Procuring and Financing Airport Infrastructure Development in the developing world

China Debt or Public Private Partnerships? Case Study of Entebbe International Airport

  • Dr. Alex Nduhura Uganda Management Institute
  • Muhiya Tshombe Lukamba North West University
  • Thekiso Molokwane Eastern & Southern Management Institute Arusha
  • Dr. Ivan Twinomuhwezi Uganda Management Institute
  • Innocent Nuwagaba Eastern & Southern Management Institute Arusha
  • Prof. Gerald Karyeija Uganda Management Institute
  • Dr. Stella Kyohairwe Uganda Management Institute
  • Dr. John Paul Settumba Uganda Management Institute
  • Dr. Benedict Mugerwa Uganda Management Institute
Keywords: Airport infrastructure, Entebbe International Airport, China Debt, public private partnerships

Abstract

Airports are an important asset for any country that seeks to develop or sustain development. Procuring and financing infrastructure has remained challenging. Budgetary allocations to airports are inadequate while Western financier appetite for developing world is declining as needs for procuring and financing infrastructure increase. China has exploited the gap by providing pre non-conditional debt. Existing studies indicate that China debt is easy to access but exiting has come with terrible consequences as post debt conditionalities risk the sovereignty of borrowers. Based on a peer reviewed literature, and documents and with a lens of events at Entebbe international Airport we find that post debt conditionalities are terrible and thus explore and analyze both China debt and the option of public private partnerships. The outcome of this study indicates that public private partnerships (PPP) are a better option than China debt for procuring and financing airport infrastructure. The paper contributes to the PPP body of knowledge by not only providing a comparative analysis of China debt and PPPs as a procurement and financing option but provides for consideration necessary for the uptake of PPPs as a tool in rehabilitating and enhancing airport infrastructure in the developing world. By providing this wisdom, we support policy makers to develop national assets while not risking the loss of their sovereignty, a feature that is associated with China debt.

Published
2021-11-24
How to Cite
Nduhura, A., Tshombe Lukamba , M., Molokwane, T., Twinomuhwezi, I., Nuwagaba, I., Karyeija, G., Kyohairwe, S., Settumba, J. P., & Mugerwa, B. (2021). Procuring and Financing Airport Infrastructure Development in the developing world. Ugandan Journal of Management and Public Policy Studies, 21(1), 21 - 46. Retrieved from https://ojs.umi.ac.ug/index.php/ujmpps/article/view/77
Issue
Vol 21 No 1 (2021): The Ugandan Journal of Management and Public Policy Studies
Section
Articles

All rights reserved. With the exception of fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior permission in writing from the copyright holder. Authorization for photocopying items for internal and personal use is granted by the copyright holder for libraries in Uganda. This consent does not extend to other kinds of copying such as for advertising or promotional purposes and resale. Institutions for paid up subscription to this journal may make photocopies for teaching purposes free of charge provided such copies are not resold. Printed by Graphic Centre Ltd, Tel: +256 701 446 340/ +256 772 446 324