Uganda Civil aviation Authority (UCAA) has carried out a successful upgrade of the Jinja Airfield runway and taxiway to increase airtravel to the hitherto industrial city.
Officials at UCAA said that the upgrade facilities at the airfield which include an apron transformation from gravel surfaces into a modern paved runway and parallel taxiway will help to boost tourism and trade in the eatern region .
The project forms part of the National Civil Aviation Master Plan, an initiative designed to modernize regional aerodromes, enhance connectivity, and support tourism and trade across the country.
The Uganda government has also further embarked on an ambitious programme to upgrade and expand six priority airports across the country to unlock the tourism potential of the respective regions, facilitate cross-border trade, and stimulate socio-economic development, the acting director General of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority , (UCAA), Mrs. Olive Birungi Lumonya, has said .
The six priority airports are Kidepo, Arua, Gulu, Kasese, Kisoro, and Pakuba.
Lumonya said that on 5th June 2026, President Yoweri Museveni officially commissioned the construction of Kidepo International Airport in Karenga District. This landmark project, valued at over USD 72 million and funded by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the United Arab Emirates, represents a significant milestone in Uganda’s aviation development agenda, she said .
Upon completion, Kidepo International Airport will feature a 3.6-kilometre runway, a modern passenger terminal building covering 7,408 square metres, a cargo terminal of 74,200 square metres, and other supporting infrastructure.
Lumonya explained that the Kidepo airport is being developed as a Code 4E international airport, with provision for future expansion to Code 4F standards, to accommodate a wide range of modern aircraft operations. “The project is expected to greatly enhance tourism, trade, investment, and socio-economic development within the Karamoja sub-region and the country at large.”
