Entebbe Airport is the only international airport in Uganda at the periphery of Lake Victoria with two terminals and it is home to Uganda Airlines as a national carrier. Eagle Air and Aerolink Uganda are some of the domestic flight operators from Entebbe Airport.

The airport is located in Entebbe town, southwest of Kampala capital city. From Kampala, you can easily access the airport via the Kampala – Entebbe Expressway highway.

Like we said before, Entebbe Airport has two terminals i.e., one for Arrivals and the other for Departures. The Departures is the new terminal that officially opened in 2021 and it is connected to the old terminal (Arrivals).

Entebbe airport under the authority of the civil aviation authority (CAA) of Uganda is used as a commercial and a military airport, headquarters for the civil aviation authority. Eagle Air and Royal Daisy Airlines use Entebbe airport as a Centre for their operations while the old airport is being used as a base for Uganda military forces.

Currently, Entebbe airport is under modernization process, plan of 2015-2033 funded by the government of South Korea and People’s Republic of China which is to cost approximately USD 586 million. The modernization process was projected to be done in three phases that are:

Phase 1 of 2015-2018 which estimated to cost USD 200 million for construction of a new passenger terminal, relocation, and expansion of cargo terminal and renovation of and rehabilitation of runway 112/30

Phase 2 of 2024 -2033, this phase is estimated to cost UUS$ 125 for the relocation and expansion of fuel storage facilities.

Phase 3 of 2024 -2033, this last phase is to cost approximately US$ 160.5 million for the construction of a new control tower, building a new multi-story car park and strengthening and resealing of current runways.

Traffic at Entebbe airport under Civil Aviation Authority of Uganda has steadily increased over the years from 118,527 in 1991 to 1,840,264 in 2018 and because of this progress it has won many accreditations and awards for example

African Aviation Award 2003 by African Aviation magazine by Outstanding African Civil Aviation Authority in 2003

African Aviation Award 2004 by African Aviation magazine 2004 for Outstanding Civil Aviation Authority in 2003

Public Relations Excellence Award, Public Sector 2008/2009

5th Golden Award for Tourist, Hotel & Catering Industry by New Millennium award Madrid 2010 (Spain)

Winner Regional Heats 2010, Routes Airport Marketing Awards

Appreciation to Civil Aviation Authority for outstanding contribution and support towards the Kabale Sports Tourism festival 2015 by East Africa Sports Tourism Initiative

Appreciation to Civil Aviation Authority for CAA Appreciated for sponsoring the Uganda Seniors Golf Open October 29-30, 2016 from Uganda Seniors Golfing Society

Africa Leadership Awards 2016 for CAA’s exemplary and selfless contribution towards Africa’s development and many more.

Entebbe airport offers many passenger facilities for a comfortable stay at the airport while waiting to catch their flights which include a left-luggage office which handles luggage left by passengers, banks, automated telling machines for withdrawing money and making any bank-related transaction, foreign bureau outlets, restaurants, and duty-free shops. Entebbe airport accommodates more than 1,510,000 passengers with estimated 26,886 movements of aircraft and also carries 52,841 tonnes of cargo.

Entebbe airport’s groundling operations are serviced by two companies that is; National Aviation Services Uganda former Entebbe Handling Services (ENHAS) the largest handling with headquarters at Entebbe airport and DAS handling limited the second largest groundling company with headquarters at Sebugwawo drive, Entebbe.

Transportation to and from Entebbe International Airport

By Car

The distance from Entebbe Airport to Kampala capital city is 42KM and it takes about 1 hour via Entebbe express highway by car. Please note that the driving time may vary due to several factors like traffic during the rush hours of the morning and in the evening, weather conditions among others. Consequently, the journey by car from Entebbe airport to the capital may take longer hours than expected.

By Public transport

It is unfortunate that there is no public transport from Entebbe airport to Kampala however, travelers on a tight budget can board from Kitolo taxi park and connect to the city center using public means (Minibus / Matatu) at a cost of USD$1.5 per person or a motorcycle at cost of US$8.

The minibus is one of the safest public transport options due to the fact that Minibuses have enough space to carry your luggage. Therefore, if you are an adventurous traveler and you want to save money on a taxi, this is the best travel option for you!

Please take note that minibusses in Uganda are called taxis while the private taxi is famously known as a “special hire taxi”. Please consult Ash Airport Taxi Entebbe for more information about transport services and transfers in Uganda.

By Bus

Yes, you can access Entebbe international airport by bus. The bus normally operates three times a day from Entebbe Airport to Kampala city. The price for a bus from Kampala to the airport is 42,000 UGX or $ 13 one way.

Travel time from the airport to Kampala city is approximately 1½ hour by bus and tickets can be purchased online and from the ticket desk at the airport.

