At the Stakeholders’ Engagement Breakfast held yesterday in Kampala, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Director General Fred Bamwesigye reported impressive air traffic performance for 2024.
The event highlighted significant growth in passenger and cargo volumes at Entebbe International Airport, signaling a robust recovery and expansion in Uganda’s aviation sector.
International passenger traffic rose markedly, with 2,243,104 passengers handled in 2024, a 16.1% increase from 2023.
This growth surpassed pre-COVID levels recorded in 2019, driven by increased tourism, new international routes, and the resumption of global conferences.
Disembarking international passengers grew by 17.18%, while embarking passengers increased by 15.04%.
Domestic passenger traffic remained stable, recording 22,795 passengers in 2024, slightly below the 2023 figure of 23,019.
Cargo volumes also saw significant improvement, with exports rising by 9.66% to 44,865 tons, and imports increasing by 22.42% to 22,233 tons in 2024. This resurgence reflects a stable economic environment and heightened international trade activity.
Aircraft Movements and Overflights
Commercial aircraft movements rose by 5.34% to 32,552, and overflights increased by 7.24%, reaching 25,137 in 2024.
These gains were bolstered by Uganda Airlines’ introduction of new routes to Lusaka, Abuja, Harare, and the addition of new carriers like Flynas operating from Riyadh.
Regional airports showed mixed results, with notable growth in Mbarara (118%) and Arua (92.2%), while others like Kisoro and Moroto experienced declines. Total air traffic for regional airports grew by 27.1%, reflecting increased connectivity to secondary cities.
The expansion of Uganda Airlines’ operations, international tourism promotion, and high-profile events like the NAM/G77+China Summit significantly contributed to the uptick in air traffic.
Ongoing upgrades at Entebbe International Airport, including the expansion of the passenger terminal to increase capacity from 2 million to 3.5 million passengers annually, are expected to sustain this growth trajectory. The terminal is slated for completion by June 2025.
Fred Bamwesigye emphasized the importance of continued investment and stakeholder collaboration to maintain momentum, noting, “The aviation sector is crucial to Uganda’s economic recovery and development.”
This performance underscores Uganda’s growing prominence as a hub for regional and international air traffic, with further growth anticipated in the coming years.
