The Government of Uganda announced that it will construct a mega-airport Project in Mbarara, Western Uganda, which will be the largest airport in the country and the third international Airport after Entebbe International Airport and the newly constructed Hoima International Airport.
The announcement has caused excitement and mixed reactions among the population. Some are praising and welcoming the development, while others are questioning the feasibility of such a project, considering the current economic situation of Uganda.
The project, if successfully executed, will make Uganda an aviation hub, and Mbarara will be one of the largest dry ports in Africa. The city is already one of the largest cities in Uganda, and such projects when completed will improve the city’s position in the country.
Here are the major things that you need to know about the proposed Mbarara mega-airport project.
Location
The Mbarara Mega-Airport Project will be located in Mbarara City, overlapping to Mbarara District. The nucleus of the airport will be the old Mbarara Airport, locally known as Nyakisharara Airstrip.
The proposed location is entirely in the Greater Kashari County along the Mbarara-Ibanda road, extending to the Mbarara–Kasese road. The place is located approximately 11 KM from Mbarara city centre and approximately 284 KM from Kampala, the capital city of Uganda.
Size and Specifications
The project will cover an area of 21 square kilometers, which is a very large area that will require the displacement of people who are currently occupying the area.
The airport will have three runways that will serve different purposes, according to the President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, during the Tarehe Sita celebrations in Kabale in February 2026.
- Two runways will be 5.5 kilometers long and will be parallel to each other. They will be commercial and specifically for aeroplanes carrying cargo. With runways 5500 meters long, they will rank among the world’s longest commercial runways.
- The third runway will be 3.7 kilometers (3,700 metres) long and will be reserved for VIP.
The artistic impression of the airport was released on March 6th, 2026 by potential developers and presented to the Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja. The artistic impression draws inspiration from Chengdu Tianfu Airport in China, with a striking resemblance.
The video showing artistic impression
Purpose
According to the president, Yoweri Museveni, the project is intended to work as a major international hub for refueling and a cargo transit point for long-haul flights between South American markets and Asian markets.
Prime Minister of Uganda, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja said that the airport is specifically constructed to link trade between China and South American countries of Argentina, Brazil and others.
The airport will be constructed with a modern terminal, advanced navigation aids, cargo handling, immigration and customs facilities and is expected to cut the time spent to transport goods and people between China and South American countries by at least 15 hours.
The airport also aims to promote trade, boost tourism and travel in Western Uganda, given that the airport will be located a few kilometres from Lake Mburo National Park, the Rwenzori Mountains and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Construction Company, Funding and Ownership
Construction Company
So far, Base Seven Company, also identified as Base 7or B7, has been identified as the lead developer of the project.
Other companies might enter the project in the later stages, as the project is still in planning, and no physical activity on the ground has so far taken place as of March 2026.
Costs.
No official estimated costs have so far been released.
Ownership of Mbarara Mega-Airport Project
The project will be on the Build–Operate-Transfer BOT ownership structure.
Developers will fully fund the project, including the related costs involved, operate the project for an agreed period, recovering investment via user fees, landing charges, cargo handling, hotels, and other commercial activities. They will then hand over the facility to the government of Uganda.
Effects of the Mbarara Mega-Airport Project on the locality
In a letter dated February 11th, 2026, President Museveni directed Prime Minister Nabbanja to oversee displacement and compensation of people occupying the land where the project will be constructed.
Nyakisharara Airport is currently located in a fast-growing neighbourhood that has recently opened settlements in the last decade due to the expansion of Mbarara City. This means that there will be a disruption of settlement patterns and people will have to be displaced.
The project will also see the existing Mbarara Ibanda road via Bwizibwera relocated with the president proposing the Mbarara-Keigoshora-Bwizibwera route all done at the expense of the developer.
The project will open new opportunities in trade, transport and tourism to people of Western Uganda. Hotels that will be constructed, traffic flow of VIP and traders, housing units and other support facilities will all be injections to the local economy.
Uganda is opening up to opportunities and is so far one of the leading Foreign Direct Investment destinations. With such multi-billion-dollar projects expected to start in a few years, the country will indeed keep among the fastest growing economies in Africa.
