Infrasctructure & Finance Trails: Week 24, 2026

The Government of TANZANIA has completed upgrades to aircraft maintenance infrastructure at Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) through Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL), aimed at strengthening domestic aviation capability and reducing dependence on foreign maintenance services. The 2bn/- project expands the maintenance hangar to service up to five aircraft simultaneously and includes upgraded lighting, engineering workspaces, and modern training equipment for maintenance engineers. The facility is expected to support maintenance for ATCL’s fleet of 16 aircraft and other operators, while also reducing foreign exchange outflows and creating local jobs. Complementary investments include the renovation of 38 staff houses to improve employee welfare, with overall works reported at about 77% completion. The initiative forms part of TANZANIA’S broader strategy to modernise its aviation sector, enhance operational efficiency, and build local technical capacity.

UGANDA’S Kabalega (Hoima) International Airport is nearing completion, with Phase I now about 98% finished and expected to be handed over by the end of July 2026, marking a key milestone in the country’s aviation infrastructure expansion. Authorities have also accelerated Phase II works, particularly the passenger terminal, ahead of UGANDA’S preparations to host AFCON 2027, with completion targeted for March 2027. The airport project, initially launched in 2019 but delayed by COVID-19, forms part of a wider national programme to upgrade six regional airports including Kidepo, Arua, Gulu, Kasese, Kisoro, and Pakuba, some of which are already near completion. Alongside Entebbe International Airport’s ongoing expansion and rising passenger and cargo traffic, UGANDA’S aviation sector continues to show growth, supported by 64 air service agreements and 20 international airlines operating scheduled services into the country.

KENYA has appointed the Trade and Development Bank (TDB) and the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) to structure financing for a $1.2 billion expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, aimed at significantly increasing annual passenger capacity from 7.5 million to 22 million. The project, expected to take about three years, will be funded through airport revenue streams while mobilising development finance institutions and commercial banks. It includes upgrading existing infrastructure such as runways and aprons, alongside construction of a new passenger terminal. The expansion follows the cancellation of a previous agreement with INDIA’S Adani Group and is part of KENYA’S broader strategy to strengthen Nairobi’s position as a regional aviation hub amid competing investments in ETHIOPIA and RWANDA.

The Federal Government of NIGERIA has announced plans to extend the Lagos rail network to both the domestic and international terminals of Murtala Muhammed Airport as part of a broader strategy to position Lagos as a leading aviation hub in AFRICA. The proposed rail extension, currently being developed in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, will connect Ikeja Bus Stop through the General Aviation Terminal and MMA2 to the international terminal, significantly improving airport accessibility and passenger movement. The initiative forms part of wider aviation reforms and infrastructure upgrades aimed at handling growing passenger demand, with Lagos already accounting for about 67% of NIGERIA’S air traffic. The minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development also highlighted ongoing investments, including a $500 million redevelopment of the old international terminal and expanded airport infrastructure across the country, while emphasizing Lagos’ strategic geographic advantage as a central global aviation gateway linking AFRICA with EUROPE, the MIDDLE EAST, ASIA, and the AMERICAS.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved approximately $170 million to support Phase I of UGANDA’S Airports Development Programme, aimed at upgrading Arua Airport into an international-standard facility to enhance regional connectivity and economic integration. The project, located in UGANDA’S West Nile region near the borders with SOUTH SUDAN and the DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, includes construction of a 3.5-kilometre runway capable of handling large aircraft such as Boeing 777s, alongside new taxiways, aprons, safety systems, a passenger terminal designed for 700,000 annual travellers, and a cargo facility with a 25,000-tonne capacity. Additional infrastructure will include a control tower and improved access and parking facilities. Officials from AfDB and the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority emphasised that the upgrade will strengthen UGANDA’S position as a regional trade and logistics hub while boosting economic activity and providing an alternative to Entebbe International Airport during emergencies.