Entebbe International Airport registered 1.13 million international passengers between January and June 2025, signaling continued recovery and growth in Uganda’s aviation sector, according to the latest data from the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA).
The half-year passenger traffic included 550,439 international arrivals and 582,927 international departures, representing a 4.3% growth in arrivals and a 7.6% increase in departures compared to the same period in 2024.
“This marks an increase from 527,692 arrivals and 541,532 departures recorded in the first half of 2024, totaling 1,069,224 international passengers,” UCAA said in a statement.
Cargo traffic also experienced positive momentum. Entebbe Airport handled 33,622 metric tonnes of cargo in the first half of 2025—up from 32,794 metric tonnes during the same period in 2024. The 2025 figure included 22,844 tonnes of exports (a 2.1% increase) and 10,778 tonnes of imports (a 3.5% increase).
Uganda’s major air cargo exports include fish, flowers, vegetables, and other fresh produce, with strong demand from European and Middle Eastern markets.
The airport also saw growth in aircraft movements, which rose by 4.6% to reach 15,922 movements, up from 15,223 in the same period last year.
However, overflights—aircraft that pass over Ugandan airspace without landing—registered a slight decline of 3.6%, dropping from 12,359 in the first half of 2024 to 11,917 in 2025.
UCAA attributed the dip in overflights to the partial reopening of Sudanese airspace, which had previously been closed due to regional instability. “The resumption of ICAO-designated contingency routes through Sudan has allowed airlines connecting the Middle East, Southern Africa, and Latin America to revert to shorter, more direct routes,” UCAA noted.
The consistent growth across key aviation indicators is seen as a positive development for Uganda’s only international gateway, which continues to position itself as a competitive and reliable hub in the East African region.
UCAA says it remains committed to improving airport infrastructure, operational efficiency, and service quality to enhance Uganda’s global connectivity and economic competitiveness.