The bus travel schedule from Kampala to Entebbe

Departs Kampala @10.00 arrives Entebbe @12.00

Departs Kampala @16.15 arrives Entebbe @18:30

Departs Kampala @01:30 arrives Entebbe @02:30

The bus travel schedule from Entebbe to Kampala

Departs Entebbe @5.00 arrives Kampala @6.30

Departs Entebbe @14.30 arrives Kampala @16.00

Departs Entebbe @23.00 arrives Kampala @00.15

Entebbe airport bus transfer pick-up points from Kampala are; Bushpig Backpackers, Fat Cat Backpackers, Acacia Mall, Oasis Mall (for Red Chilli) and Lugogo Mall while

Travelers who book their bus transfers are advised to be on time for their departure from the pick-up point because operators may not be able to wait for so long and the ticket is nonrefundable due to travelers’ delays.

In the event of an airline delay, the traveler’s ticket is transferable to another time but not refundable. And customers entirely hold the responsibility of booking any connecting services while on board with the bus company.

Car rental companies at Entebbe international Airport

Are you looking for reliable car rental companies at Entebbe airport? Yes, upon arrival at Entebbe international airport, you will find a number of local service providers including Ash Airport Taxi Entebbe. Therefore, if you want to rent a car in Uganda, we give you the details to make sure you are well informed.

We recommend travelers compare the prices of well-known car rental companies and local suppliers at Entebbe Airport to get the best rates and make a booking online.

Important Tips to know before choosing car rental companies at Entebbe airport

Book online: You can make an online booking either directly through the website of a car rental company or through online travel agents such as EasyTerra Car Rental which gives you an option of comparing prices. We strongly discourage travelers to arrange car rental services upon arrival at Entebbe airport because you may spend a lot more time at the counter and there is a possibility of failing to get any available cars.

Plan your pickup and return wisely: Car rental rates are usually calculated per 24 hours. If you rent a car from 12:00 to 11:00 the next day (2 days), you’ll only be charged for one day (23 hours). This means that planning your pickup and return wisely can save you tens of euros. This is especially interesting for short rental periods.

The following services usually attract an extra charge from most car rental companies at Entebbe international airport in Uganda; Extra driver, Navigation (if not built-in), Supplement for younger or older drivers, Insurance for tires, glass, roof, and underbody as well as passenger insurance (liability insurance is usually included).

Tick the full-coverage box: We recommend travelers to tick the full-coverage box while reserving a car for hire because the insurance company will cover most damages. Unfortunately, you can’t automatically assume that the insurance company will cover every form of damage. Tires and glass usually require additional insurance.

Fuel full-to-full option: It’s better to choose the fuel full-to-full option, as opposed to the full-to-empty policy where you bring your rental car back without filling it up because some car rental company will then fill up the car for you but may charge you a much higher fuel price than the regular price at the gas station.

Credit card required: Most companies require payment by credit card to secure your reservation. To hire a car, credit card companies require the car hire agreement and the cardholder to be one and the same person. While the car rental company will require a credit card hold at the time of hire, which can be regarded as a security deposit.

Fines: It is very easy these days for car rental companies to recover road fines such as speeding and parking tickets from clients. A fine will be forwarded to you by email or WhatsApp. Much as you can pay the fine, you are also obliged to pay the costs for forwarding the penalty. This administration fee is between USD30 to USD60. We, therefore, recommend travelers stick to the traffic rules and drive carefully at the time.

Parking at Entebbe International Airport

Entebbe Airport offers a wide range of suitable car parking options located close to the terminal building.

Upon entry to Entebbe International Airport, car parking is automated for a smoother experience. At the entrance, drivers are advised to slow down, stop at the ticket dispensing machine, press a button and wait for a parking ticket which takes about 10 seconds for the ticket to be issued, pick it and slowly approach the barrier.

It is very important to keep the ticket safely because it is required when exiting the airport.

Alternatively, if you wish to plan in advance and depart with peace of mind, we recommend undergoing a pre-booking procedure and having a car park space of your choice! Yes, ParkVia works with car park operators at the airport to provide the right spaces at the best prices, locations, services, and products all in one place.

Airline companies at Entebbe international airport

Entebbe airport services more than 13 airlines offering flights to different destinations. The following are the airlines that operate at Entebbe airport; Aerolink Uganda, Brussels Airlines, Eagle Air, Egypt Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Air Tanzania, Fly Dubai, Emirates, Kenya Airways, KLM, Precision Air, Rwanda Air, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines.

Entebbe airport has contributed greatly to Uganda’s tourism industry whereby it operates domestic chartered flights which fly to a number of national parks and reserves in Uganda such as Bwindi Impenetrable national park for gorilla trekking, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison falls national park, and Kidepo Valley National Park for wildlife experience