President Museveni has directed that Kabaale International Airport in Hoima which is currently under construction be renamed Kabalega International Airport
This will be in memory of the revered king of Bunyoro , Chwa II Kabalega
The development was announced by the State Minister for Public Service, Grace Mary Mugasa.
“I want to thank President Museveni for choosing to rename the airport in Hoima to Kabalega International Airport, Hoima. This comes at a time when we are celebrating 100 years of Omukama Kabalega,” Mugasa tweeted.
“Oil and Gas based industrial park in Hoima district will also be named after the Great Omukama Kabalega. Thank you, President Museveni for this great choice. Bunyoro stands firm with history.”
Kabalega
The renaming will come as Bunyoro celebrates 100 years since the death of Kabalega in 1923, having led Bunyoro kingdom between 1870 and 1899.
Kabalega was the first leader in Uganda to command his people to oppose and fight European colonialism.
In 1872 in Masindi, Kabalega’s army Sir Samuel Baker’s troops that had crossed into his territory from Sudan forcing them to flee north to retreat to Acholi and camp at Fort Patiko.
Kabalega was captured by the British in 1899 and forced into exile when put on a steamboat , taken to Port Kisumu, Kenya from where he was taken to Mont Plaisir, Marjorie prison and later to Seychelles Islands in the Indian Ocean .
About the airport
Kabaale International Airport in Hoima is currently under construction by Israeli-British firms, Shikun and Binui International (SBI/Colas Limited) and the construction works that started in 2018 are expected to be completed later this year.
The airport will have a 3500 metre long and 45 metre wide runway , a passenger terminal and associated facilities to support operations of cargo and passenger aircraft.