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HOIMA, UGANDA —Kabalega International Airport in Hoima has received its first passenger aircraft, marking a historic milestone for the nearly completed international airport originally built to support Uganda’s oil and gas industry.
Among the first passengers to arrive on September 27 were Libya’s national football team players, who travelled to Hoima ahead of their September 29 AFCON 2027 qualifier against the Uganda Cranes at Hoima City Stadium. Uganda’s national team and football officials also arrived by air.
The milestone signals Kabalega International Airport’s transition from primarily an oil and gas logistics hub into a passenger airportahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Uganda will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania. Beyond AFCON, the airport is expected to support tourism, trade, investment and economic development across Hoima, Bunyoro and Uganda’s wider Albertine region.
Why Was Kabalega International Airport Built?
Kabalega International Airport, previously known as Kabaale International Airport, was originally conceived to solve one of the biggest logistical challenges facing Uganda’s emerging petroleum industry: transporting extremely large and heavy equipment into the Albertine Graben.
Uganda’s discovery of commercially viable oil reserves created demand for infrastructure capable of supporting the development of oil fields, processing facilities and the planned refinery near Hoima.
A refinery feasibility study recommended construction of an airport close to the planned refinery capable of receiving large cargo aircraft carrying loads of approximately 112 to 250 tonnes.
This would allow specialised machinery and other heavy petroleum equipment to be flown directly into the region instead of relying entirely on long-distance road transportation from Uganda’s existing aviation gateways.
History of Kabalega International Airport
Construction of the airport began in 2018.
The approximately $309 million projectwas designed around a 3.5-kilometre runwaycapable of handling large cargo aircraft.
The development included a runway, taxiway, apron, cargo facilities, airfield lighting, navigational and meteorological equipment, air traffic control facilities, rescue and firefighting infrastructure, fuel storage and supporting utilities.
Although oil and gas logistics provided the original justification for the airport, Uganda’s aviation authorities anticipated that it could eventually serve a much broader economic role.
Passenger aviation, tourism and international trade were identified among its potential long-term uses.
The project subsequently experienced several extensions to its completion timetable, including disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, rising construction costs and funding challenges.
By September 2026, the first phase had reached approximately 99.9 percent completion, according to government officials, with final testing and commissioning activities remaining.
Why Uganda Needs Kabalega International Airport
Kabalega International Airport addresses several strategic needs at once.
Its first purpose remains supporting Uganda’s oil and gas industryby providing aviation access close to petroleum developments in the Albertine region.
Its passenger role, however, could become increasingly important.
Hoima and the surrounding Bunyoro region are undergoing major infrastructure development associated with petroleum, roads, urban expansion, tourism and international sporting events.
A functioning international airport gives the region a direct aviation gateway rather than requiring most passengers and cargo to travel through Entebbe before continuing hundreds of kilometres by road.
AFCON 2027 Gives Kabalega Airport a New Role
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nationshas accelerated plans to develop Kabalega International Airport for passenger traffic.
Uganda will jointly host AFCON 2027 with Kenya and Tanzania, with the tournament scheduled for June 19 to July 17, 2027.
Hoima is being developed as one of Uganda’s important centres for the tournament.
Government has allocated funding for an expanded passenger terminal and associated infrastructure at Kabalega International Airport as part of preparations to accommodate the movement of teams, officials and visitors.
The September 27 arrival of Libya’s national team and the Uganda Cranes therefore represents an important real-world demonstration of the airport’s passenger capability ahead of the continental tournament.
Plans for a Larger Passenger Terminal
The airport’s next development phase is particularly important.
The existing facilities were largely developed around the airport’s original cargo and petroleum-support mission.
Government plans call for a substantially larger passenger terminal as Kabalega moves toward regular commercial passenger operations.
The expanded terminal is intended to increase passenger-processing capacity ahead of AFCON and provide infrastructure that can continue serving the region after the tournament ends.
Formal commissioning of the airport has been targeted for January 2027.
Tourism Potential
Kabalega International Airport could significantly improve aviation access to western Uganda.
Visitors currently arriving internationally through Entebbe often face lengthy road journeys before reaching destinations in the Albertine region.
Direct or connecting passenger flights into Hoima could shorten that journey and create opportunities for hotels, tour operators, restaurants, transport companies and other tourism businesses.
The airport could consequently become an aviation gateway not only to Hoima but to tourism destinations across western Uganda.
Trade and Investment
Cargo infrastructure developed for petroleum operations could eventually serve other industries.
Fast air transportation can be particularly useful for high-value and time-sensitive products, while improved passenger connectivity can make the region more accessible to investors, technical specialists and businesses.
The airport is also emerging alongside other major investments in roads, petroleum infrastructure, urban development and sporting facilities.
Together, these projects could strengthen Hoima’s position as an economic centre for western Uganda.
From an Oil Airport to a Regional Gateway
Kabalega International Airport’s evolution tells a larger story about Uganda’s infrastructure development.
The airport was conceived primarily to answer a practical petroleum-sector question: how could Uganda transport exceptionally large and heavy equipment directly into its emerging oil region?
Nearly a decade later, its purpose is expanding.
Oil and gas remain central to the airport’s history and economic rationale, but passenger aviation, AFCON 2027, tourism, trade and regional connectivity are increasingly important parts of its future.
The arrival of the first passenger aircraft on September 27, 2026therefore represents more than a ceremonial milestone.
It marks the beginning of Kabalega International Airport’s transition from specialised oil infrastructure into a potentially important passenger and cargo gateway for Hoima, Bunyoro, the Albertine region and Uganda as a whole.
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