KARENGA — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Thursday presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Kidepo International Airport runway in Karenga District, marking a major milestone in Uganda’s efforts to expand aviation infrastructure and unlock the economic potential of the Karamoja sub-region.
The airport, which is being developed near the world-renowned Kidepo Valley National Park, is expected to become Uganda’s third international airport after Entebbe International Airport and Kabalega International Airport in Hoima. The project is aimed at boosting tourism, trade, investment, and connectivity in the northeastern region of the country.
The groundbreaking ceremony follows a 2024 Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Government of Uganda and the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the United Arab Emirates to construct the airport and related tourism infrastructure in the region.
According to the Ministry of Works and Transport, the launch of runway construction represents a historic step in transforming Karamoja into a key gateway for international tourism and investment.
“June 5 is a historic day for Uganda’s aviation and economic landscape. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will be heading to Karenga District to officially break ground on the runway construction for the new Kidepo International Airport,” the ministry said ahead of the event.
The planned airport will feature a runway measuring approximately 3,500 metres, capable of handling large international aircraft, including wide-body jets. Officials estimate that the facility will be able to accommodate up to two million passengers annually once fully operational.
Speaking after the launch, former Tourism Minister and Senior Presidential Advisor Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu praised the President’s commitment to infrastructure-led development.
“Gratitude to H.E. President Museveni for visionary leadership as he launched the groundbreaking of Kidepo International Airport in Karenga District. Such infrastructural foresight is pivotal to catalyzing national economic growth,” Kamuntu said in a statement posted on X.
The airport project is expected to significantly reduce travel time for tourists visiting Kidepo Valley National Park, one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife destinations known for its lions, giraffes, buffaloes, cheetahs and vast wilderness landscapes. Tourism officials have argued that direct international access to the region will strengthen Uganda’s competitiveness as a tourism destination.
Under the agreement signed with the UAE-based investors, the project also includes the development of hotels and other tourism facilities around Kidepo to support the anticipated increase in visitor arrivals.
President Museveni previously described the airport agreement as a sign of deepening cooperation between Uganda and its Gulf partners, particularly in investment, trade and tourism.
Government officials say the project aligns with Uganda’s Vision 2040 strategy, which prioritises modern transport infrastructure as a catalyst for economic transformation, regional integration and balanced national development. Once completed, Kidepo International Airport is expected to open up Karamoja to new opportunities in tourism, trade, mining and logistics while improving access to one of Uganda’s most remote but resource-rich regions.