A twin-engine Let L-410 Turbolet operated by Eagle Air Uganda landed at Kabalega International Airport in Hoima District on Sunday morning, September 27, 2026, becoming the first aircraft to touch down at Uganda’s newest international airport . The historic landing carried players from the Libyan national football team, who arrived ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Uganda Cranes at Hoima City Stadium on Tuesday, September 29 . The milestone marks a significant step towards the airport’s official commissioning, which is expected in January 2027.
The airport received multiple commercial flights throughout Sunday, demonstrating its readiness for passenger operations. The first aircraft to arrive was a Bombardier CRJ900 carrying officials from FIFA, CAF, and the AFCON Local Organising Committee, landing at approximately 9:00 am . Later in the day, a Uganda Airlines flight transported 46 members of the Libyan national football team from Entebbe International Airport to Hoima . The Uganda Cranes were also expected to travel to Hoima aboard a Uganda Airlines chartered flight, with plans for a select group of leaders from the Bunyoro sub-region to take a joyride to Entebbe.
State Minister for Transport Fred Byamukama described the flights as a demonstration of the government’s delivery: “Today, the NRM government decided to prove to Ugandans that it delivers. We decided to give to the people of Bunyoro a joyride, free of charge, by Uganda Airlines” . The airport, formerly known as Kabaale International Airport, has been under construction since April 2018 and is now 98 percent complete . Built by a joint venture of Israeli-British firms Shikun & Binui International and Colas Limited at a cost of approximately $309 million, the facility features a 3.5-kilometre runway, a cargo terminal, a passenger terminal, an air rescue and firefighting station, and airfield lighting systems .
The primary purpose of the airport is to support Uganda’s commercial oil production in the Albertine Graben by facilitating the movement of personnel, equipment, and cargo . The airport is also expected to play a key role during Uganda’s co-hosting of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Kenya and Tanzania .The journey to this milestone has not been without challenges. Construction was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, funding shortfalls, and design changes—particularly the switch from a mobile control tower to a fixed one following guidance from the International Civil Aviation Organization.
In February 2023, the contractor suspended work after the government failed to release an additional Shs126 billion required to complete remaining works . The Air Traffic Control tower was the final component delaying handover, with the contractor targeting a handover to the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority by the end of October 2026 . President Yoweri Museveni is expected to officially commission the airport in January 2027, marking the formal opening of Uganda’s second international airport.