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As the aviation sector has grown quickly, international and domestic airports in Uganda are key to travel, trade and tourism. The country has a combination of large and medium-sized international airports and more minor airports, which have various economic and strategic implications. These other airports serving the region include Arua, Gulu and Kasese, and some serve mainly Uganda’s thriving safari tourism industry, shortening the time it takes to reach national parks. These airports are being modernised to enhance passenger experience, increase cargo capacity and support economic growth.
Top Airports In Uganda
Following are some of the top airports in Uganda, making travel easy in and to this land bordering Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania and more.
1. Entebbe International Airport / EBB
Photo: smuldur / Pixabay / Image For Representation Only
Entebbe International Airport is Uganda’s primary gateway for international travel, offering immigration services, baggage handling, lounges, restaurants, and duty-free shops. It has two runways, with the main one spanning 3,658 meters, accommodating large aircraft. As a key hub in East Africa, it facilitates cargo and passenger transport. Ongoing expansion projects aim to boost capacity and modernise infrastructure. The airport also provides VIP services and serves as a crucial base for humanitarian relief operations due to Uganda’s central location.
Location: Entebbe, 40 km southwest of Kampala
Airlines: Qatar Airways, Emirates, Uganda Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, KLM, etc.
Nearby Attractions: Entebbe Zoo, Ngamba Island, Botanical Gardens
2. Arua Airport / RUA
Photo: Anonymous / Pixabay / Image For Representation Only
Arua Airport is a vital domestic hub in northwestern Uganda, linking the West Nile region to the capital and neighboring countries like South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. With an 1,860-meter asphalt runway, it supports small to medium aircraft for cross-border trade and humanitarian aid. Modernisation plans aim to expand the runway and upgrade terminal facilities. Serving NGOs and government agencies, Arua Airport is set to benefit from increased infrastructure investment in Uganda’s growing aviation network.
Location: Arua, Northwestern Uganda
Airlines: Domestic flights (varies)
Nearby Attractions: Arua Hill, local markets
3. Gulu Airport / ULU
Photo: johanwiden69 / Pixabay / Image For Representation Only
Gulu Airport is one of the regional airports in Uganda and serves as the air transport facility for the northern part of Uganda. It is one of the longest in Uganda after Entebbe, having a paved runway of about 3,100 meters. It was formerly used by the military, and there has been speculation about plans to upgrade it to an international airport. The airport is strategically located to promote trade and economic development in Northern Uganda emerging from the long-term conflicts.
Location: Gulu, Northern Uganda
Airlines: Domestic flights (varies)
Nearby Attractions: Fort Patiko, Ajai Game Reserve
4. Jinja Airport / JIN
Photo: Dave Proffer / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Jinja Airport is a domestic airstrip for Jinja, one of the major industrial cities near the airports in Uganda. The airstrip consists of one unsealed runway about 1,200 metres long, used by small aircraft and chartered flights. It’s not a significant commercial airport but is an important aviation facility for emergency medical evacuations and government-associated flights. The long-term plans for the airport consist of runway expansion, refining air traffic control systems, as well as improved passenger venues.
Location: Jinja, Eastern Uganda
Airlines: Charter and private flights
Nearby Attractions: Source of the Nile, Bungee jumping
5. Kasese Airport / KSE
Photo: Mr. Micha Sender / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Kasese Airport, a key domestic hub in western Uganda, supports tourism and business travel. Its 1,560-meter tarmac runway accommodates small to medium aircraft, serving as the main gateway to national parks and the Rwenzori Mountains. Previously used for commercial and military purposes, the airport is set for upgrades to enhance regional connectivity. With Kasese’s rich mineral deposits, the airport also facilitates mineral exploration and trade. Expansion plans include runway extension, terminal upgrades, and improved air navigation systems.
Location: Kasese, near Rwenzori Mountains
Airlines: Domestic flights (varies)
Nearby Attractions: Queen Elizabeth National Park, Rwenzori Mountains
6. Mbarara Airport / MBQ
Photo: Aeroprints.com / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Mbarara Airport serves southwestern Uganda and facilitates business and tourism in the region. The airport has one main murram runway of around 1,500 metres and mainly serves domestic flights and a small number of private charter services. Mbarara Airport is relatively small, but its location along Uganda’s major trade routes with Rwanda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo gives it strategic importance. Planned infrastructural, security, and operational capacity improvements at the airport, reflect the Ugandan government’s understanding of the importance of the airport.
Location: Mbarara, Western Uganda
Airlines: Domestic flights (varies)
Nearby Attractions: Lake Mburo National Park, Igongo Cultural Centre
7. Pakuba Airport / PAF
Photo: Jomibe / Wikimedia Commons
Pakuba Airport is a domestic airport located within Murchison Falls National Park, ranking among the most picturesque aviation facilities in Uganda.. It boasts a gravel runway of about 1,750 metres in length, which can accommodate small and medium-sized aircraft. In recent years, parts of its infrastructure have seen improvements, with more charter flights landing there. There are plans to upgrade Pakuba Airport to enhance its role in Uganda’s growing safari tourism industry, potentially improving runway conditions and expanding passenger facilities.
Location: Murchison Falls National Park
Airlines: Domestic charter flights
Nearby Attractions: Murchison Falls, game drives
8. Soroti Airport / SRT
Photo: Joerg Mangelsen / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
Soroti Airport is one of the largest aviation training academies and domestic flight hubs in eastern Uganda. It is home to the Soroti Flying School, Uganda’s leading aviation training institution and provider of personnel for both commercial and military service. It features a paved runway approximately 1860 metres long, capable of hosting medium-sized planes. Soroti Airport has historically been important in the evolution of aviation in East Africa, acting as a pilot training ground.
Location: Soroti, Eastern Uganda
Airlines: Domestic flights (varies)
Nearby Attractions: Soroti Rock, Teso Cultural Sites
9. Tororo Airport / TRY
Photo: UR-SDV / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
It is a small airstrip serving Tororo town, which is close to the Uganda-Kenya border. It mostly serves private and chartered flights, as it supports business and trade operations within the area. It has a short, unpaved runway, making it suitable only for light aircraft. Tororo Airport is located along some of the major trade routes and, if expanded, would offer cross-border logistics that contribute to economic growth. Moreover, its closeness to road and railway networks positions it to serve as a centre for multimodal transport in eastern Uganda.
Location: Tororo, near the Kenya border
Airlines: Domestic flights (varies)
Nearby Attractions: Tororo Rock, Osukuru Hills
10. Kabalega Falls Airport / KBG
Photo: Anna Zvereva / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Kabalega Falls Airport (previously Murchison Falls National Park Airport) is a public-use airport located in Murchison Falls National Park (MPNP) in the northwestern region of Uganda. It also offers the fastest access to the park for tourists, as compared to travelling via road. It is essential to wildlife conservation efforts, enabling swift reactions to poaching threats and aiding ecological studies. The Ugandan government has discussed plans to upgrade the airstrip to allow greater numbers of visitors as it seeks to ramp up eco-tourism across the landlocked East African nation.
Location: Murchison Falls National Park
Airlines: Domestic charter flights
Nearby Attractions: Murchison Falls, Nile River boat safaris
Airports in Uganda play a key role in boosting domestic and international connectivity as a service to the economy and the tourism sector. With continued infrastructure enhancements and ever-increasing levels of air travel demand, these airports are vital to the continued progress of Uganda. Plan your trip with TripXL as Uganda enhances trade, tourism, and regional integration, making it more accessible to travel to.
Cover Photo: Russell Lindberg / Wikimedia Commons
