UGANDA: GULU AIRPORT UPCON 2027 HANG ON BALANCE ACHOLI PARLIAMENTARIANS DECLARED TO THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND SPORTS.

“Gulu Airport has a single asphalt runway measuring approximately 3.144 kilometres (3.14 km long, 45 meters wide). Entebbe International Airport has the longest main runway in Uganda, measuring 3,658 meters (3.65 km). Rehabilitation stalled although the Uganda Parliament passed the budget for its rehabilitation; the Ministry of Works remains tongue-tied on the construction of UPCON 2027.

The road distance between Corner Aboke and Bobi (via the Corner Ayer–Corner Aboke–Iceme–Bobi road corridor) is approximately 55 kilometres.

If you are planning to travel this route soon, please note that sections of the highway and its connecting bridges have faced severe damage due to heavy rains, occasionally disrupting vehicle transit across the region and remaining a nightmare as the government failed to tarmac.

GULU CITY-MONDAY SEPTEMBER 29, 2026

By Okumu Livingstone Langol (Uganda Correspondent)

The Emeritus Acholi Paramount Chief Rwot David Onen Acana II questioned the leadership gaps in Acholi Sub Region, asking why the government is removing all tangible Gulu Airport construction to neighbouring Sub Region, as the construction of Gulu Airport and the rehabilitation work has never taken off.

“I was told that UPCON 2027, Gulu Airport construction was about to start, because Gulu Airport distance to Lira City where UPCON 2027 will take place is only 80 kilometres. But the government failed to release the money for the Airport construction; where are the Acholi leaders?”

Hampson Obwa, Minister of State for Education and Sport, on his tour to inspect the process of Road construction of Conner Aboke and Bobi via the Conner Ayer-Conner Aboke-Conner Iceme-Conner Bobi Road corridor. I want to ask the leaders to seek authority from President Museveni when they undertake the construction of Akii-Bwua, the same construction work on the road I mentioned above.

The same construction on Gulu Airport should have been taking place. What I will do is engage with the construction of Gulu Airport and appeal to the Minister of Works, Gen. Katumba Wamala. We do away with the politics, and we work on the stalled Conner Aboke, Conner Bobi Road.

“I am here as the Minister of Government. Under the Minister of Education and Sport, the government is going to work on, under the Minister, the government is going to renovate Gulu Airport.”

Hampson Obwa reiterates the president Museveni says Gulu Airport will not help; only a sports feasibility study was done, where we have reached the fiancé ministry told has said there is no money. “If President Museveni ordered the construction of Gulu Airport, who is the Ministry of Finance? Who are you to say there is no money, Hampson Obwa warned?

He insisted that the Ministry of Education and Sport have handed UGX 1 billion each to people of Hoima and Masindi to construct the hotels, but for the people of Lango and Acholi we have earmarked UGX 42 billion for the construction of hotel facilities.

Hon. Anthony Akol, the MP for Kilak South, dismissed the information given by Hampson Obua, the state minister for Education and Sport, telling the Acholi Leadership and the Acholi Parliamentary Groups meeting at Acholi Inn those are empty talk.

“We have a meeting with you, the Minister, and you told us the Gulu Airport is done and the road, which is the signature to the Bank.” Don’t play with fire, Hon Anthony Akol warned.

Hon Catherine Lamwaka, the MP for Omoro and the Chairman of APGs, demanded from Hon Hampson Obua that we need to have a meeting with the Minister of Works, the Minister of Fiancé and President Museveni. We are holding a very serious meeting with the Acholi Leaders’ Forum and all the APGs, and the Ministers from the Acholi Sub Region so that we can meet the President.

“Tell the Minister of Works, we in Acholi will not be happy if Gulu Airport is not constructed.” Hon. Catherine Lamwaka, Chairman of APGs, warned.

Rev. Ocheng Ochen, the Omoro District Education Officer and economist, challenged the Acholi Parliamentary Groups meeting, including the Acholi Leaders present, asking them why they are silent on Gulu Airport.

