The government has launched a US$12.7b project to expand Entebbe International Airport in Uganda particularly the arrival and departure terminals.
In August last year, President Museveni launched a $200m expansion works on the airport but the Works Minister Mr John Byabagambi, said the project he was launching was independent from what the president had earlier commissioned.
He added that President Museveni launched “a mega project” which will included, building more aero bridges ,the expansion of the terminal buildings, a cargo centre that will be 10 times bigger than the current one.
“What we are launching today is the remodeling and expansion of the departure and arrival which we didn’t include in the other project,” he said.
Mr Byabagambi said he had formed a group of supervisors for the project to seal all loopholes of corruption and shoddy works that has plagued some government projects. He said the project’s sensitivity several layers of supervision have been set up to oversee the implementation of the projects and seal all avenues of corruption.
The money to fund the project will be generated from Civil Aviation Authority, according to the CAA managing director Dr Rama Makuza.
Seyani Brothers have been contracted to undertake the work that will start on June 1 and expected to be complete by December 2017.
The same company has previously been contracted to undertake a number of government works including the Parliament’s car park, the Auditor General’s office and Uganda’s High commission in Kigali
Ahead of the Heads of Government Meeting in 2007, the capacity of the current terminal that was commissioned in 1974, was increased from 250 (arriving and departing passengers) to 410 arriving and 360 passengers departing. CAA is currenting projecting peak-season traffic at 930 arrivals and 820 departures by 2033
CAA currently projects peak-hour traffic at 930 arrivals and 820 departures by 2033.
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Kenya which is currently being refurbished is expected to accommodate 20 million passengers upon completion.
