infrastructure 27 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Kasese International Airport Outshines Mbarara Proposal for Uganda's Strategic Needs
A commentary argues that developing an international airport in Kasese would better serve Uganda's economic ties with eastern DRC compared to the proposed Mbarara airport, which risks attracting illicit traffic without clear regional benefits. Enhanced infrastructure like roads to DRC already positions Kasese for substantial trade gains. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/commentary/kasese-airport-is-better-than-mbarara-airport--5405852
Uganda’s 2020 authorization of key road projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)—including Kasindi-Beni, Beni-Butembo, and Bunagana-Rutshuru-Goma—aims to boost mobility, trade, and security. DRC ranks as Uganda’s second-largest regional trading partner, with imports from Uganda reaching $204 million in 2018.
An international airport in Kasese, paired with a potential railway to Butembo, would deeply integrate Uganda’s economy with eastern DRC. Additional infrastructure like harbors at Katwe in Uganda and Kyavinyonge in DRC on Lake Edward would solidify this strategic foothold, promising returns within a decade according to a Congolese lawmaker.
In contrast, President Museveni’s support for a Mbarara international airport, pitched as a link in global air routes funded by private investors, raises skepticism. Past experiences with such promises in Uganda breed caution, and the project may prioritize ambitious global dreams over practical regional needs.
Kasese, already prioritized before Hoima’s airport with secured land, aligns with massive Uganda-DRC trade volumes. Mbarara’s global ambitions could instead draw risks like drug trafficking, while Uganda lacks promotion for broader international air traffic beyond oil-related flights.
Focusing on Kasese reflects true national strategy over Mbarara’s less grounded vision.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)