Uganda Orders Encroachers Off Koboko Airfield Ahead of Upgrade
Uganda · EXPAT
Key Facts
- —What happened Uganda’s Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama ordered residents occupying the defunct Arumaji/Koboko airfield in Koboko District to leave so the government can reclaim and expand the land.
- —The catch The minister said there will be no compensation for current encroachers because the site is government land.
- —Why it matters The airfield sits in West Nile, a border region near the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan where air and road links carry trade, state presence and security value.
- —What comes next Surveyors will open boundaries on the land, and the upgrade forms part of a wider government push to improve aerodromes and airports across Uganda.
The Koboko airfield upgrade has triggered a government eviction order in Uganda’s West Nile region, with no compensation for people occupying the defunct site.
Uganda’s Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama has ordered residents occupying part of the defunct Arumaji/Koboko airfield in Koboko District to prepare to leave. The government wants to reclaim and expand the land for an upgraded airfield.
Government reclaims land for the Koboko airfield upgrade
Minister Byamukama said the site is government land and that surveyors will open boundaries to establish the exact area to be reclaimed. He was clear that there will be no compensation for current encroachers.
The directive targets people who have settled on the old airfield, which has been out of use. The minister’s message was that they should prepare to vacate as the government moves ahead with its aviation plans.
This is not an isolated action. Uganda’s government said in 2023 that it planned to upgrade six aerodromes in the next financial year.
That announcement reflected a broader transport and connectivity agenda across the country. The Koboko airfield upgrade fits into this national push for better regional air links.
West Nile’s strategic position on the border
Koboko District lies in West Nile, a sub-region on Uganda’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. This location gives air and road infrastructure particular value for trade, state presence and regional security.
Parliamentary debate has tied West Nile aviation upgrades to the long-running effort to complete Arua International Airport. Koboko’s role is seen as a supporting air link for this strategically important border region.
For expats and investors working across the Uganda-DRC-South Sudan corridor, better air access could reduce travel times and open new logistics options. The area has long depended on road connections that can be slow and unreliable.
The government’s focus on aerodromes suggests it sees aviation as part of its border-region strategy. This aligns with wider infrastructure thinking across Africa, where smaller airfields often support larger trade and security networks.
Land and compensation disputes follow infrastructure spending
Uganda’s road and aviation spending in West Nile has been accompanied by land-clearance and resettlement disputes on the Koboko-Yumbe-Moyo corridor. These disputes show how infrastructure projects are also land and compensation issues.
The minister’s no-compensation stance for encroachers is likely to be contested by those who have built homes or farms on the airfield. People facing eviction often argue they have occupied land for years and deserve some form of support.
World Bank project documents on the Koboko-Yumbe-Moyo road set out resettlement rules for people affected by infrastructure works. Those rules generally require compensation or assistance for people losing land or livelihoods.
But the government’s position here is that the airfield was always public land. That distinction matters because it determines whether current occupants are treated as lawful residents or as encroachers.
Who gains and who loses from the upgrade
The clearest winners are businesses and travellers who would benefit from a functioning airfield in Koboko. Traders moving goods across the nearby borders could gain faster connections to markets in Uganda and beyond.
Government agencies also stand to gain from better air access in a region where state presence can be difficult to maintain. Security operations and administrative travel could become easier with an upgraded facility.
The clearest losers are the residents now ordered to leave. Without compensation, they face losing whatever they have built on the land, with no financial cushion to relocate.
Local leaders in Koboko may also face pressure from constituents who feel the eviction is unfair. The coming weeks will show whether the order is enforced quickly or becomes a longer dispute.
The wider aviation push across Uganda
Uganda has been working to improve its aviation network beyond the main Entebbe International Airport. The 2023 announcement of six aerodrome upgrades signalled a more systematic approach to regional airfields.
Arua International Airport remains the flagship project for West Nile aviation. Completing it would give the sub-region a direct international gateway, with Koboko and other aerodromes feeding into that hub.
For global readers watching Africa’s infrastructure race, this fits a familiar pattern. Governments are investing in transport links that serve both economic and strategic goals, often in border areas where influence matters.
The Africa: The New Scramble pillar tracks how such projects connect to wider competition for access, resources and influence across the continent.
What to watch next
The immediate next step is the boundary survey that Minister Byamukama announced. Once surveyors mark the airfield’s limits, the government can move to clear the land.
Residents will be watching whether any relocation assistance is offered, even if formal compensation is ruled out. Their response could shape how quickly the upgrade proceeds.
For expats and businesses in West Nile, the key signal will be whether construction actually begins. Uganda has announced many infrastructure plans, but delivery has often been slower than promised.
If the Koboko airfield upgrade moves forward, it could be an early sign that the government is serious about its aerodrome programme. That would matter for anyone planning long-term operations in the border region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the government ordering people off the Koboko airfield?
Uganda’s Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama said the site is government land and must be reclaimed for an upgraded airfield. He said there will be no compensation for current encroachers.
Where is Koboko District and why does the airfield matter?
Koboko District is in Uganda’s West Nile region, near the borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. The airfield is seen as a supporting link for trade, state presence and regional security.
Will residents get any compensation for leaving the airfield?
No. The minister said there will be no compensation because the land belongs to the government and the occupants are considered encroachers.
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