Why can the Acholi community have one voice to speak for Gulu Airport to become an international Airport, and also an Airport in Arua City, if I can move from here, meaning Gulu Airport to Arua Airport and Entebbe International Airport? What is wrong?

“Acholi politicians and our leaders, we should not be cowed and fall on our tail.” Rev. Ocheng Ochen warned.

Atiko Walter, a senior Economist challenges the status quo in Acholi Sub Region, arguing that although the region has been marginalised, we do not have any industries, stadium, National Hospital, national theatres, and International Airport, because the world has not been fair to Northern Uganda.

For example, in 1945 during World War II. There were five Countries that fought against the rest of the world: Japan, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. When the Atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan was no more.

They went underground, and later they developed. “For Acholi, let the marinization talk for us; in Acholi land, people go for a pork and bear party. What do we talk about today, women and gossiping?

If you are with anyone, you should be talking about buying a piece of land, building houses; our people should have one voice for development. We should not even think about the government; we have capital and manpower for development. We can raise money to construct Gulu International Airport,” Atiko Walter reasoned.

Hon Norbert Mao, the guest of honour, during the closing ceremony on Sunday, September 22, only mooted words that, for any development in Acholi Sub Region, whoever is interested in it, he is the door to President Museveni. Without mentioning Gulu Airport, it stalled construction.

“I am the leader, I come to lead you; if you want anything, knock at my door, the door will be open.” Proud Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao boastfully echoed.

Richard Todwong, National Resistance Movement Secretary General, who happened to be the chief Guest of Honour on Sunday, September 27, never mentioned the stalled construction of Gulu Airport; he was silent too.

Richard Todwong, the SG NRM, pleaded with His Grace, the current Anglican Archbishop of Uganda is The Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu: Your Grace, I pick three things from your addresses to the congregation of the Northern Uganda Anglican Church of Uganda.

The first issue: we should not reside in the past; secondly, you are greater than the past; and thirdly, what you should realise from the past.

NRM SG, Richard Todwong, argued, when the archbishop told us that, I realised from my heart that poverty is a problem. I am NRM SG, the minister and everything. Your title must be heard; the church wants you to be alive.

“Who are you? If the church and the government talk the same words, you will be okay. The archbishop has been supporting the government in health issues, road work construction on government programmes; God wants us to work”, Hon Richard Todwong warned.

Social-political analysts argued that the Acholi Sub Region has the legacy of being in the driving seats and acting as sycophants for all the governments that come and go. A case in point: during Uganda’s military dictator Idi Amin era in the 1970s, there were high-ranking Uganda Army officers, the likes of Col Yusuf Adek used to batter his fellow Luo, Acholi and Langi in the Uganda Army.

And they remained a laughing stock, and in the aftermath of the Obote II Uganda People’s Congress Party government, there were so many sons and daughters from Northern Uganda who have been both in high-ranking military positions and ministers in President Yoweri Museveni’s government. But they remain a perpet (Rwot Ineka ki nyero) homegrown Negri.

In the last Presidential January 15 election, the Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Hon. Norbert Mao, NRM SG, Richard Todwong and Gen. Charles Otema Awany led the people of Acholi Sub Region to vote for the NRM ruling party with the hope that one of them would become Speaker of Parliament and the Prime Minister of the 12^th Uganda Parliament.

However, the community of Lango Sub Region told President Museveni, without Akii-Bua International Stadium, no votes, and thus, the Lango community got Lion share, also the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom and Tooro Luo Babiito Kingdom got their share; both got Airport and International Stadium.

Hampson Obua, on the sideline press conference with Northern Uganda Media Club, disclosed on off record, that it is likely that by July 2027, UPCON, Gulu Airport reconstruction would not be done, but since Gulu Airport is the second largest airport followed by Entebbe International Airport, it run way is okay.

The government will make sure that they have put reception that would be able to the flight will be able to land.

Hampson further argued that currently Peace Stadium is being constructed with 2,000 seats, but the plan is to add 5,000 more seats and addition 3,000 seats.