{"id":1729,"date":"2023-04-08T08:41:15","date_gmt":"2023-04-08T08:41:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kabalegafoundation.org\/new\/?p=1729"},"modified":"2025-07-31T05:55:37","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T05:55:37","slug":"kabalega-foundation-welcomes-the-renaming-kabaale-international-airport-to-kabalega-international-airport-on-the-centenary-mark-of-omukama-cwa-ii-kabalegas-legacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kabalegafoundation.org\/?p=1729","title":{"rendered":"Kabalega Foundation Welcomes the Renaming Kabaale International Airport to Kabalega International Airport on the Centenary Mark of Omukama Cwa II Kabalega’s Legacy."},"content":{"rendered":"

The Government of Uganda has on the 04th of April, 2023 announced that Kabaale International Airport under construction in Hoima is to be renamed\u00a0Kabalega\u00a0International Airport, Hoima<\/p>\n

This is in memory of the revered king of\u00a0Bunyoro-Kitara\u00a0and our progenitor ,\u00a0Omukama Cwa II Kabalega<\/p>\n

The development, welcomed by Kabalega Foundation as timely, upon the centenary mark of 100 Years of Omukama Cwa II Kabalega of announced by the State Minister for Public Service, Mrs. Grace Mary Mugasa.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to thank President Museveni for choosing to rename the airport in Hoima to Kabalega International Airport, Hoima. This comes at a time when we are celebrating 100 years of\u00a0Omukama Kabalega,\u201d Mugasa tweeted.<\/p>\n

The \u201cOil and Gas based industrial park in Hoima district will also be named after the Great Omukama\u00a0 Kabalega. Thank you, President Museveni for this great choice.\u00a0 Bunyoro stands firm with history.\u201d<\/p>\n

The renaming of the airport comes as we celebrate 100 years since the death of\u00a0Omukama Kabalega\u00a0in 1923, having led\u00a0Bunyoro-Kitara kingdom\u00a0between 1870 and 1899, exiled for 24 years and died on his way back to his Kingdom in 1923.<\/p>\n

Upon learning of the development,\u00a0Kabalega\u00a0Foundation Executive Director\u00a0 Dr. James Isagara Kisoro had this to say; \u201cWe are very delighted by the decision by the government of Uganda\u00a0to rename Kabale International Airport in Hoima to\u00a0<\/span>Kabalega<\/span>\u00a0International Airport \u2013 Hoima. This is timely, as we celebrate\u00a0<\/span>#100YearsofKabalega<\/span>\u2018s legacy this year.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

“<\/span>The <\/span>renaming <\/span>of <\/span>Kabaale <\/span>International <\/span>Airport <\/span>to <\/span>Kabalega <\/span>International <\/span>Airport <\/span>is <\/span>a <\/span>monumental <\/span>development <\/span>that <\/span>resonates <\/span>deeply <\/span>with <\/span>the <\/span>people <\/span>of <\/span>Bunyoro <\/span>and <\/span>Uganda <\/span>as <\/span>a <\/span>whole. <\/span>As <\/span>we <\/span>commemorate <\/span>the <\/span>centenary <\/span>of <\/span>Omukama <\/span>Cwa <\/span>II <\/span>Kabalega\u2019s <\/span>legacy, <\/span>this <\/span>gesture <\/span>not <\/span>only <\/span>honors <\/span>his <\/span>courage <\/span>and <\/span>leadership <\/span>but <\/span>also <\/span>reinforces <\/span>the <\/span>importance <\/span>of <\/span>preserving <\/span>and <\/span>celebrating <\/span>our <\/span>cultural <\/span>heritage. <\/span>Omukama <\/span>Kabalega\u2019s <\/span>unwavering <\/span>resistance <\/span>against <\/span>colonialism <\/span>shaped <\/span>the <\/span>history <\/span>of <\/span>our <\/span>nation, <\/span>and <\/span>this <\/span>renaming <\/span>is <\/span>a <\/span>testament <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>enduring <\/span>spirit <\/span>of <\/span>his <\/span>leadership. <\/span>At <\/span>Kabalega <\/span>Foundation, <\/span>we <\/span>welcome <\/span>this <\/span>change <\/span>as <\/span>a <\/span>recognition <\/span>of <\/span>our <\/span>rich <\/span>history <\/span>and <\/span>a <\/span>step <\/span>towards <\/span>greater <\/span>national <\/span>pride. <\/span>It <\/span>is <\/span>a <\/span>proud <\/span>moment <\/span>for <\/span>all <\/span>Ugandans, <\/span>especially <\/span>those <\/span>from <\/span>the <\/span>Bunyoro <\/span>region, <\/span>as <\/span>we <\/span>continue <\/span>to <\/span>build <\/span>a <\/span>future <\/span>grounded <\/span>in <\/span>respect <\/span>for <\/span>our <\/span>heritage <\/span>and <\/span>unity <\/span>as <\/span>a <\/span>nation.”<\/span> \u2013 <\/span>Dr. <\/span>James <\/span>Isagara <\/span>Kisoro, <\/span>Executive <\/span>Chairman, <\/span>Kabalega <\/span>Foundation.<\/span><\/p>\n

