Uganda's Ministry of Works and Transport has signed a Shs 232 billion contract with Egyptian firm SAMCO National Construction Company Ltd, the Daily Monitor reported on October 31. The firm will build the passenger terminal at Kabalega International Airport in Hoima District. The paper called the deal a major step in expanding Uganda's aviation capacity before the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Minister of State for Transport Fred Byamukama signed for Uganda at the ministry's headquarters in Kampala. Egypt's Ambassador to Uganda, Sherif Mohamed Abdellattif Elgammal, signed for the contractor. The project must be finished within eight months. According to the Daily Monitor, the terminal will serve international visitors, sports delegations and officials. It will also take the airport beyond its main role of handling oil and gas cargo.
At the ceremony, Byamukama urged the contractor to keep standards high. He said it must meet its obligations without delays or financial impropriety. He added that the project's success would carry significant weight for the firm's reputation. He also warned against corruption and red tape. He promised that the government would meet its financial and operational obligations on time so work could start immediately.
The Egyptian ambassador praised what he called a transparent, merit-based procurement process. He said SAMCO has wide experience from major national infrastructure projects in Egypt. He added that the contract would strengthen ties between the two countries.
Kabalega airport was first planned under the Ministry of Energy. Its purpose was to bring in heavy machinery and equipment for oil exploration in the Albertine region. The main runway and cargo logistics facilities have been completed. Growing economic demand and national priorities later led the government to refocus the airport on commercial passenger traffic. It now falls under the Ministry of Works and Transport and the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA).
UCAA and technical consultants designed the new terminal to meet civil aviation security and operational standards. The Daily Monitor said coordination between UCAA, the ministry and the contractor will be critical to meeting the eight-month deadline.
Other co-hosts are also racing against the clock. In Tanzania, the Daily News reported that Zanzibar's Fumba Stadium is 87 per cent complete. The government there aims to have the venue ready by December 31, 2026.