Kirumira urges fellow business leaders to seize opportunities at new Kabalega Airport​

Ugandan businessman Godfrey Kirumira recently led a delegation of entrepreneurs from the Kwagalana group on a tour of the Kabalega International Airport in Kabaale, Hoima District. 

The airport, which is nearing completion, is one of the big  infrastructure projects in Uganda's oil and gas sector. 

The first phase of construction, including a 3.5-kilometre runway and cargo terminal, is 95% complete, with full operational status expected by August 2025. ​

During the tour, Kirumira talked of the opportunities the airport presents for Ugandan businesses. 

He noted that large aircraft, such as Antonovs, are soon anticipated to land at the airport, transporting heavy machinery for the construction of the nearby oil refinery. 

"Sadly, it seems these planes will be flying back empty," he remarked. 

"We need these big planes. We as business people need to organise ourselves to exploit these opportunities."​

Kirumira united the strategic location of the airport and the adjacent Kabalega Petrochemical Industrial Park (KPCIP), which spans 29.57 square kilometres. 

The KPCIP is set to host the Uganda Oil Refinery, a 60,000-barrel-per-day facility, and other related industries. 

"This airport offers an opportunity for people to set up industries around here and around the refinery," Kirumira stated. 

"The refinery will have a lot of byproducts which we can use in manufacturing." ​

He also pointed out the vast agricultural potential in the region, with extensive fields suitable for crop cultivation. 

"There are also opportunities in agriculture with vast fields which can be used to grow crops," he added.​

The delegation, comprising individuals from various industries, plans to disseminate the information gathered during the tour to fellow traders in Kampala. 

"We think that these establishments present a lot of opportunities for us and for other Ugandans," Kirumira concluded.