Uganda Signs UGX 232 Billion Deal with Egypt’s SAMCO to Build Kabalega Airport Passenger Terminal Ahead of AFCON 2027

KAMPALA, Uganda — The Government of Uganda has officially signed a UGX 232 billion contract with Egypt’s SAMCO National Construction Company Ltd. to construct the new passenger terminal at Kabalega International Airport in Hoima District.

The agreement was signed at the Ministry of Works and Transport headquarters in Kampala. The project comes with a tight eight-month completion timeline as Uganda ramps up critical infrastructure ahead of co-hosting the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027 alongside Kenya and Tanzania.

Boosting Capacity and Speed:

The new passenger terminal forms the second phase of development for Kabalega International Airport. Once finished, the facility is designed to handle up to 1,000 passengers at peak capacity—a massive leap from the roughly 100 passengers accommodated by initial temporary facilities.

The first phase of the airport, which cost roughly Shs 1.2 trillion, focused primarily on supporting the Albertine region's oil and gas sector through a 3.5-kilometer runway, taxiways, an apron, and cargo infrastructure. The airport recently received its first test passenger flight on September 27, 2026.

Government and Diplomatic Reactions:

During the signing ceremony, Minister of State for Transport Hon. Fred Byamukama challenged SAMCO to strictly adhere to the eight-month schedule, maintain high construction standards, and steer clear of corruption. He reaffirmed the government's full commitment to meeting its financial and operational obligations [0.4].

Byamukama also noted that the UGX 232 billion price tag reflects a significant cost-saving compared to earlier bids that hovered around UGX 285 billion.

Egyptian Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Sherif Mohamed Abdellattif Elgammal, praised Kampala for running a transparent, merit-based procurement process. He expressed full confidence in SAMCO’s technical capacity, noting that the firm brings deep experience from major infrastructure projects in Egypt.

SAMCO Vice Chairman Eng. Ibrahim Mabrouk stated that the company is fully mobilized to start work immediately and aims to deliver the terminal on—or even ahead of—schedule. The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has pledged continuous technical oversight to ensure the terminal meets global aviation and security standards.