Ministry of Defence Seeks 57 Billion Shillings for Nakasongola Air Force Base Overhaul

The Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs is requesting a budget allocation of 57 billion Shillings to undertake a comprehensive revamp of the Nakasongola Air Force Base.

Situated in Wabisi village, Nakasongola District, the base serves as a significant alternative to Entebbe International Airport in case of emergencies.

This proposal is outlined in the Ministry’s Budget Framework Paper for the Financial Year 2024/2025, currently undergoing scrutiny by the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs, chaired by Nyabushozi County MP, Wilson Kajwenjye.

Vincent Ssempijja, the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, defended the budgetary request, highlighting the strategic importance of Nakasongola Air Force Base.

Ssempijja expressed concern that the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development has not allocated any funds for this crucial project. He noted a budgetary shortfall of 5.2 trillion Shillings, with only 3.8 trillion allocated in the Budget Framework Paper.

The Nakasongola Air Force Base, constructed by the Israelites in the 1970s, boasts a 3.6km runway and serves as one of Uganda’s five national medium-sized military airports.

In 2014, the government invested US$11 million (approximately 28 billion Shillings) for renovations to facilitate the relocation of the UPDF Air Force headquarters and alleviate congestion at Entebbe Air Force Base.

However, challenges persisted, with the construction of a radar system facing delays due to a land-use dispute in 2016.

As of 2019, the relocation had not been realized.