Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has proposed to construct an Airport in the Albertine Graben. Uganda’s oil region, for oil development valued at over US$200 million. According to CAA’s director Airports and Aviation Security Eng. John Kagoro, the exercise is expected to be concluded in a couple of weeks.
Former Works Minister Byandala Abraham shows us the National Civil Aviation Master plan launched earlier this year 2015
According to Eng. John Kagoro, four firms have picked pre-bid forms and by end of this month, we expect them to bring back to submit for the tender. The Airport construction will begin with runways that can handle big cargo planes and small passenger planes to facilitate the oil business.
Speaking at the launch of Etihad Airways, the United Arab Emirates national carrier at Entebbe International Airport, Mr. Kagoro said the firm enters Uganda at the time when more flight business is expected to grow rapidly due to oil production expected to start soon.
The new airport is a pre-requisite for the government oil development project to bring in personnel, sensitive equipment, and materials during construction and operations, Mr. Kagoro said.
Addressing journalists at the launch, Etihad Airways vice president global sales, Daniel Barranger, said: “Etihad Airways will build upon the success of its Entebbe cargo flights with the launch of new passenger service to the East African city.”
“Daily flights will be operated to Entebbe International Airport, using a two-class Airbus A320 aircraft with 16 business class seats and 120 economy class seats.”
Mr. Barranger said the route will provide business and leisure travelers with a direct connection between Entebbe and Etihad Airways’ Abu Dhabi hub, together with convenient onward flights to, Europe, Indian subcontinent, North Asia, south-east Asia, and Australia.
Etihad president James Hogan said: “The appetite for travel to and from Africa has never been stronger, and Entebbe, one of the continent’s fastest-growing business and tourism destinations, is a great addition to Etihad Airways’ global network.
The construction of Hoima Airport on the other hand will promote tourism in Uganda. Tourists from Entebbe International Airport to Hoima Airport will quickly reach Kibale National park, Semliki National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mountain Rwenzori National Park among others.
We expect an increase in the number of tourists coming to Uganda for Gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, Mountaineering, wildlife safari, birding, nocturnal walks, boat cruising among others. This is according to Mathias, a senior tour consultant from African Jungle Adventures, the No.1 Uganda and Rwanda safari company, specialized in primates tracking and wild game viewing. The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in conjunction with the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) greatly welcomes the idea of constructing the Airport in western Uganda.
