UCAA to Open New Passenger Terminal in January, Revealed Director General-Bamwesigye.

By Abraham Lincolns

Entebbe

Entebbe International Airport is set to open a newly completed passenger terminal to the public in January 2026 amid record-breaking passenger traffic, expanded routes, and ambitious airport development plans across the country. Uganda’s aviation sector is closing 2025 on a high note with a 20,000-square meter terminal, expected to boost Entebbe’s passenger handling capacity from the current two million passengers to at least 3.5 million passengers annually.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala on Tuesday, Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) Director General Fred Bamwesigye assured the country that the new terminal comes at a critical time when international traffic has already surpassed pre-existing records.

“The international passenger traffic between January to November 2025 stands at 2,247,145 and this has already exceeded the entire 2024 figure of 2,243,104 even before accounting for the busy December period,” Bamwesigye said.

The new terminal features three additional aerobridges bringing the total to five, 24 new check-in counters in addition to the existing 22, and 14 self-check-in counters, significantly improving passenger flow and service efficiency.

Bamwesigye attributed the surge in air traffic to the expansion of Uganda Airlines, increased tourism promotion, and the return of international conferences and sporting events.

“Overall air traffic has grown due to the commencement of Uganda Airlines flights to London Gatwick,Harare and Kinshasa, the entry of new operators into Ugandan airspace, sustained tourism promotion, and the resumption of major international events,” he noted.

According to Bamwesigye , cargo traffic has also remained strong given the stable economic environment and increased international trade.

Uganda is currently served by 19 international scheduled airlines, with 27 licensed air operators. In 2025, new routes were launched by Flynas on the Riyadh–Entebbe route, Fanjet Express between Nairobi and Entebbe, Malawi Airlines from Lilongwe, and Safari link from Nairobi.

Uganda has continued to strengthen its international aviation ties through Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASAs). In 2025 alone, the country negotiated or signed BASAs with Argentina, Denmark, Guyana, Norway, Sweden, Eswatini, Qatar, Ethiopia, Latvia, and the Central African Republic.

“To date, Uganda has concluded BASAs with 64 countries, which is critical for building a robust air transport network that connects us to major cities worldwide,” Bamwesigye said.

UCAA has also invested heavily in air navigation and safety systems, upgrading navigation aids at Entebbe, Soroti, Kasese, Hoima and Gulu, while rolling out extended-range VHF radio communication to improve pilot–air traffic control communication.

Plans are underway to upgrade the Entebbe radar system in the 2025/26 financial year, followed by the phased acquisition of a state-of-the-art surveillance system including ADS-B backup between 2026 and 2030.

With Uganda scheduled to co-host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027, UCAA is accelerating upgrades at key upcountry airports of Gulu Airport to international status, completion and

operationalization of Kabalega International Airport in Hoima, and plans to develop Arua and Kasese airports into code 4E international facilities.

Despite the progress, UCAA faces several challenges, including inadequate funding for upcountry aerodrome improvements, land constraints at Entebbe and other airports, and mounting government

Debt standing at Shs166.6 billion by June 2025.

As Entebbe International Airport prepares to welcome passengers into its modern new terminal in January, UCAA says the focus will be on matching infrastructure upgrades with improved service

delivery.

“I urge all service providers at Entebbe to ensure that the services they render to passengers match the revamped infrastructure,” Minister Byamukama said.

With rising passenger numbers, expanding routes and major infrastructure projects underway, Uganda’s aviation sector appears poised for sustained growth if funding, land, and service challenges can be effectively managed.