The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved financing worth €155.99 million to support the upgrade of Arua Airport into an international-standard facility, a move expected to boost regional connectivity and unlock economic opportunities in Uganda’s West Nile region.

The funding will support Phase 1 of the Uganda Airports Development Programme, which aims to improve domestic and regional air transport through safer, more efficient and climate-resilient aviation infrastructure.

Located about 450 kilometres from Kampala, Arua serves as a strategic gateway to Uganda’s West Nile region and neighbouring markets in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, limited domestic and international air transport infrastructure has constrained growth and investment in the area.

Under the project, Arua Airport will be upgraded with a 3.5-kilometre paved runway capable of accommodating large aircraft, including the Boeing 777. The development will also include new taxiways and aprons, a passenger terminal with capacity to handle 700,000 travellers annually, and a cargo terminal designed to process 25,000 tonnes of cargo per year.

Additional infrastructure will include a new control tower, access roads, parking facilities and modern aviation safety systems.

The total programme cost is estimated at €157.76 million. Of this amount, the African Development Bank will provide a loan of €141.15 million, while the African Development Fund, the Bank Group’s concessional lending arm, will contribute €14.84 million. The Government of Uganda will provide an in-kind contribution valued at €1.77 million.

“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,” said Mike Salawou, the Bank Group’s Director for the Infrastructure and Urban Development Department.

The project will be implemented by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) under the supervision of the Ministry of Works and Transport.

The Authority’s Director General, Fred Bamwesigye, described the project as a major milestone for the country’s aviation sector.

“Arua Airport is currently the second busiest in the country after Entebbe International Airport and has immense growth potential,” Bamwesigye said. “The airport will also serve as an alternative to Entebbe International Airport during emergencies. We are highly grateful to the African Development Bank for its invaluable partnership and support in this transformative project.”

Arua, the regional capital of northwestern Uganda, has significant potential in agriculture, tourism, trade, logistics, culture and regional integration. Improved air connectivity is expected to enhance access to markets, reduce transportation costs for perishable agricultural products and improve access to tourist attractions across the region.

More than 500,000 residents of Arua City and District are expected to benefit directly from the programme, while the wider West Nile region, home to more than 3.3 million people, is expected to gain from improved transport links and increased investment opportunities.

The project is projected to create about 500 direct jobs during construction and more than 1,400 indirect jobs in sectors such as tourism, agriculture and trade. It will also provide skills training for at least 100 young people, including women, in engineering, construction and equipment operations.

The initiative aligns with the African Development Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy 2024–2033 and supports the transport and infrastructure priorities outlined in Uganda’s Country Strategy Paper 2022–2026, which focuses on developing sustainable infrastructure to improve market access, competitiveness and industrialisation.