Uganda Airports Guide
Every Uganda safari begins and ends at an airport — but the strip that gets you to the gorillas or the Nile is rarely where your international flight lands. Match the wrong landing point to your lodge or gorilla sector and you can burn half a morning on transfers you thought you had avoided.
This guide covers the five airports and airstrips most relevant to Murchison Falls safaris and the western wildlife circuit: Entebbe International Airport, Pakuba in Murchison Falls National Park, and the south-western strips at Kihihi, Kisoro and Kasese. See also our domestic flights to Murchison Falls page and fly-in vs road safari guide.
Entebbe International Airport (EBB)
Entebbe International Airport (IATA: EBB, ICAO: HUEN) is Uganda’s sole international gateway. It sits on the northern shore of Lake Victoria, roughly six kilometres south-west of Entebbe town and about 40 kilometres from Kampala — typically one to one-and-a-half hours by road. Runway elevation is approximately 1,153 metres; the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority manages all operations.
Passenger numbers exceeded 2.24 million in 2024, with a new terminal opening from January 2026 to lift capacity to 3.5 million annually. Allow time for immigration if you are not connecting to a domestic flight the same afternoon. Aerolink Uganda and Bar Aviation depart for Pakuba, Kasese, Kihihi and Kisoro; Kajjansi Airfield south of Kampala is an alternative. Most long-haul arrivals need an overnight in Entebbe before flying to the parks.
Pakuba Airfield — Murchison Falls
Pakuba Airfield (IATA: PAF, ICAO: HUPA) is the main strip for fly-in safaris to Murchison Falls National Park. It lies in the park’s northern sector on a 1,760-metre murram runway at roughly 721 metres elevation — about 275 kilometres and 60 to 75 minutes by air from Entebbe, versus five to six hours on the road to Paraa.
Aerolink flight A8 121 departs Entebbe at 13:00 and reaches Pakuba, Bugungu or Chobe around 14:00; return A8 122 leaves at 14:20 and reaches Entebbe by approximately 17:15. Services run daily except March, April, May and November, with a minimum of four passengers per airstrip. Pakuba suits north-bank lodges and the Buligi game-drive circuit — typically 10 to 40 minutes by pre-arranged 4×4. No terminal, no night lighting; daylight-only operations. See our Pakuba Airstrip page for lodge-by-lodge detail.
Kihihi Airstrip — Northern Bwindi and Ishasha
Kihihi Airstrip (IATA: KHX) in Kanungu District is the gateway to the Buhoma and Ruhija gorilla sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and to the Ishasha tree-climbing lion sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Flights from Entebbe take about 90 minutes; Aerolink runs morning and afternoon departures at 07:00, 10:30 and 13:00 on the current timetable.
Road transfers run roughly one to one-and-a-half hours to Buhoma and about two and a half hours to Ruhija. If your gorilla permit is for Rushaga or Nkuringo, Kihihi is the wrong strip — the mountain drive south takes around four hours. Book Kisoro instead. Passengers leaving Murchison on the afternoon Pakuba departure can connect to Kihihi around 15:30 on certain routings.
Kisoro Airstrip — Southern Bwindi and Mgahinga
Kisoro Airstrip serves the Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors of Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park at the base of the Virunga volcanoes. UCAA has upgraded the runway to asphalt, roughly 1,130 to 1,200 metres, at high altitude in mountainous terrain near Kisoro town.
Flights concentrate in the morning when visibility is best. Aerolink A8 111 departs Entebbe at 07:00 and arrives around 08:15; return A8 112 leaves Kisoro at 08:30. Transfers to Ntebeko Gate at Mgahinga take about 45 minutes to one hour; Rushaga and Nkuringo lodges sit one and a half to two hours by road. Arrange ground transport before you board — there is no public taxi rank at the apron.
Kasese Airfield — Queen Elizabeth, Kibale and Rwenzori
Kasese Airfield (IATA: KSE, ICAO: HUKS) sits four kilometres from Kasese town at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains, elevation approximately 3,146 feet. The 1,750-metre grass runway serves Queen Elizabeth National Park, chimp trekking at Kibale Forest (roughly two hours via Fort Portal) and climbs into Rwenzori Mountains National Park.
Flight time is about one hour and fifteen minutes. Morning service departs at 07:00 and arrives at 08:15; an afternoon leg leaves at 13:00 and lands around 15:30. Transfers to Mweya or Katunguru take 30 to 45 minutes. Kasese requires a minimum of two passengers — lower than Pakuba’s four. Onward flights connect to Kihihi and Kisoro without returning to Entebbe.
Choosing the Right Strip
Match the airstrip to your accommodation bank — Pakuba for north-bank Murchison lodges, Bugungu for the south bank. Match it to your gorilla permit sector — Kihihi for Buhoma and Ruhija, Kisoro for Rushaga, Nkuringo and Mgahinga. Build around published flight windows: the midday Murchison service, morning Kisoro departures and afternoon Kasese returns rarely align without an overnight between parks.
Expect a 15-kilogram soft-bag limit, daylight-only bush-strip operations and suspensions in March, April, May and November. Charters operate year-round; scheduled one-way fares run US$250–350. Confirm permit sector and lodge location before tickets are issued.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which airport do international flights use in Uganda?
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Entebbe International Airport (EBB) near Lake Victoria — Uganda’s only international airport, roughly 40 kilometres from Kampala. Pakuba, Kihihi, Kisoro and Kasese handle domestic and charter light aircraft only.
- Should I fly to Kihihi or Kisoro for gorilla trekking?
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Kihihi for Buhoma and Ruhija; Kisoro for Rushaga, Nkuringo and Mgahinga. Confirm your permit allocation before booking any domestic flight.
- How long is the flight from Entebbe to Pakuba?
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About 60 to 75 minutes on Aerolink’s scheduled service. The road alternative from Entebbe to Paraa takes five to six hours.
- Can I fly from Murchison Falls to Bwindi in one day?
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Yes, on certain Aerolink routings — A8 121 lands at Pakuba around 14:00 and afternoon connections continue to Kasese or Kihihi. These do not run during the March–May and November suspension months.
- What is the baggage limit on Uganda safari flights?
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Most operators limit passengers to 15 kilograms in soft-sided bags. Hard suitcases do not fit Cessna Caravan holds.
Plan Your Safari
The right airport puts you closest to your lodge, gorilla sector and first game drive — not necessarily the one with the shortest flight on paper. Browse our Murchison Falls safari packages, explore signature Uganda safaris, and read the travel times between Uganda national parks guide when you are ready to fix dates.