Overview:
The Nyakyisharara project, spearheaded locally by Base Seven Company, also known as Base 7 Aviation International Academy, aims to serve as a stopover and refuelling hub for aircraft operating on the increasingly busy South America–China routes.
President Yoweri Museveni surprised Ugandans this month after a letter “leaked” in which he directed the Prime Minister and relevant government agencies to support the establishment of a USD 1.5 billion international airport in Mbarara Uganda host to one of the longest civilian runways in the world, alongside Qamdo Bamda AirportFor context, Entebbe International Airport has a main runway measuring 3.658 kilometres, while Kabaale (Kabaleega) International Airport currently operates with a single 3.5-kilometre runway.
The Nyakyisharara project, spearheaded locally by Base Seven Company, also known as Base 7 Aviation International Academy, aims to serve as a stopover and refuelling hub for aircraft operating on the increasingly busy South America–China routes. President Museveni supports the project, arguing it could reduce flight times from up to 42 hours over the Atlantic, Europe, and Asia, to just 20 hours across Africa via Mbarara.
According to Museveni’s letter, developers must first relocate the Mbarara–Ibanda public road east of Nyakyisharara at their own cost, among other obligations, before construction can commence. While some critics have dismissed the proposal as overly ambitious or risky, the initiative is designed as a private-sector-led Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) project, where private partners finance, construct, and operate the airport for an agreed period before transferring ownership to the government.
At a meeting with President Museveni in Entebbe in September 2025, Base 7 representatives presented three joint-venture partners. Hunan Construction Investment Engineering Company (HCIG) of China, a large state-owned enterprise with an annual turnover of nearly USD 30 billion, would handle construction. HCIG has completed major international projects, including the Aizhai Extra Large Suspension Bridge, Changsha Huanghua International Airport, and the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge, as well as the Presidential Palace in Burundi.
China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute (CSADI) is expected to handle feasibility studies, design, and planning. CSADI’s notable projects include the Beijing Olympic Stadium (Bird’s Nest), the Shanghai World Expo Theme Pavilion, and the renovation of the Uganda National Museum. Blackrock Uwekeza Ltd of the UK was presented as the financier. However, UK Companies House records show the company has filed dormant accounts since its incorporation on May 24, 2022, with no trading activity or evidence of prior investment.
Despite this, its representative, Bethuel Macharia, pledged full financing for the airport project. Base 7 International Aviation Academy operates in Uganda and South Africa in aviation-related activities such as training, ground handling, terminal services, aircraft maintenance, and airport management. Incorporated in March 2020, the company was deregistered for noncompliance before being restored in 2024 under registration number 202480020001811835.
If implemented, the project would rely primarily on the financial and operational strength of its Chinese partners, with revenue recovery expected through operational fees under the BOT model. The Nyakyisharara International Airport has drawn mixed reactions due to its scale, cost, and the profile of its proponents, leaving many Ugandans questioning the feasibility and long-term viability of the project.
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