By Samuel Ssenono
Uganda has secured €155.99 million from the African Development Bank Group to upgrade Arua Airport into an international-standard airport, giving West Nile a stronger aviation gateway into South Sudan, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and the wider region.
The financing will support Phase One of the Uganda Airports Development Programme, with Arua Airport set for a major airside and landside expansion.
The project will include a 3.5-kilometre paved runway capable of handling wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777, new taxiways, aircraft aprons, a modern control tower, access roads, car parking, passenger facilities and upgraded safety systems.
A new passenger terminal will be built with capacity to handle 700,000 travellers a year, while a cargo terminal will be developed to handle 25,000 tonnes annually.
Arua Airport is already Uganda’s second busiest airport after Entebbe International Airport, but its current infrastructure limits the type of aircraft it can handle and the volume of traffic it can support.
The upgrade is expected to turn Arua into a key regional aviation node, serving passenger, cargo, emergency and cross-border operations.
The total programme cost is €157.76 million. The African Development Bank will provide €141.15 million, while the African Development Fund will provide €14.84 million. The Government of Uganda will contribute €1.77 million in kind.
The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority will implement the project under the Ministry of Works and Transport.
UCAA Director General Fred Bamwesigye said the airport has strong growth potential and will play a bigger role in Uganda’s aviation network.
“Arua Airport is currently the second busiest in the country after Entebbe International Airport and has immense growth potential,” Bamwesigye said.
He added that once upgraded, Arua will also serve as an alternative airport to Entebbe during emergencies.
AfDB’s Director for Infrastructure and Urban Development, Mike Salawou, said the project will connect people to opportunities, open new markets and strengthen Uganda’s place as a regional trade and logistics hub.
The aviation case for Arua is tied to its location. The airport sits about 450 kilometres from Kampala and serves a region that borders South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, two markets that rely heavily on Uganda for goods, food, services and cross-border movement.
With a longer runway and stronger cargo handling capacity, Arua is expected to support faster movement of perishable agricultural produce, high-value goods, relief cargo, business travellers and tourists.
The airport upgrade is also expected to cut pressure on long road journeys between Kampala and West Nile, while giving operators better infrastructure for scheduled, charter, cargo and emergency flights.
More than 500,000 people in Arua City and District are expected to benefit directly from the project. The wider West Nile region, with more than 3.3 million people, is expected to gain from improved air connectivity, investment and trade links.
The works are projected to create about 500 direct jobs during construction and more than 1,400 indirect jobs in aviation support services, tourism, agriculture, logistics and trade.
At least 100 young people, including women, will also receive skills training in engineering, construction and equipment operations.
