Despite the suspension of the construction of the Hoima International Airport some months after the outbreak of coronavirus at the beginning of the year, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says the gaps have been covered after the works resumption.
During an inspection tour at the airport site in Kabaale Village, Buseruka Sub-county in Hoima District, the CAA board members applauded SBI for the hard work that compensated the time lost during the lockdown when its workers were suspended to slow down the spread of the Covid-19 global pandemic.
SBC Uganda Limited is a consortium contracted to construct Hoima International Airport expected to enhance easy connection of the oil-rich Albertine region with the outside world.
The acting Director General, Fred Bamwesigye who led the CAA delegation credited SBC Uganda Limited for achieving a 49.2 percent completion indifferent from the initially set target.
“The apparent progress implies the airport construction will be completed in March 2023 as scheduled.”
Mr Richard Ruheesi, the Director for Air Navigation Services at the CAA said that the contractor had observed all the engineering parameters increasing hope for quality work and value for money.
Retired Justice Steven Kavuma, who is CAA’s chairman Board of Directors, expressed optimism that after completion, the facility will boost trade and tourism between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since it lies near their international boundary.
Construction work for the Hoima International Airport began in 2017. This is the second international airport in Uganda after Entebbe.
The airport is strategically constructed to facilitate transportation of sensitive cargo necessary for the construction of the oil refinery at Kabaale.
Measurements
The runway is estimated to measure 3.5km long and 45 metres wide with the capacity to accommodate four large cargo aircrafts after completion.
It is designed with space for expansion in case need arises.
The facility will also have a special terminal building that can handle both cargo and passengers at the same time, substations and navigational aids to assist aircrafts in landing and taking off in addition to a fuel pump.
The 4.5sqkm size airport will also have a 28-metre control tower for air traffic controllers.
