Business 23 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Mbarara Airport Dream Faces Economic Hurdles and Regional Competition
Plans for Uganda's ambitious Nyakisharara International Airport in Mbarara City, envisioned by President Museveni as a global transit hub, are encountering significant viability questions amidst regional aviation rivalries and a lack of detailed planning. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/mbarara-airport-dream-runs-into-viability-headwinds-5505876
President Museveni’s directive to establish what he claims will be one of the world’s largest airports in Mbarara City, the Nyakisharara International Airport, has been met with skepticism from aviation experts. The project, spearheaded by a Ugandan-Chinese consortium, aims to serve as a transit, logistical, and refueling hub between China and Brazil, with proponents arguing it could triple Uganda’s economy.
However, the project’s viability is being questioned due to the absence of a feasibility study. Details regarding cost, projected passenger and cargo volumes, and its inclusion in national development plans remain undisclosed. Aviation consultant Sean Mendis points out that Uganda’s history of struggling to sustain a national airline, coupled with the current push for multiple international airports like Kabalega and Kidepo, without clear demand, raises concerns.
Experts like Mendis suggest focusing on developing regional and domestic aviation markets, and possibly an airport closer to Kampala, rather than undertaking such a large-scale project in Mbarara. The proposed site’s high altitude (4,600 feet above sea level) could also impose payload restrictions on aircraft, undermining the strategic advantage of its location.
Furthermore, the proposed route connection between Brazil and China via Mbarara is being challenged as a detour rather than a shortcut, with analyses suggesting that existing routes through Europe or the Middle East are more time-efficient and economical. Regional competition is also a factor, with countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, and Rwanda investing heavily in expanding their aviation infrastructure, potentially overshadowing Uganda’s new ventures.
Despite these doubts, local leaders and residents in Mbarara have welcomed the airport plans, seeing it as a catalyst for trade and investment. However, concerns about speculative land pricing and the need for community involvement in the planning process have been raised. While proponents foresee an aerotropolis spurred by the airport, analysts caution against infrastructure projects built on unrealistic business projections and highlight the inherent risks in Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) arrangements without commercial justification.