Uganda’s Airport Emerges as New Force in Africa’s Aviation Race, Passenger traffic jumps to 10.9% as Kampala Position as Gateway for Great Lakes aviation hub By Raymond Enoch
Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport is fast emerging as a formidable player in Africa’s increasingly competitive aviation market, with new passenger figures showing a sharp rise in international traffic and strengthening the country’s ambition to establish the airport as a major regional hub.
Industry data reviewed by Paradigm News International indicates that Entebbe handled 2,486,893 international passengers in 2025, compared with 2,243,104 in 2024, representing a 10.9 per cent increase in just one year.
The latest figures are significant because they place Entebbe among a growing group of African airports recording strong post-pandemic expansion while competing for airlines, passengers, cargo and international connectivity.
Italian aviation industry expert, Dr Imer Silvestri, highlighted Entebbe’s growth in a recent industry assessment, describing the Ugandan airport as one of the gateways increasingly worth watching in Africa’s evolving aviation landscape.
International passenger traffic at Entebbe has reportedly climbed from approximately 1.57 million passengers in 2022 to nearly 2.5 million in 2025.
The airport also handled about 69,595 tonnes of cargo in 2025, underscoring its growing importance beyond passenger travel.
With Uganda investing in airport infrastructure and targeting capacity of about 3.5 million passengers annually, Entebbe is increasingly being positioned to serve not only Uganda but the wider Great Lakes region.
At the centre of the strategy is Uganda Airlines, the national carrier, whose network expansion is expected to play a critical role in transforming Entebbe into a stronger regional connecting point.
The development comes as African countries intensify efforts to capture a larger share of the continent’s rapidly expanding air transport market.
Addis Ababa remains the dominant aviation gateway in East Africa, with Ethiopian Airlines providing the backbone of Bole International Airport’s extensive international network.
Addis Ababa handled approximately 13.13 million passengers in 2025, while Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport handled about nine million passengers, according to the industry figures highlighted by Silvestri.
But the growth of Entebbe suggests that the East African aviation hierarchy could become increasingly competitive.
Lagos, Nairobi face new competition
In West Africa, Lagos continues to occupy a strategic position as Nigeria’s principal international aviation gateway.
The Murtala Muhammed International Airport recorded about 4.3 million international passengers in 2024, while Nigeria’s airports collectively handled approximately 17.94 million passengers in 2025, comprising domestic and international traffic.
Accra, Abidjan and Dakar are also seeking to strengthen their positions as regional gateways, creating what industry observers see as an emerging contest for Africa’s aviation traffic.
A separate aviation industry assessment indicates that Africa is recording some of the strongest aviation growth globally in 2026, with traffic increasing by about 10 per cent and seat capacity expanding by approximately 18.6 per cent.
For African airports, the numbers represent both an opportunity and a challenge.
Passenger growth must be matched by investment in terminals, runways, cargo infrastructure, ground handling, air navigation, safety systems and efficient passenger processing.
For Uganda, the Entebbe figures could therefore represent more than an increase in airport activity.
They point to a broader ambition to position aviation as a driver of trade, tourism, investment and regional integration.
If the current growth trajectory is sustained, industry analysts believe Entebbe could strengthen its role as a gateway linking East Africa with the rest of the continent, the Middle East, Europe and Asia.
The challenge, however, will be converting passenger growth into a sustainable hub model capable of attracting more airlines, increasing connectivity and supporting efficient transfer traffic.
For established gateways such as Addis Ababa, Nairobi and Lagos, the rise of Entebbe provides another reminder that Africa’s aviation map is changing rapidly.
The battle for Africa’s next generation of aviation hubs is no longer a distant prospect. Entebbe has entered the race — and its numbers are demanding attention.
