Middle East crisis hits Uganda flights, cargo

ENTEBBE — Fewer passengers, falling cargo exports, more expensive tickets,  and airlines suddenly suspending flights.

For Uganda’s aviation sector, the ripple effects of instability in the Middle East are no longer distant international headlines. They are now visible in airport statistics, airline schedules and export losses affecting businesses back home.

Speaking at the Uganda Media Centre on May 8, Uganda Civil Aviation Authority Director General Fred K. Bamwesigye said global aviation disruptions triggered by temporary airspace closures in parts of the Middle East beginning February 28 had significantly affected operations at Entebbe International Airport. 

“Uganda was not spared,” Bamwesigye said. 

The Middle East plays a critical role in Uganda’s international aviation network. Major airlines connecting Uganda to Europe, Asia and parts of the world operate through Gulf hubs such as Doha, Dubai and Sharjah. When airspace disruptions emerged earlier this year, airlines including Emirates, Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Qatar Airways and Uganda Airlines temporarily suspended flights before gradually resuming operations. 

The consequences were immediate.

Between January and March 2026, international arrivals at Entebbe fell by 7.9 percent, dropping from 260,434 passengers during the same period in 2025 to 239,850 passengers this year. International departures declined even further — down 8.5 percent from 290,594 passengers to 265,941. 

In simple terms, tens of thousands fewer people travelled through Entebbe during the first quarter of the year.

The cargo sector was hit even harder.

Cargo exports dropped sharply by 28.9 percent, falling from 10,534 metric tonnes in early 2025 to 7,490 metric tonnes this year. Imports also declined by 9 percent, from 4,932 metric tonnes to 4,490 metric tonnes. 

For Uganda, these numbers matter far beyond aviation.

Entebbe Airport handles critical exports including fish, flowers, vegetables and other fresh agricultural products that rely heavily on fast and reliable air transport to international markets. Delays, cancellations and reduced cargo capacity can quickly affect exporters, farmers and supply chains.

March 2026 recorded the sharpest impact.

Cargo exports in that month alone collapsed by 45.2 percent compared to March 2025, dropping from 3,886 metric tonnes to just 2,130 metric tonnes. Imports also fell by more than 30 percent. 

Passenger departures declined too, although international arrivals showed a modest recovery of 2.7 percent during March. 

One of the most visible effects for ordinary travellers was rising ticket prices.

With airlines adjusting schedules, rerouting aircraft and managing uncertainty around Middle East airspace, travel costs increased while flight options became less predictable.
Yet amid the decline, some indicators moved in the opposite direction.

Aircraft movements at Entebbe increased by 7.7 percent, rising from 7,817 to 8,420 movements, while overflights crossing Uganda’s airspace rose by 2.6 percent. 
Transit passenger traffic also grew strongly by 25.2 percent.

Officials say these figures suggest that despite regional disruptions, Uganda’s airspace and airport infrastructure remain strategically important within regional aviation networks.

April brought modest signs of recovery.

Entebbe handled 189,130 international passengers during the month — about 4,930 more passengers than in April 2025. But cargo volumes remained significantly below previous levels. 

The situation highlights how deeply interconnected Uganda’s economy has become with global aviation systems.

A crisis thousands of kilometres away in Middle Eastern airspace can now directly affect export earnings, tourism flows, ticket prices and business activity inside Uganda.

For airlines and regulators, the next phase will depend largely on how quickly regional stability returns and whether global flight schedules normalise fully in the coming months.

Until then, Uganda’s aviation industry remains exposed to forces far beyond its borders.