Domestic Airports

The domestic air travel is limited (today in total 32,000 passengers in and out of the 11 airports managed by Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA): Civil Aviation Authority – Uganda (caa.go.ug)

At present no substantial air cargo facilities other than Entebbe International Airport are expected to be operational in the short and medium term.

Table 2.2.1 Uganda: Functional airports in country:

• Arua Airport is one of the domestic airports and is located in the city of Arua, in the Northern region of Uganda.
  • The airport has an unpaved runway with length of 1,800m and width of 30m, serving single and twin prop-engine aircraft.
  • Presently, Eagle Air operates with 17 scheduled flights weekly. There are also flights performed by Mission Aviation Fellowship, United Nations, AIM Air, Samaritan Purse, Kampala Aero Club and Flight Training Centre.
  • Uganda Government is set to commence expansion works on Arua airport to international standards; the Masterplan and detailed design are prepared by the UCAA for the upgrading works of the Arua Airfield into a regional and international airport.
• Gulu Airport is a civilian and military airport located in the Northern Region of Uganda. It has a single paved runway with length of 3,100m and width of 45m.
  • The development project includes construction of a new runway, taxiways and apron, new cargo centre, new terminal complex, air traffic control tower, airport rescue and firefighting station, and an admin block.
• Kasese Airport is located in Kasese District in the Western region of Uganda. Airport has an unpaved runway with length of 1,600m and width of 30m.
  • The development project includes construction of a new runway, taxiways and apron, new cargo centre, new terminal complex, air traffic control tower, airport rescue and firefighting station, and an admin block.
• Kidepo Airport is located in Kidepo Valley National Park, in Northern region of Uganda. Airport has an unpaved runway with length of 1,280m and width of 30m.
• Kisoro  Airport is located in the Western Uganda district of Kisoro serving Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park.
• Moroto Airport is located in the Northern Uganda district of Moroto. Airport has an unpaved runway with length of 1,600m and width of 30m.
• Pakuba Airport is an airfield located in Murchison falls national park in North-western Uganda. Airport has unpaved runway with length of 1,760m and width of 30m.
• Soroti Airport is located in Eastern Uganda and majorly used by East Africa Civil Aviation Academy for training purposes. The airport has one paved runway with length of 1,860m and width of 30m.

World airport database - Airport Codes in Uganda (UG) (airport-data.com)

Procedures for Foreign Registered Aircraft:

The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) was established in 1991 with the main objective of promoting safe, regular, secure, and efficient use and development of civil aviation and carries out the following functions:

• Advisory role to Government in relation to civil aviation policy.
• Regulation of safety, security and doing business in air transport.
• Management and development of major airports within the country.
• Provision of air traffic and navigation centers.

Ongoing Projects:

Entebbe International Airport is currently being expanded to a capacity of 3 million passengers per year.

• Construction is currently ongoing; project plans include upgrade of runways, taxiways, apron expansion, new cargo terminal and a significant expansion of the passenger terminal.

Kabaale International Airport is also currently under construction in the western part of Uganda. This is a new greenfield airport.

• Main purpose of this airport is to allow transporting of materials that will be utilized in Uganda's planned oil refinery in Hoima.
• It is expected that the airport will support the development of the region's oil industry, as well as developing regional tourism and agriculture.

According to UCAA there are also plans to expand some of the up-country airports, current status is that a new passenger terminal has been completed in Arua in the Northwest region.

The government of Uganda’s relaunched national airline, Uganda Airlines, in August 2019. The carrier’s fleet is currently four Bombardier CRJ-900s and two Airbus 330 category.

The domestic market within air traffic is limited and mainly related to high-end business, oil sector, emergency services and part of the tourism market.