Following the approval of a €155.99 million financial package by the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group’s Board of Directors, Uganda has taken a major step toward transforming regional air transport and unlocking new economic opportunities. This substantial funding will be used to upgrade Arua Airport into an international-standard facility under Phase 1 of the Uganda Airports Development Programme.
Located approximately 450 kilometers from the capital city of Kampala, Arua is a strategic gateway to Uganda’s West Nile region, as well as to neighboring markets in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, limited domestic and international air travel infrastructure in the area has previously hindered the region’s growth below its full potential.
This new programme aims to improve domestic and regional connectivity by building safe, efficient, and climate-resilient aviation infrastructure. The project includes the construction of a 3.5-kilometer paved runway capable of handling large aircraft such as the Boeing 777. Additionally, it will feature new taxiways, a passenger terminal with an annual capacity of 700,000 travelers, and a cargo terminal designed to handle 25,000 tonnes per year. A new control tower, internal access roads, parking lots, and modern safety systems are also part of the project.
Of the total €157.76 million cost required for the programme, the Bank Group will provide a €141.15 million loan directly from the African Development Bank, while the remaining €14.84 million will come as a concessional loan from the African Development Fund, the Group’s soft-loan arm. The Government of Uganda will contribute €1.77 million as an in-kind contribution.
Mike Salawou, the Bank Group’s Director for the Infrastructure and Urban Development Department, stated: “This project is about more than just building an airport. It is about connecting people to opportunities, opening new markets for businesses, supporting tourism, and strengthening Uganda’s role as a regional trade and logistics hub.”
The project will be implemented by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, which operates under the oversight of the Ministry of Works and Transport. The Authority’s Director General, Fred Bamwesigye, called the airport a “significant achievement for Uganda that will strengthen aviation infrastructure and regional connectivity, and is expected to stimulate social and economic transformation for the region.” He added that Arua Airport is currently the second busiest airport in the country after Entebbe International Airport and will serve as the primary alternative to Entebbe during emergencies.
Arua, the regional capital of northwestern Uganda, is an area endowed with rich mineral wealth and holds immense potential in agriculture, tourism, culture, and trade. Because it is the farthest major city from the capital city of Kampala, this improvement in air transport will especially help farmers and traders move perishable agricultural goods to regional and international markets more quickly and at a lower cost.
The programme will directly benefit more than half a million people living in Arua City and its districts, while bringing broader transport and investment opportunities to the wider West Nile region, which is home to more than 3.3 million people.
Furthermore, the project is expected to create about 500 direct jobs during the construction phase, as well as more than 1,400 indirect jobs in the tourism, agriculture, and trade sectors. It also plans to provide skills training in engineering, construction, and equipment operations for at least 100 young people and women. This initiative aligns perfectly with the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy (2024–2033) as well as the Uganda Country Strategy Paper (2022–2026), which was designed to enhance market access and industrial development.
