President Museveni announces plans to build an international airport in Kaabong district

• Museveni announced plans for an international airport in Kaabong to promote tourism and development.

• The project will be built with support from the Sheikh of Sharjah, a UAE investor.

• The airport will improve access to Kidepo Valley National Park and boost Karamoja’s economy.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has announced plans to construct an international airport in Kaabong District, saying the project will boost tourism and development in the Karamoja sub-region.

Speaking during a campaign trail in the area, the President revealed that the new airport will be built with support from investors from the United Arab Emirates.

“Now in the Kaabong area, we are also building an international airport just like Entebbe,” Museveni said.

He noted that the idea is part of a broader strategy to open up Karamoja to tourism and international trade, especially given its proximity to key national parks and wildlife reserves.

“I used strategy,” he said. “The Sheikh of Sharija, my friend, is going to build this big airport.”

Museveni explained that the project will make it easier for tourists and investors to access the region directly, without having to pass through Entebbe or Kampala.

“What brought him here was the National Park,” he added, highlighting how Uganda’s natural attractions continue to draw global interest.

The Kaabong International Airport, once completed, is expected to serve as a major gateway for visitors to Kidepo Valley National Park — one of Uganda’s most remote but scenic tourist destinations.

Tourism stakeholders have long called for improved infrastructure in the Karamoja region to unlock its economic potential. The President’s announcement is therefore seen as a significant step toward transforming the area into a leading tourism hub.

Museveni’s remarks reaffirm his government’s commitment to infrastructure-led development and to positioning Uganda as a premier tourism destination in Africa. Many are hoping that this promise will not just stop being at a political promise but rather implemented.