Uganda has entered into an agreement with a business association from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to construct a new international airport, President Yoweri Museveni’s office announced on Friday. This new airport, the third of its kind in Uganda, marks an expansion of the UAE’s economic involvement in the East African nation, extending beyond its current interests in the renewable energy and oil and gas sectors.
The project will be undertaken by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and will be located just outside the Kidepo National Park in northeastern Uganda, near the border with Kenya.
Although the statement from Museveni’s office did not disclose the cost of the project, construction is set to commence in August, according to Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, chairman of the Sharjah business body. The new airport is expected to significantly boost tourism by attracting visitors to the 1,442-square-kilometer (557-square-mile) Kidepo National Park, renowned for its diverse wildlife, including lions, giraffes, buffaloes, and other big game.
President Museveni, who attended the signing of the agreement, highlighted the importance of this development in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “The agreement is a sign of the deepening relations with our Gulf partners and another opportunity to cooperate in investment and trade.”
Melissa Enoch
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