Entebbe airport expansion progress at 28% - minister

TRANSPORT | ENTEBBE AIRPORT

The Minister for Works and Transport, Monica Azuba Ntege, says she is impressed by the progress of the ongoing expansion and upgrade of Entebbe International Airport.

The project, which stands at 28% progress, is being worked on by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). Works started in May last year.

The project is estimated at over sh713b (over $200m) and involves construction of new cargo terminal, oil firm and strengthening of aero planes runway.

Azuba said the project aims at increasing more arrivals, cargos and will boost the  country economically in areas such as tourism.

During the field tour of the ongoing works at the airport on Wednesday, Azuba noted that the mega project is face of the country.

She said the project will be complete by 2021 and she was optimistic that the cost of tickets will go down.

"One of the things we are doing is to increase the capacity of the cargo center and planes carrying cargo will be directly going there. Near cargo Centre, there's a fuel firm which is going to be established," she stated.

PIC: Minister Azuba (second-right) with her team inspecting ongoing works at Entebbe Airport. (Credit: Wilson Manishimwe)

Challenges
Although the project is slated to be complete within five year period, it remains unclear due to some challenges that have emerged since its inception.

For instance New Vision has learnt that the land where the contractor intends to establish the oil firm is being claimed by the Mamba clan of the Buganda Kingdom, which may delay the project.

However, Azuba said the title for that land is under CAA and that it will be handled legally.

"We are looking for ways where we can work continue with the project without obstructions," she said.

PIC: The cargo area under construction

CCCC manager Sun Guicai said court on September 24 issued out an injunction blocking them from further excavation of gravel from the quarry in Mukono.

He said, since then the construction works have slowed down and that they have resorted to buying gravel from the locals around the area at relatively higher price .

"We had compensated the locals around it (the quarry), but some from the village adjacent to the quarry went to court and logged a complaints seeking an injunction, which they got," he stated.

Guicai appealed to the Government to intervene so that they can get gravel from the quarry as the legal process continues.