Is Museveni’s $1.5bn ‘mega airport’ project a real deal?

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni.

Photo credit: Reuters

In December 2025, China Eastern Airlines launched the world’s longest direct flight, from Shanghai to Buenos Aires, Argentina, via Auckland, New Zealand.

Around the same time, Ugandan leader President Yoweri Museveni was in his home town of Mbarara, on the campaign trail, announcing a trailblazing mega project that would lift Uganda into the air travel business.