“<\/span>The <\/span>renaming <\/span>of <\/span>Kabaale <\/span>International <\/span>Airport <\/span>to <\/span>Kabalega <\/span>International <\/span>Airport <\/span>marks <\/span>a <\/span>new <\/span>chapter <\/span>of <\/span>growth <\/span>and <\/span>development <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>Bunyoro <\/span>region <\/span>and <\/span>Uganda <\/span>as <\/span>a <\/span>whole. <\/span>As <\/span>the <\/span>second-<\/span>largest <\/span>international <\/span>airport <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>country, <\/span>this <\/span>facility <\/span>is <\/span>poised <\/span>to <\/span>significantly <\/span>boost <\/span>the <\/span>local <\/span>economy <\/span>by <\/span>creating <\/span>jobs, <\/span>fostering <\/span>business <\/span>opportunities, <\/span>and <\/span>enhancing <\/span>regional <\/span>connectivity. <\/span>For <\/span>the <\/span>oil <\/span>and <\/span>gas <\/span>sector, <\/span>which <\/span>is <\/span>rapidly <\/span>growing <\/span>in <\/span>Bunyoro, <\/span>the <\/span>airport <\/span>will <\/span>serve <\/span>as <\/span>a <\/span>critical <\/span>hub, <\/span>improving <\/span>access <\/span>to <\/span>key <\/span>industry <\/span>players <\/span>and <\/span>facilitating <\/span>the <\/span>movement <\/span>of <\/span>professionals <\/span>and <\/span>supplies <\/span>to <\/span>and <\/span>from <\/span>the <\/span>region. <\/span>Beyond <\/span>the <\/span>oil <\/span>and <\/span>gas <\/span>industry, <\/span>the <\/span>airport\u2019s <\/span>expansion <\/span>will <\/span>serve <\/span>as <\/span>a <\/span>catalyst <\/span>for <\/span>tourism, <\/span>trade, <\/span>and <\/span>infrastructure <\/span>development, <\/span>positioning <\/span>Uganda <\/span>as <\/span>a <\/span>more <\/span>attractive <\/span>destination <\/span>for <\/span>international <\/span>investors <\/span>and <\/span>tourists <\/span>alike. <\/span>The <\/span>benefits <\/span>of <\/span>this <\/span>development <\/span>will <\/span>ripple <\/span>throughout <\/span>the <\/span>country, <\/span>contributing <\/span>to <\/span>greater <\/span>economic <\/span>diversification, <\/span>job <\/span>creation, <\/span>and <\/span>national <\/span>growth.” Dr. James Isagara continued to say.<\/span><\/p>\n

Omukama Kabalega\u00a0was the first leader in Uganda to command his people to oppose and fight European colonialism.<\/p>\n

In 1872 in Masindi,\u00a0Omukama Kabalega\u2019s army defeated Sir Samuel Baker\u2019s troops that had crossed into his territory from Sudan forcing them to flee north to retreat to Acholi and camp at Fort Patiko.<\/p>\n

Kabalega\u00a0was captured by the British in 1899 and forced into exile when put on a steamboat, taken to Port Kisumu, Kenya from where he was taken to Mont Plaisir, Marjorie prison and later to Seychelles Islands in the Indian Ocean .<\/p>\n

About the airport<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kabaale International Airport in Hoima (now and onward\u00a0Kabalega\u00a0International Airport \u2013 Hoima) is currently under construction by \u00a0Israeli-British firms, Shikun and\u00a0 Binui International (SBI\/Colas Limited) and the construction works that \u00a0started in 2018 are expected to be completed by the end of 2023.<\/p>\n

The airport will have a 3500 metre long and 45 metre wide \u00a0runway , a passenger terminal and associated facilities to support operations of\u00a0 cargo and passenger aircraft.<\/p>\n

Original story publisher credits to Nile Post<\/em><\/p>\n

The Airport is crucial to the development of a sustainable oil industry in Uganda. Take a fly-through tour of the site the video below showcasing the progress on construction works as of November 2022.<\/span>\u00a0(Credits to\u00a0Sharon karakire)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n