President Museveni addresses the Sharjah investors and Uganda government officials at the signing event. PPU PHOTO

The Government of Uganda has reached an agreement with the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a UAE group of investors, to construct Kidepo International Airport and the establishment of high-end tourist hotels in the Kidepo National Park in Karamoja.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who witnessed the event, expressed happiness that Uganda and the Gulf countries have strengthened relations, adding that there is a lot of potential for investment between Uganda and the Gulf countries, which should be explored.

A statement from State House indicated that the MOU was signed by government officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport, Civil Aviation Authority, Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities and Uganda Wildlife Authority on behalf of the Government, and top officials of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

• Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, the Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told the President that the construction of the airport would commence not later than August this year.

Abdalla Hassan Alshamsi, the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Uganda, also attended the event.

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) is a prominent business organization in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), specifically based in the emirate of Sharjah, and plays an active role in promoting international investments and fostering economic partnerships beyond the UAE.

• Located in the remote Karamoja region, Kidepo Valley National Park boasts a diverse array of wildlife, including several species not found in other Ugandan parks, such as the cheetah, aardwolf, and kudu. It is home to over 77 mammal species and around 475 bird species.

President Museveni autographs an artistic impression of the airport to be constructed in Kidepo National Park.

Compared to other national parks in Uganda, Kidepo has over the years been receiving very few visitors due to its remote location, but that is bound to change with the coming of an international airport and hotel facilities, which would open it up to tourists to explore its cultural richness, stunning landscapes, wildlife diversity, as well as opportunities for authentic and adventurous travel experiences.

The region is also well-endowed with a diversity of minerals including gold, limestone, marble, as well as gypsum and vermiculite, among others.

The coming of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry is yet another indicator of how Uganda is continuing to attract investment from the UAE, with several companies setting up a diverse range of investments in various sectors.

These include; DP World, Al Ghurair Group, Emirates Airlines, Emaar Properties, and Dubai Islamic Bank, among others.

• Recently, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Jumah Al Maktoum, a prominent member of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) royal family and head of the Alpha MBM Investments, was in Uganda to prospect for deal to construct a $4 billion oil refinery in the oil region and the setting up of a multi-million-dollar cargo freight business, among other investments.

• An international airport in Karamoja has the potential to open up travel to the remote regions in neighbouring countries such as South Sudan and the Turkana region of Kenya.