Entebbe International Airport has recorded a strong performance in the first half of 2025, showing a notable rise in passenger numbers, cargo traffic, and aircraft movements compared to the same period in 2024, according to official data.
Between January and June 2025, the airport handled a total of 1,133,366 international passengers—comprising 550,439 arrivals and 582,927 departures. This reflects a 4.3% increase in arrivals and a 7.6% rise in departures, up from a total of 1,069,224 passengers recorded during the same period last year.
Cargo operations also posted growth. A total of 33,622 metric tonnes of cargo was handled in the first half of 2025, with 22,844 tonnes of exports and 10,778 tonnes of imports. This marks a 2.1% increase in exports and a 3.5% increase in imports year-on-year. Uganda’s key exports—such as fish, flowers, vegetables, and other fresh produce—continue to anchor this steady performance.
Aircraft movements rose by 4.6%, from 15,223 in 2024 to 15,922 in 2025, reflecting increased connectivity and growing aviation activity at Uganda’s main airport.
However, the period also saw a decline in overflights, which dropped from 12,359 in the first half of 2024 to 11,917 in the same period this year—a 3.6% decrease. The decline is attributed to the partial reopening of Sudanese airspace, which had previously forced many airlines to reroute through Uganda. With Sudan gradually resuming normal airspace operations, some carriers have returned to using more direct ICAO-designated contingency routes.
These developments indicate growing confidence in Uganda’s aviation and export sectors, and highlight Entebbe’s role as a regional hub for both tourism and trade.
