By Spy Uganda
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has instructed Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja to immediately engage investors behind Base Seven Company to implement a major transport infrastructure project centered on the government aerodrome at Nyakisharara, near Mbarara.
In a directive issued from State House dated February 11, 2026, the President called on relevant government ministries and agencies to coordinate efforts toward the development of a mega international airport and supporting infrastructure aimed at transforming western Uganda into a regional transport and economic hub.
According to the presidential communication, the project will be undertaken by Base Seven Company, which intends to finance the development using its own resources under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) arrangement before eventually handing the facility back to government.
The proposed development will be located at the government aerodrome in Nyakisharara, within Mbarara, and is expected to cover approximately 21 square kilometers of land. Plans include the construction of two major runways measuring about 5.5 kilometers each, alongside a dedicated VIP reserve runway extending roughly 3.7 kilometers.
The airport complex will also feature hotels and auxiliary facilities intended to support passenger traffic, cargo operations, and tourism growth in the region.
In his directive, President Museveni emphasized the strategic importance of improving global connectivity, noting that emerging trade links between Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Africa require more efficient air transport routes. He argued that current travel routes are lengthy and economically inefficient, citing travel times of over 30 hours between South America and East Africa.
The proposed airport, he said, could significantly shorten travel time and position Uganda as a logistical bridge connecting growing global markets.
The President directed multiple government institutions — including the Ministries of Works and Transport, Finance, Lands, and the Attorney General’s chambers — to work jointly to facilitate implementation of the project.
He also instructed authorities to assess the realignment of sections of the Ibanda–Mbarara public road to accommodate airport expansion and related infrastructure.
The project financiers were identified as international partners working with the developer, while the airport operator will be nominated by the financiers once implementation begins. The investors are expected to recover their costs through airport usage and associated commercial developments during the agreed concession period.
If implemented, the project could significantly boost tourism, trade, and investment in western Uganda by easing access to national parks, agricultural zones, and cross-border markets.
Government officials and regional leaders have long advocated for expanded aviation infrastructure outside Kampala, arguing that decentralised air transport could accelerate regional industrialisation and unlock new economic opportunities.
The directive now places the project at the center of national infrastructure planning, with stakeholders awaiting further technical evaluations and formal engagement between government and the investors.
