More passengers, cargo handled at Entebbe Airport

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ENTEBBE - For the first half of the year 2024, Entebbe Airport has registered 1,069,224 international passengers between January and June plus 182,494 passengers during the month of July.

According to such figures, 226,795 more passengers used Entebbe International Airport this year compared to the same period last year. 

This was revealed by Fred Bamwesigye, the director general for Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) during a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon at the Airport's VIP lounge, in Entebbe municipality.

According to Bamwesigye, 527,692 were arriving passengers whereas 541,532 were departing passengers. During the same period (January to June) in 2023, there were 842,429 passengers recorded. 

Speaking during the same presser, Olive Birungi Lumonya, the UCAA deputy director general, also a board member of the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) remarked that such numbers translate into tourists who come into the country.

Lumonya defined a tourist as a visitor whose trip includes an overnight stay but lasts not longer than one year. She noted that a tourist may be a domestic traveller or international visitor, thus expressing optimism towards Uganda's tourism sector based on the increased number of international passengers recorded at Entebbe airport. 

Lumonya added that the growth in passenger and cargo traffic demonstrates the airport's importance in fostering international travel, tourism and trade.

Increased cargo

On the other hand, cargo traffic at Entebbe Airport also saw a significant boost, with a total of 32,794 metric tons recorded from January to June 2024.

Eng. Ayub Sooma, the director for airports and aviation security stated that exports were more than imports.

Pending works on the new terminal building connecting to the current Terminal. (Credit: Julius Luwemba)

"We handled 22,380 metric tonnes of exports and 10,414 metric tonnes of imports. Exports have generally remained higher than imports in the last four years," noted Eng. Sooma..

During the same period (January to June) of the previous year, 25,951 metric tonnes of cargo were registered at Entebbe Airport. In July this year 2024, Entebbe Airport recorded cargo traffic of 4,123 metric tonnes of exports and 1,618 metric tonnes of imports, a total of 5,741 metric tonnes.

Aircraft movements

Bamwesigye, the UCCA boss also revealed that aircraft movements were 15,223 in January to June 2024 compared to 14,575 during the same period in 2023, reflecting a 4.4% growth.

"Overflights were 12,359 in January to June 2024 compared to 11,203 in the same period last year reflecting a 10.3% growth," he added. On the other hand, transit passengers were 53,559 from January to June 2024 compared to 57,469 from January to June 2023.

Infrastructure development

Emmanuel Barungi, the general manager for Entebbe airport, noted that the overall upgrade and expansion of Entebbe airport stands at 92% completion. 

According to Barungi, both runways are already resurfaced as well as aircraft aprons 2,4 and 5 plus the 100,000 tonnes cargo complex which was completed in 2021. 

"Pending works are on the main apron 1, which has been expanded but standing at 96% completion and the new terminal building connecting the current terminal," he explained. 

As part of further enhancement of service provision, a new business class facility is currently being erected within the terminal building to accommodate a prayer section.