BUNYORO | INTERNATIONAL | AIRPORT

KABALE - As Bunyoro plans to commemorate a century since the death of Omukama Kabalega this month, the region will also be blessed to have the airport in Hoima renamed after the late king.

Kabale International Airport will be renamed Kabalega International Airport.

Omukama Kabalega's rule spanned nearly three decades — from 1870 to 1899. He died later in 1923.

In a tweet Tuesday, state public service minister Grace Mary Mugasa thanked President Yoweri Museveni for choosing to rename the airport.

"This comes at a time when we are celebrating 100 years of Omukama Kabalega.

"Kabalega was an inventor and leadership genuis who united Bunyoyo and inspired Africa to fight for independence," she added.

The new airport is still under construction, as Uganda prepares to develop its promising petroleum industry.

When completed, it will be Uganda's only second international airport after Entebbe International Airport.

The airport is expected to facilitate the mobilization of equipment for the construction of the Uganda Oil Refinery and assist in the development of agriculture and tourism in Uganda's western region.

Omukama Kabalega

It is located in Kabale parish, Buseruka sub-county in Hoima near the Kaiso-Tonya oil fields and the Uganda Oil Refinery. It sits on 29 square kilometres (11 sq miles).

Why Kabalega's name?

Kabalega is described as one of the most powerful Ugandan kings and a war genius who resisted British control in the 1890s.

He turned Bunyoro kingdom into one of the most powerful kingdoms in Central and East Africa at the time.

Long before the arrival of the European missionary doctors, Bunyoro performed a highly developed surgical procedure, a caesarean section, which saved mother and child in pre-hospital days.

That was during the reign of Kabalega, who led several reforms that transformed Bunyoro.

Kabalega is a king who has inspired many young patriots.