When Uganda was preparing for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2007, the new facility constructed at the old Airport was converted into a VVIP terminal. This facility has continued to serve the VVIPs.
Works for the new Cargo Centre commenced in May 2016 and are being undertaken by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). The contractor is also working on the airside, landside access roads and works for expansion of the Aircraft Parking Apron.
Cargo volumes have grown from 6,600 metric tons recorded in 1991 to 69,000 tons at the turn of 2017. Projections put the tonnage at 172,000 by 2033.
The new 100,000 tones capacity Cargo Centre will be a self-contained facility with a Parking Apron, landside and airside access roads, cooling facilities, a Freight Forwarders Parlor and ancillary business outlets. It is part of the US Dollars 200 million loan to Uganda by China through the Exim Bank of China. Part of the loan will be used to re-surface the Runways, Taxiways and strengthen and expand the Aircraft Parking Aprons. The supervising Consultant for the projects is Dar Al – Handasah Shair & Partners.
The new Cargo Centre will be completed by the end of 2018. As soon as it is complete, the old Cargo facility will be razed down and in its place a new Passenger Terminal building erected to connect to the current terminal building. Works for the new terminal building will be undertaken from 2019 to 2021.
