NAM Summit, new routes drove aviation passenger traffic in 2024

ENTEBBE - The commencement of Uganda Airlines flights on the Abuja, Lagos and Mumbai routes is partly responsible for the high number of air passengers registered at Entebbe in 2024.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority, the passenger traffic handled in 2024 was the highest number ever recorded in a single year, since the construction of Entebbe International Airport.

Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) says 2,243,104 passengers were recorded at Entebbe airport in 2024, above 1,802,107 passengers recorded in 2019 before the outbreak of COVID-19.

The authority also attributes this rise in passengers to other new airline operators joining the Ugandan airspace.

"It was also due to the sustained promotion of tourism plus the resumption of international conferences such as the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the G77+ China summit among others," UCAA public relations manager Vianney Luggya says.

UCCA director general Fred Bamwesigye says: "There were 1,117,412 arriving passengers in 2024, reflecting a 17.1% and 1,125,692 departing passengers reflecting a 15% growth". 

In the same regard, 67,731 metric tonnes of cargo were handled in 2024, surpassing the 64,731 metric tonnes handled in 2019 (pre-COVID) and above 59,073 metric tonnes of cargo handled in the previous year, 2023.

These revelations were made while UCAA was addressing different stakeholders in a January 21, 2025, meeting at Sheraton by Four Points Hotel in Kampala. 

Authority's audit score

UCAA director general also said they underwent a universal security audit programme — continuous monitoring approach, which saw the aviation body score 81.6%, way above the regional average of 64.5% and the global average of 72.36%. 

The audit conducted last year is a mandatory evaluation process by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to assess the effectiveness of a given country's security systems in compliance with the standards and recommended practices.

The results indicated an overall improvement in Uganda's security performance.  

(L-R) Steven Kavuma, the UCAA chairperson board of directors, Katumba Wamala, the minister for transport, Fred Bamwesigye, the UCAA director general and Olive Lumonya, the UCAA deputy director general during the UCAA breakfast meeting in Kampala on Tuesday. (Credit: Julius Luwemba)

Infrastructure upgrade

UCAA deputy director general Olive Lumonya said the aviation authority completed the modified terminal building which facilitated 1,935 delegates from 123 countries, who attended the NAM/G77+China summit as well as 977 delegates who were facilitated through Entebbe airport to the African Union Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Department Programme (CAADP) summit that took place at Speke resort Munyonyo.

"On completion of all infrastructural upgrade projects, the terminal building capacity will be enhanced from the current maximum capacity of two million passengers to at least 3.5 million passengers annually," Lumonya stated.

Challenges

Whereas the challenges have reduced, Bamwesigye said there is still inadequate funding for upcountry aerodromes: "We are also still faced with a challenge of inadequate land for expansion at Entebbe airport plus other aerodromes".

Minister speaks

Works and transport minister Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala lauded the UCAA team for the highlighted achievements of 2024. 

"In a special way, I would like to congratulate the entire aviation industry in Uganda for the 81.6% score in the universal security audit programme. Such results provide a strong foundation for international airlines operating in and out of Entebbe airport," Katumba remarked.

He further observed that failing such an international audit would have had significant repercussions for the country's reputation and security. The minister appealed to UCAA and all aviation industry stakeholders to strive and ensure consistent excellence in facilitating seamless travel through Entebbe Airport.

"The ministry places great importance on the aviation sub-sector, recognising its critical role in promoting tourism, trade and socio-economic development. To this end, the ministry has taken significant steps towards signing additional bilateral Air Service Agreements with other countries to develop a robust air transport network that connects Uganda to major cities worldwide," the minister expressed.