He claimed the recent letter from UCAA is intended to turn the wider Lango community against residents who decided to seek justice through court after being ignored.
By Denish Ongora
LIRA CITY – 2nd June 2026. Plans for the proposed international airport at Anai in Lira City have suffered a setback following a court case filed by residents claiming ownership and occupation of part of the land earmarked for the project.
A letter dated 25th May 2026 from the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, signed by Acting Director General Olive Birungi Lumonya and addressed to the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Lango Region, indicates that UCAA had planned to visit Lira for stakeholder engagements regarding the airport project.
However, the authority says the process was disrupted after a group of Project Affected Persons, commonly known as PAPs, complained that UCAA had encroached on their land.
According to the letter, UCAA later received court documents from the High Court in Lira in a lawsuit filed on behalf of 68 claimants by Okwir and Company Advocates.
The authority says the legal dispute is likely to affect the progress of the proposed international airport at Anai in Lira City.
Speaking on the matter, Morris Chris Ongom, the Director of Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Lango Region, said they followed up the development of the proposed Airport with Civil Aviation Authority after an earlier engagement held on 7th February 2025 at Entebbe International Airport.
Ongom said the letter is a response, and that the Acting Director General of UCAA had been positive and indicated willingness to discuss compensation with affected residents.
He added that the airport project comes with major economic benefits including expanded markets, employment opportunities and regional development.
Ongom further noted that the Chamber of Commerce intends to play an advisory role and convene meetings between stakeholders while encouraging residents to resolve the matter outside court through dialogue.
However, the chairman of the claimants, Ojuka Anthony, accused the Chamber of Commerce and UCAA of ignoring the concerns of residents for a long time.
Ojuka said the affected residents first wrote to UCAA on 15th May 2024 seeking mediation, but their efforts allegedly received no response.
He claimed the recent letter from UCAA is intended to turn the wider Lango community against residents who decided to seek justice through court after being ignored.
Ojuka further alleged that the land title for the proposed Anai International Airport was processed in the names of UCAA on 27th January 2025 and includes homes belonging to residents across 12 villages.
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