Key Highlights:
- Following the revamping of Entebbe International Airport, it has recorded its highest-ever international passenger traffic in 2024, reaching 2,243,104 passengers.
- The newly expanded terminal has improved operational efficiency, security, and passenger experience.
- Cargo handling increased by 15% in 2024, reaching 67,731 metric tonnes, driven by trade and agricultural exports.
- Future plans include advanced air traffic management, expanded cargo facilities, and new airline partnerships.
Entebbe International Airport continues its remarkable growth trajectory, achieving its highest-ever international passenger traffic in 2024. The latest figures indicate that the airport recorded a total of 2,243,104 international passengers in 2024, a significant increase of 16% from the 1,932,094 passengers recorded in 2023, as it works towards its ambition of handling 3.5 million passengers per year.
The surge in passenger traffic underscores Entebbe’s rising status as a key aviation hub in the region. This milestone follows the inauguration of the airport’s newly expanded terminal, an initiative aimed at boosting operational efficiency, enhancing passenger experience, and increasing overall handling capacity. The terminal expansion includes modernised check-in counters, additional boarding gates, improved baggage handling systems, and enhanced security measures, contributing to a seamless travel experience for passengers.
Additionally, Entebbe International Airport has made notable progress in cargo handling. In 2024, the airport facilitated 67,731 metric tonnes of cargo, marking a 15% increase from the 59,073 metric tonnes recorded in 2023. While this is slightly below the all-time record of 69,304 metric tonnes in 2017, it signals a continued upward trajectory in air freight traffic. The growing cargo volumes can be attributed to Uganda’s expanding trade network, increased agricultural exports, and improved logistics infrastructure at the airport. In January 2025 alone, the airport processed 3,491 metric tonnes of exports and 1,578 metric tonnes of imports, totalling 5,069 metric tonnes.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Director General, Fred Bamwesigye, said: “These investments demonstrate our dedication to making Uganda a preferred destination for air travel in the region.”
The consistent rise in passenger and cargo traffic reflects Entebbe International Airport’s strategic development and Uganda’s growing prominence as a regional business and tourism hub. The Ugandan government’s commitment to modernising aviation infrastructure, coupled with enhanced airline connectivity and streamlined customs processes, has contributed significantly to this upward trend. Among the recently completed upgrades is the Modified Terminal Building, which opened to the public in January 2024. This facility has already played a key role in accommodating high-profile events, such as the NAM/G77+China Summit and the African Union CAADP Summit.
Additionally, the resurfacing of runways, taxiways, and aprons ensures the airport meets international standards for safety and capacity, accommodating the increasing number of commercial flights and cargo movements.
The centrepiece of the project is the construction of a new 20,000-square-metre passenger terminal building, now 82% complete and set for delivery by June 2025. Once operational, the terminal will expand the airport’s capacity from handling 2 million passengers annually to at least 3.5 million.
The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) plans to implement further enhancements, including advanced air traffic management systems, expanded cargo handling facilities, and increased airline partnerships, to sustain this momentum and position Entebbe International Airport as a premier aviation hub in Africa.
