will contribute €1.77 million in kind.
“This project is about more than an airport. It is about connecting people to opportunity, opening new markets for businesses, supporting tourism and strengthening Uganda’s role as a regional trade and logistics hub,” said Mike Salawou, AfDB’s director for infrastructure and urban development.
The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), under the Ministry of Works and Transport, will implement the project.
UCAA director general Fred Bamwesigye described the development as a major boost to Uganda’s aviation sector and regional connectivity.
“Arua Airport is currently the second busiest in the country after Entebbe International Airport and has immense growth potential,” Bamwesigye said. “It will also serve as an alternative to Entebbe during emergencies.”
He added that the project is expected to stimulate broader socio-economic transformation in the West Nile region.
Arua, the largest urban centre in northwestern Uganda, has strong potential in agriculture, trade, tourism and mineral development. Improved air connectivity is expected to facilitate faster movement of goods, particularly perishable agricultural products, to regional and international markets.
The project is also expected to enhance access to tourist destinations in the region and support cross-border trade.
More than 500,000 residents in Arua City and district are expected to benefit directly from the programme, while the wider West Nile region, with a population of over 3.3 million, stands to gain from improved connectivity and investment flows.
During construction, the project is projected to create about 500 direct jobs and more than 1,400 indirect jobs, particularly in tourism, agriculture and trade.
It will also include skills training for at least 100 young people, including women, in engineering, construction and equipment operation.
Officials say the development marks a significant step in positioning Uganda as a regional aviation and logistics hub.
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