The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved €155.99 million (about Shs650 billion) to upgrade Arua Airport into an international-standard facility, a move expected to boost trade, tourism and transport links in Uganda’s West Nile region.
The funding was approved by the Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group under Phase One of the Uganda Airports Development Programme.
Arua Airport, located about 450 kilometres northwest of Kampala, serves as a gateway to West Nile and neighbouring markets in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, limited aviation infrastructure has constrained the region’s economic growth.
The project will improve domestic and regional air transport through the construction of modern aviation facilities. These include a 3.5-kilometre paved runway capable of handling large aircraft such as the Boeing 777, new taxiways that connect aircraft to runways, and aprons where aircraft park, load and unload passengers or cargo.
Authorities will also build a passenger terminal capable of handling 700,000 travellers a year and a cargo terminal designed to process 25,000 tonnes of goods annually. Other facilities will include a control tower, access roads, parking areas and upgraded safety systems.
The total project cost stands at €157.76 million. AfDB will provide a €141.15 million loan, while the African Development Fund, the bank’s concessional financing arm that offers low-interest loans to poorer countries, will contribute €14.84 million. The Government of Uganda will provide an in-kind contribution worth €1.77 million.
Mike Salawou, the Bank Group’s Director for Infrastructure and Urban Development, said the project would go beyond aviation development.
“This project is about more than an airport. It is about connecting people to opportunity, opening new markets for businesses, supporting tourism, and strengthening Uganda’s role as a regional trade and logistics hub,” Salawou said.
The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority will implement the project under the supervision of the Ministry of Works and Transport.
UCAA Director General Fred Bamwesigye said the airport would strengthen Uganda’s aviation network and support economic transformation in the region.
“Arua Airport is currently the second busiest in the country after Entebbe International Airport and has immense growth potential,” Bamwesigye said.
He added that the airport would also serve as an alternative landing facility during emergencies affecting Entebbe.
The project is expected to benefit more than 500,000 people in Arua City and District directly. The wider West Nile region, home to more than 3.3 million people, is also expected to gain from improved transport links and investment opportunities.
Officials say better air connectivity will help farmers and traders move fresh produce and other goods to regional and international markets faster and at lower cost. The airport is also expected to improve access to tourist attractions in the region.
Construction is projected to create about 500 direct jobs and more than 1,400 indirect jobs in sectors such as tourism, agriculture and trade. At least 100 young people, including women, will receive training in engineering, construction and equipment operation.
The project aligns with AfDB’s Ten-Year Strategy 2024–2033 and Uganda’s Country Strategy Paper 2022–2026, which prioritises transport infrastructure to improve market access, competitiveness and industrialisation.
 has approved €155.99 million (about Shs650 billion) to upgrade Arua Airport into an international-standard facility, a move expected to boost trade, tourism and transport links in Uganda's West Nile region.){kind=link}