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The ground lighting system of Kabalega International Airport, which has been installed by the contractor to guide the landing of the heavy cargo aircraft, has been tested.

According to SBC Uganda Ltd spokesperson Amos Muriisa, the installation of the lighting system and marking of the 3.5km runway marks big progress in the construction works on the international airport, which will be crucial in the development of the oil and gas industry. SBC Uganda Ltd is contracted to construct the facility.

During the testing of the system on Tuesday night, witnessed by finance minister Matia Kasaija, Muriisa said the lights marking the end of the runway emit red light to departing aircraft indicating the end of the flight strip, and emit green outward from the runway end to indicate the threshold to landing aircraft.

“We have completed the construction of the cargo terminals, and currently, the airport can receive aircraft, but with control from Entebbe International Airport,” he said.

Muriisa said they had engaged the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to construct a 4km access road to the airport because the current one was only for delivering construction materials.

“One cannot access the airport through the runway because the current access road is through the runway. We have engaged UNRA to construct the Kigaga road in Kikuube district,” he said.

The airport will be used to deliver heavy equipment which will be used in the construction of the refinery, which is located at Kabelega Industrial Park, just two kilometres from the airport.

Muriisa said currently, the lighting system is being powered by a generator because the airport does not have enough power supply.

He said the significant milestone comes after extensive civil works for the $309m (about sh1.16 trillion) project. The progress on the runway stands at an impressive 98% completion.

SBC Uganda Ltd, in collaboration with SBI International Holdings, commenced the massive project on April 18, 2018, and the airport was initially slated to open in 2022. The remaining work includes plans for a control tower, with discussions on funding and project extensions underway, according to Muriisa.

“In this phase, we have constructed cargo terminals because this airport will be majorly handling cargo planes. Since we still have enough space in the future after the completion of the refinery, the Government may think of constructing passenger terminals,” he said.

Kabalega International Airport can handle four large aircraft at the same time. “Four Antonov 225 aircraft can park here at the same time,” Muriisa said.

He noted that the airport, which will be handed over to the Government soon, will feature a fire station, apron, control tower, accommodation facilities, parallel runways, taxiway, air rescue firefighting house, power substation house, communications, and navigation systems.

It will also have a perimeter fence and air-ground illumination system, among other facilities.

The cargo terminal building, limited-capacity passenger terminal building, air rescue firefighting house, power substation house, and air-ground lighting system are 100% complete.

In a recent Cabinet decision, Hoima International Airport was renamed Kabalega International Airport, in honour of Omukama (King) Kabalega, as requested by the people of Bunyoro, Muriisa said.

Additional funding

While inspecting the ongoing construction works at the airport on Tuesday, Kasaija said the Government had also provided additional funding to the project for the construction of a fixed control tower.
Kasaija said the completion of the project is a huge boost to the development of Uganda’s aviation industry.

“The airport is expected to play a crucial role as one of the key support infrastructures for the upcoming commercial oil production activities. Construction work has gone on well and we have committed more funds to finish some of the uncompleted works,” he said.

The minister also promised to follow up on the construction of a power substation at the Kabalega industrial hub to facilitate the development of oil and gas activities.

“I am going to follow up on the issue of the power for the airport and the industrial hub with the line minister and if the challenge is funds, we shall immediately find the money so that the sub-station is constructed immediately,” Kasaija noted.