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Entebbe Airport achieved a record-breaking milestone in December 2023, hosting 198,961 international passengers, marking the highest single-day record in Uganda. The surge is attributed to increased business travel, festive season, and tourism, contributing to a total of 1,932,000 passengers in 2023.

Entebbe International Airport set a record in December 2023, hosting a total of 198,961 international passengers. This milestone comprised 104,160 arrivals and 94,800 departures, averaging an impressive 6,418 passengers per day. Vianney Mpungu Luggya, the spokesperson of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), confirmed that this figure represents the highest single-day record in Uganda.

The surge in passenger numbers during December is attributed to several factors, including increased business travel, the festive season, and a boost in tourism. Notably, the year 2023 witnessed a total of 1,932,000 passengers, surpassing the pre-COVID-19 pandemic total of 1.8 million recorded in 2019.

Luggya foresees a continuation of high figures in January 2024, primarily due to two significant events: the 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Group 77 (G77) summit, coupled with the China Summit. These summits are expected to draw a substantial number of international delegates, further bolstering Entebbe Airport’s status.

The NAM summit, that kicked off at the Commonwealth Speke Resort Munyonyo, with delegates from 120 countries spanning Africa, Europe, America, the Caribbean, Asia, and the Pacific. Additionally, 18 observer states and 10 observer organizations are also participating. Uganda aims to welcome between 1,000 and 1,500 delegates during the event, scheduled from January 15^th to 23th, 2024.

Uganda’s aviation sector demonstrated significant progress in September 2023, surpassing both global and regional averages after a rigorous safety audit conducted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The country received a commendable 72.17 percent in the assessment audit, underscoring its unwavering commitment to aviation safety.

During the same period, Entebbe International Airport handled a substantial cargo load, reaching a total of 59,000 metric tons. In 2023, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that African airlines collectively transported 960 thousand tons of freight, marking an impressive 96.7 percent of the 2019 figures.

According to IATA’s comprehensive report, global airlines carried 3.4 billion passengers in 2022, a significant increase from the 2.2 billion in 2021. African airlines contributed to this growth, transporting 67 million passengers in 2022, representing a notable 55.8 percent surge. Despite this, African airlines accounted for only 2 percent of the global air traffic, emphasizing the potential for further expansion in the region.