Libyans Land at Kabalega International Airport to cause Mediterranean Knights for Uganda Cranes.

By Abraham Lincolns | Hoima

Fursan al-Mutawasit literally known as the Mediterranean Knights is the Libyan National Football team, which landed at Kabalega International Airport at 13:04 hours aboard Uganda Airlines.

The team was received by the Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. Fred Byamukama, alongside other state officials ahead of their AFCON 2027 qualifying match against the Uganda Cranes at the newly built Hoima City Stadium.

This marked the first passenger traffic and historic commercial flight landings at the newly constructed Kabalega International Airport in the Albertine region. The arrival served as an operational test for both the airport and the 20,000-seater Hoima City Stadium ahead of co-hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

“We warmly welcome the Libyan National Football team, which landed at Kabalega International Airport aboard Uganda Airlines and this makes a historic first landing at Kabalega airport”, Minister Fred Byamukama said.

The Airport has received its first commercial flights, marking a major step towards the planned opening of the facility for business. Uganda Cranes is facing Libya on Tuesday 28th September 2026 at the Hoima City stadium, the first ever major international match to be played outside of central Uganda.

On Monday, Uganda Airlines Bombardier CRJ900 made a historic touch down at the new Kabalega International Airport in Hoima, Uganda. The airline plans to add this route to its domestic flights network with scheduled flights from Entebbe ahead of the African Cup of Nations soccer Tournament as Ugandans get prepared for a first maiden flight in January next year.

Byamukama assured Hoima leaders and the citizens that Uganda was indeed headed in the right direction of its preparations to hosting AFCON games in 2027. The Airport is also being prepared for the oil and gas sector which is also gaining momentum ahead of

the first oil drops later this year.