The AfDB Group approved about $170 million (€155.99 million) to support Phase I of the Uganda Airports Development Programme, aimed at transforming Arua Airport into a major regional hub.

The total project cost is about $172 million (€157.76 million), including a $154 million (€141.15 million) loan from the AfDB, $16 million (€14.84 million) from the African Development Fund, and about $1.9 million (€1.77 million) in-kind contribution from the Government of Uganda.

Located approximately 450 kilometres from Kampala, Arua serves as a strategic gateway to the West Nile region and neighbouring markets in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Director for Infrastructure and Urban Development at the AfDB, Mike Salawou, said the project extends beyond aviation infrastructure. “This project is about more than an airport. It is about connecting people to opportunity and strengthening Uganda’s role as a regional trade and logistics hub,” Salawou said.

The upgrade will include a 3.5-kilometre paved runway capable of accommodating large aircraft such as Boeing 777s, along with new taxiways, aprons and modern safety systems.

The development will also feature a passenger terminal with capacity to handle 700 000 travellers annually, as well as a cargo terminal capable of processing 25 000 tonnes per year.

Additional infrastructure will include a control tower, access roads and parking facilities.

Director General of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority Fred Bamwesigye said the project will significantly enhance connectivity and economic activity. “This is a significant development for Uganda, expected to stimulate social and economic transformation for the region,” Bamwesigye said.

Bamwesigye said Arua Airport is already the second busiest in Uganda after Entebbe International Airport and has strong growth potential. “The airport will also serve as an alternative to Entebbe in emergencies,” Bamwesigye said.

–AfDB/ChannelAfrica–