The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has given an update on the ongoing works at the Entebbe International Airport.
Speaking during a guided tour, UCAA Director General, Fred Bamwesigye, said that as part of the ongoing upgrade and expansion of Entebbe International Airport, the major remaining project is the completion of a new 20,000 square meters terminal building.
He revealed that works at the new terminal building connecting to the existing terminal building are at 60% complete, while overall works at the airport are at a 90% level of completion. “The other pending works that include expansion of Apron 1, is at 95% level of completion.”
The expansion project was contracted to the Chinese company, China Communications Construction Company at a cost of $200 million.
The expansion works include the reconstruction of the main runway and its associated taxiways, the rehabilitation of runway 1230 and its associated taxiways, the rehabilitation of aprons, the construction of a cargo complex, the construction of a new terminal building, and increased water supply and storage capacity.
Recently, the authority handed over the completed Modified Terminal building. The facility was used to facilitate delegates for the concluded NAM and G77+ China Summit and continues to facilitate an increased number of passengers.
Meanwhile, Bamwesigye noted that on completion of new works at the new terminal building whose works are expected to be completed this year, the terminal capacity will be enhanced from the previous maximum capacity of 2 million passengers a year to at least 3.5 million passengers.
He noted that this is meant to address the growing traffic at the airport.
Commenting on the same, Eng. Ayub Soma, Director of Navigation and Airport Security at UCAA, said part of their efforts is to enhance the runways to the biggest in the world.
“We want to enhance the runways to be able to accommodate bigger aircraft like A380 which have larger wings and it means if we do that our runways can move to the highest type of runway that exists on earth. By doing this, we are calling in more airlines to come to Entebbe Airport,” he said.