In a move to boost tourism, the Ugandan government has signed a deal with a business association from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to construct a new international airport near the country’s border with Kenya.
The agreement was signed between the Ugandan government and the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a UAE-based business group. The new airport will be located just outside the Kidepo National Park in northeastern Uganda.
“This is a sign of the deepening relations with our Gulf partners and another opportunity to co-operate in investment and trade,” said Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who witnessed the signing of the deal.
The 1,442-square-kilometer Kidepo National Park is known for its diverse wildlife, including lions, giraffes, and buffaloes. The new international airport is expected to draw more visitors to the park and surrounding areas.
Construction on the airport project is set to begin in August 2024, according to Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, the chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The cost of the airport was not disclosed in the announcement.
This will be Uganda’s third international airport, complementing the existing Entebbe International Airport and the upcoming Kabaale International Airport. The new border airport is seen as an opportunity to deepen economic ties between Uganda and its Gulf partners like the UAE.
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