Hoima International Airport (under construction)

Not Applicable. The airport is not operational because construction and commissioning are still in progress. It is not closed due to economic, military, or other reasons.

The site is an active construction zone. Phase one, which includes the 3.5-kilometer runway, taxiways, apron, and cargo-handling facilities, is largely complete. Construction of the control tower, passenger terminal, and other ancillary buildings is ongoing. While test and calibration flights have occurred, the airport is not yet certified or open for regular commercial cargo or passenger traffic.

The airport has no operational history as it is a new development. Its significance is entirely forward-looking. It is being built as a critical piece of infrastructure to support Uganda's emerging oil and gas industry in the Albertine Graben. Its primary initial purpose is to facilitate the import of heavy and sensitive equipment required for oil field development and the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). It is set to become Uganda's second international airport after Entebbe International Airport (EBB/HUEN), with long-term goals of boosting tourism, agriculture, and business in western Uganda. The first aircraft, a calibration flight, successfully landed on the newly completed runway in October 2023, marking a major construction milestone.

The correct term is 'opening prospects'. The airport is expected to open in phases. Initial operations, focusing on cargo flights for the oil industry, are anticipated to begin in 2024-2025. A specific date for the commencement of full commercial passenger services has not been finalized and is dependent on the completion of all construction phases and regulatory approvals from the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA). The project has faced several delays, so timelines are subject to change.