Kabalega International Airport in Hoima City has received its first ever passenger flights, carrying the Uganda Cranes and Libyan National Team.
This happened in the morning of September 27th, 2026, and the first to land was a Mitsubishi CRJ900 carrying FIFA and CAF officials ahead of the Uganda Cranes vs Libya AFCON 2027 qualifier, slated for September 29th, in Group H of the qualifiers.
Two additional Uganda Airlines flights UR130/131 and UR132/133, which were delayed by the heavy rains later landed in the afternoon, carrying the Uganda Cranes and Libyan Team players.
The Minister of Works and Transport Fred Byamukama, Jonard Asiimwe, the Minister in the Office of the President in charge of Science, Technology and Innovation, and other Bunyoro and NRM leaders were at the Airport to witness the arrivals.
“This is a very cool morning. We have received our FUFA TEAM of Uganda joined by the CAF team. This team is helping Uganda to ensure that we have these games peacefully and Ugandans enjoy,” Byamukama said.
He assured Ugandans that the Airport will be officially opened in 2027 by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
“HE the President has collected taxes and invested it wisely and now we have the Kabalega Airport, HOIMA Stadium and these are signs that we are ready to host the games. The Kabalega Airport will be officially opened by the President in January 2027,” Byamukama added.
What to Know about Kabalega International Airport
Kabalega International Airport also called Hoima International Airport is Uganda’s second international airport after Entebbe. Its construction began in 2018 as part of infrastructure for the oil industry in the Albertine Graben, the planned Uganda Oil Refinery, and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). It is also intended to support tourism and agriculture in western Uganda.
The project faced repeated delays due to COVID-19, funding issues, and the late arrival of the air traffic control tower. It reached about 98% completion earlier this year, with official handover to the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority previously targeted for October 2026.
These passenger flights mark an early operational use of the 3.5 km runway even before full commercial commissioning.
