PM Nabbanja Announces Upgrade of Kisoro Airstrip as Kigezi Region Launches 45th Tarehe Sita Celebrations

What you need to know

• The national Tarehe Sita celebrations will be hosted by the Kigezi region on February 6, 2026, at the NTC Grounds in Kabale.

The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, has announced that Government plans to expand the Kisoro Airstrip into an international airport as part of broader efforts to boost tourism, trade, and regional connectivity.

She made the announcement on Tuesday during the 45th Tarehe Sita Anniversary regional launch held at Saza Ground in Kisoro Municipality. The Prime Minister was accompanied by the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Lt. Gen. Samuel Okiding.

Rt. Hon. Nabbanja revealed that Government is also upgrading several key tourism roads to enhance accessibility to national parks and tourist destinations. Among the roads under improvement are Kisoro–Rubuguri, Kisoro–Mgahinga, and Rubuguri–Nteko–Buhoma, among others.

She further noted that the Government is investing in health facilities, education, and road infrastructure to improve service delivery and transform livelihoods in the Kigezi sub-region. Nabbanja emphasized Kisoro’s strategic location at the borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, saying it positions the region as a vital hub for trade, tourism, and cross-border peace.

The Minister of State for Defence in charge of Veteran Affairs, Hon. Huda Oleru, said Kigezi was chosen to host the national Tarehe Sita celebrations in recognition of the region’s historic contribution to Uganda’s liberation struggle. She noted that many elders from Kigezi participated in the push for independence and later supported groups like FRONASA in the struggle for peace and stability.

“The people of Kigezi are the foundation of many achievements in this country,” Oleru said, adding that honoring the region is long overdue.

Deputy CDF Lt. Gen. Okiding commended the UPDF’s contribution to regional peace, citing the operations in the DRC, Sudan, and Somalia. He reported that communities in these areas are now experiencing improved access to education and social services, attributing these gains to the spirit of Tarehe Sita.

He reaffirmed the UPDF’s commitment to promoting peace within Uganda and across the region.

This year’s celebrations are being held under the theme: “Defending the Gains of the Revolution and Honoring the Sacrifice of the Freedom Fighters: A Call for National Unity, Peace, and Socio-Economic Transformation.”

The national Tarehe Sita celebrations will be hosted by the Kigezi region on February 6, 2026, at the NTC Grounds in Kabale.