March traffic at Entebbe Airport climbs to over 178,000

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Entebbe International Airport registered a total of 178,383 international passengers in March 2025, comprising 83,661 arrivals and 94,722 departures, according to data released by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA).

This represents an average of 5,754 passengers per day.

Vianney M. Luggya, spokesperson for the UCAA, noted that the figures for March 2025 reflect an increase of 6,393 passengers compared to the 171,990 recorded in March 2024.

However, he also pointed out that February 2025 recorded a total of 161,095 international passengers, slightly lower than the 175,630 recorded in the same month in 2024.

“It has so far been a year of highs and lows, marked by varied passenger traffic patterns, with January 2025 recording 216,740 international passengers — the second-highest traffic recorded in a single month in the history of the airport,” he noted in a statement issued today (April 16, 2025).

Luggya attributed the growth in March to a combination of factors, including Uganda’s hosting of international conferences, increased tourism promotion, and the introduction of new air operators like Flynas, which commenced direct flights between Riyadh and Entebbe in January 2025, as well as Uganda Airlines’ sustained operations on new routes.

In addition to the passenger traffic, Entebbe International Airport also handled significant cargo volumes during the month.

The airport recorded 1,965 metric tonnes of imports and 3,887 metric tonnes of exports, bringing the total cargo throughput to 5,852 metric tonnes.

Luggya highlighted the continued strength in export figures, saying exports continue to record higher figures than imports, which increases foreign exchange earnings and brings other economic benefits to the country.

Prospects for continued growth look promising, as Uganda Airlines’ direct route to London Gatwick in May this year is expected to enhance tourism, trade, and cargo exports to the UK, positioning Entebbe as a stronger regional hub.