By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
NATIONAL
Airspace disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East have negatively affected passenger and cargo traffic through Entebbe International Airport, the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has revealed.
Addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Friday, UCAA Director General Fred Bamwesigye said the aviation industry globally had suffered major disruptions following the temporary closure of parts of Middle East airspace linked to the Israeli-Iran conflict that escalated in February this year.
“We know there are developments in the aviation industry, particularly in the Middle East, that have caused airspace disruptions. But we have been containing them to ensure that we remain operational,” Bamwesigye said.
He noted that the Middle East remains one of the world’s biggest aviation hubs, hosting major global carriers and serving as a key transit route for international travel.
Several airlines operating routes through the Middle East, including Emirates, Air Arabia, Qatar Airways and Uganda Airlines, temporarily suspended flights before gradually resuming operations.
“Most airlines have resumed operations, but they are not yet back to normal levels. They continue to monitor the situation and adjust schedules accordingly,” he said.
According to UCAA, the disruptions have contributed to increased air ticket prices and reduced passenger and cargo volumes, with ripple effects on sectors such as tourism, hospitality and trade.
Bamwesigye said international arrivals through Entebbe declined by nearly eight percent between February and March compared to the same period last year, while departures fell by 8.5 percent.
Cargo volumes also dropped significantly, with exports declining by nearly 30 percent and imports by about nine percent.
Despite the decline, aircraft movements within Uganda’s flight information region increased by almost eight percent, which Bamwesigye attributed to Uganda’s continued reputation as a secure aviation corridor in the region.
“We are still an island of aviation security in the region,” he said.
However, he noted that passenger numbers started recovering in April.
UCAA recorded 94,320 arriving passengers and 94,810 departures in April, translating into a total of 189,130 international passengers, an average of 6,304 passengers daily.
Cargo traffic, however, remained below last year’s levels, with the airport handling 4,823 metric tonnes in April compared to about 6,000 metric tonnes in April 2025.
Meanwhile, UCAA also announced preparations to handle large numbers of Muslim pilgrims departing for Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage between May 8 and May 20.
The first batch departed aboard NAS flights on Friday, while subsequent groups will travel on Emirates, Qatar Airways, Ethiopian Airlines and FlyDubai.
Olive Birungi Lumonya, the Deputy Director General of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), urged travellers to arrive early at the airport due to expected congestion arising from both Hajj travel and preparations for President Yoweri Museveni’s inauguration slated for May 12 at Kololo Independence Grounds.
“We advise all departing passengers to plan ahead and allow additional time for check-in and airport processes,” she said.
