Entebbe International Airport is Uganda’s main gateway, on the shore of Lake Victoria about 40 km from central Kampala. It’s a manageable airport once you know the order of things. This guide covers arriving, getting into town and flying out, for foreign visitors and for Ugandans heading abroad.
The new terminal
The airport has been expanding for several years. According to the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, the new passenger terminal covers about 20,000 square metres and was due to open in phases from January 2026. It takes the airport from roughly 2 million to 3.5 million passengers a year, with five aerobridges in total, 24 new check-in counters on top of the existing 22, and 14 self check-in kiosks. Because areas are being brought into use in stages, the layout may not match older guides or photos. Follow the signs and ask airport staff if you’re unsure.
Arriving: visitors to Uganda
- Health desk. Have your yellow fever certificate in your hand as you walk in. Uganda had an Ebola outbreak in mid-2026, declared over in late August, so extra health screening may still be in place.
- Immigration. Most visitors need an eVisa or an East Africa Tourist Visa approved before they fly. Print the approval letter. Officers take your fingerprints and photo. Our Uganda visa guide explains which visa to get.
- Baggage and customs. Collect your bags, then pass through customs. Keep receipts for expensive camera kit or electronics you’re bringing for your own use.
Ugandans coming home go through the citizens’ lane with their Ugandan passport. It’s usually quicker, but the health checks apply to everyone.
SIM cards and money
MTN runs a service centre at the airport. According to MTN Uganda, its tourist SIM is free and you register it with your passport and visa. It stays active while your visa is valid, and you then buy a data or call bundle. Airtel SIMs are also widely sold. Registration is compulsory in Uganda, so a SIM bought from someone on the street without your passport is a bad idea.
There are forex bureaus and ATMs in the arrivals area. Bring clean, recent US dollar notes. Older, torn or marked notes are often refused or changed at a poor rate. Change enough shillings for tips, snacks and the road, and keep the rest of your dollars for the safari.
Getting to Kampala
The fastest route is the Kampala–Entebbe Expressway, a tolled road. As of 2026, the expressway operator lists the toll for a car at UGX 5,000 each way. You can pay in cash at the toll plazas, with a prepaid card or, since September 2026, by mobile money in the marked lanes. Without traffic, the drive to the south of Kampala can take under half an hour. At rush hour, allow an hour or more, especially if you’re going across town.
- Pre-booked transfer. Your driver meets you in arrivals with a name board. This is what we arrange for our guests, and it’s the least stressful option after a long flight.
- Airport taxis and ride apps. Prices vary with the car, the time and the traffic. The 2026 prices published by taxi and ride-hailing firms put a trip to Kampala roughly between UGX 80,000 and 150,000, with airport-rank taxis at the top of that range. Ride-app drivers usually meet you at a pickup point near the short-stay car park rather than at the door.
- Stay in Entebbe. If you land late, or you’re heading west early next morning, a night in Entebbe often makes more sense than driving into Kampala.
Flying out
Security starts before you reach the building. Cars are checked at the airport entrance, and there’s a screening point at the terminal door, so don’t cut it fine. The Civil Aviation Authority has advised arriving at least three hours before an international flight at busy times, and pointed out that most international airlines close check-in one hour before departure. We’d treat three hours as the normal rule.
- Visitors: keep your passport and boarding pass together. Spend or change your last shillings before you go airside.
- Ugandans travelling abroad: have your passport, visa for your destination and any return or onward ticket ready at check-in. The airline must check you’re allowed in at the other end, and a missing document can stop you boarding. See our passport help page if yours is close to expiry.
- Domestic flights to the national parks leave from the same airport. Our guide to flying to Uganda’s national parks has the details, including the strict luggage limit.
Lounges
The main business lounge is the Karibuni Lounge, which was upgraded in 2025 and now seats about 300 people, with Wi-Fi, work areas, prayer rooms and a children’s play area. Business class passengers on most airlines can use it. It’s also listed by Priority Pass, so check your card or airline status before you pay at the door.
Good to know
- The airport runs day and night. Many long-haul flights leave late in the evening or after midnight.
- Download offline maps and your booking documents before you fly. Airport Wi-Fi can be patchy at peak times.
- Tell your driver your flight number, not just the time, so they can follow any delay.
If you’d like someone waiting for you when you land, or a driver to get you to the airport on time, tell us your flight details and we’ll arrange it alongside your tickets and safari.
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