Dr. Gasore made the remarks on Thursday, 9 October 2025, following a meeting with senators from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Security, where strategies to reduce road accidents were also discussed.
“The construction is progressing well. Our target is to complete the airport by 2027 and have it operational by mid-2028,” Dr. Gasore said.
He added that once operational, the new airport will serve all major domestic and international flights, while Kanombe airport will be repurposed for other uses.
“Large passenger and cargo aircraft will no longer use the Kanombe facility. We will explore alternative ways to utilise it productively,” he said.
{{Road network to support Bugesera airport to start in 2026}}
Dr. Gasore also highlighted plans to build roads connecting the new airport to Kigali and other parts of the country, noting that at least three main routes are envisaged.
“These include a road linking Masaka to the airport, another connecting the southern part of Bugesera, and a major route from the Kicukiro bridge to the airport,” he said. While feasibility studies are complete, the minister did not disclose the construction budget, though he confirmed works are expected to begin in early 2026.
The new airport being constructed in a partnership with Qatar Airways, is designed to handle seven million passengers per year, with plans for a second phase to expand this to 14 million passengers annually by 2032.
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