President Museveni has given a green light to plans for the construction of an international airport in Nyakisharara, Mbarara District, following a meeting with a China-based consortium at State House, Entebbe.
The project, presented by Base 7 Aviation International Academy and their consultants, Hamster Business Solutions, is expected to transform Western Uganda’s economic landscape. According to officials Mugabi Charles and Alexandria Judith Kyakunzire, the development will be executed by three firms: Hunan Construction and Investment Engineering Company (construction), China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute (feasibility and design), and Blackrock Uwekeza (financing and operations).
The airport will be run under a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) model.
President Museveni welcomed the proposal, pledging full government support and urging the consortium to work closely with Uganda’s technical team to finalise the details.
He described the airport as a strategic project for boosting Uganda’s economy, creating jobs, and strengthening tourism and agriculture.
During the presentation, the president praised the consortium’s vision while stressing the importance of environmental preservation throughout the development process.
Blackrock Uwekeza’s Mr. Bethuel Macharia confirmed the company’s readiness to finance the entire project, citing its potential to spur economic growth.
Consultants Eddie Kisitu and Abubakar Kaseruuzi of Hamster Business Solutions highlighted broader benefits, noting that the airport could establish transit routes linking Africa to Latin America, China, Indonesia, and Australia, generating substantial new revenue streams.
The airport is projected to handle regional and international routes, with estimates suggesting it could triple Uganda’s economic output once fully operational. Construction is expected to be completed by 2030, under President Museveni’s Party and Term Oriented Delivery initiative.
