Museveni meets investors who will spearhead the Mbarara International Airport project
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I President Yoweri Museveni has unveiled plans to build a major international airport in Mbarara, which he says will surpass even Entebbe in size. The announcement was made during the 45th Tarehe Sita celebrations in Kabale.
According to Museveni, the airport will primarily serve as a cargo hub, linking China and South America, with Mbarara strategically located midway between these two continents.
“The Mbarara airport will handle trade between South America and China. This area is in the middle, so it is perfect for international cargo,” Museveni said.
The President also emphasized that the project will stimulate tourism and regional development.
“Tourism is already growing here, but the airport will accelerate it even more,” he added.
The site for the airport is reportedly in Nyakisharara, Mbarara, which currently has a small airstrip serving chartered flights for tourists visiting western Uganda. Once upgraded, the facility is expected to handle large cargo planes and international passenger flights, creating jobs and boosting local businesses.
This plan is part of a broader government effort to expand Uganda’s aviation network. Other planned airports include Hoima, Kaabong, and upgrades to regional airfields, aiming to improve trade, tourism, and connectivity across the country.
Experts say the Mbarara airport could transform western Uganda into a key economic and trade hub, connecting local industries like agriculture, dairy, and coffee to international markets, while also attracting global tourists to nearby national parks.
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