By Juma Nsubuga
President Museveni has flagged-off works for the upgrade of the runway, taxiway, and apron at Jinja Aerodrome.
UCAA Contracted M/s GOFA Investments Ltd and MG Engineers (Joint Venture) to undertake the project.
The upgrade is part of the implementation of the Civil Aviation Master plan aimed at modernizing regional aerodromes to promote tourism and trade.
On completion, the tarmacked runway will be 30 meters wide by 1,710 meters long, with a runway strip and Runway End Safety Area (RESA) of 100 meters on both sides.
The upgrade will also deliver a tarmacked parallel taxiway of 19 meters by 1,050 meters long and a bigger tarmacked apron of 7,000 square meters, which is planned to accommodate six aircrafts of LET 410 size.
The aerodrome currently has a gravel runway of 1,680 meters and a small aircraft parking apron.
Besides tourism and trade, the aerodrome houses state-of-the-art Uganda Police Air Wing hangar for aircraft maintenance and Vine Air Flight Academy for training pilots and other aviation personnel.
Addressing the gathering, the First Deputy Prime Minister also Minister for East African Community Affairs Rebecca Kadaga informed the President that the Ministry of Works and Transport together with UCAA are requesting to be allocated part of the land that belongs to UPDF on the eastern side of the Aerodrome (approximately 10 hectares) and National Forestry Authority in approach to enable future upgrade of the airport to a longer runway and other facilities.
Meanwhile, Museveni noted that it was logical to develop Jinja into an international airport with a runway of at least 3.6 kilometres.
“If the nearby land is Government land, it is easy. We are going to move on this one,” Museveni said.
The function was also attended by the Minister of State for Works and Transport (Transport), Fred Byamukama, among other officials.
