Updated
Entebbe International Airport, Uganda’s main gateway, is served by Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa, Kenya Airways via Nairobi, RwandAir via Kigali, Emirates and flydubai via Dubai, Qatar Airways via Doha, Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, Brussels Airlines from Brussels, and the national carrier Uganda Airlines, which flies direct from London Gatwick, Dubai and several African cities.
KLM has also served Entebbe from Amsterdam, but its flights were disrupted in 2026. Most visitors from Europe, North America, Asia and Australia fly with one stop. Which airline is best depends on where you start, the price, and the time you land.
African airlines
Ethiopian Airlines has the largest African network, with several daily flights between Addis Ababa and Entebbe and connections from Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia, and it is often the cheapest option. Kenya Airways links Entebbe with Nairobi, a short flight of about an hour, connecting to its long-haul routes and partner airlines. RwandAir connects Entebbe with Kigali and onward to Europe, the Middle East and Africa, which suits trips combining Uganda and Rwanda.
Uganda Airlines, relaunched in 2019, flies regional routes in East and Southern Africa and longer routes including Dubai, Mumbai and, since May 2025, London Gatwick, the only non-stop link between the UK and Uganda.
Gulf and European airlines
Emirates and flydubai fly from Dubai, and Qatar Airways from Doha, connecting Entebbe to a huge network across Europe, Asia, Australia and North America; these are the usual choices from Australia and much of Asia. Turkish Airlines flies from Istanbul, with connections from many European and North American cities. Brussels Airlines has long flown to Entebbe from Brussels, which is easy to reach from the Netherlands, France and Germany. KLM served Entebbe from Amsterdam, often via Kigali, but suspended flights in 2026; check the current schedule.
Some routes stop in another African city on the way, so check whether your flight is non-stop.
Choosing by where you start
From the UK, Uganda Airlines’ direct flight from Gatwick is the fastest, and one-stop options include Ethiopian, Emirates, Qatar, Turkish and Brussels Airlines; see our guide to London to Entebbe. From the rest of Europe, Brussels Airlines, Turkish, Ethiopian and the Gulf carriers are the main choices.
From North America, Ethiopian via Addis Ababa, Turkish via Istanbul, the Gulf carriers and European airlines via their hubs are common. From Australia and Asia, Emirates and Qatar via the Gulf are the usual routes; see our guide for travellers from Australia.
Things to compare
Beyond price, compare total journey time, the length of the connection, and the arrival time in Entebbe. Many flights land late at night or very early in the morning, which affects whether you can head straight to a park or need a night near the airport.
Check the baggage allowance, as safari kit and camera gear add up, and remember that domestic flights to Bwindi allow only about 15 kg. Business travellers and those with long layovers may value a good transit airport such as Doha, Dubai or Istanbul. Our guide to the cheapest flights to Uganda covers booking strategy.
Kigali and Nairobi as alternatives
Kigali in Rwanda is often the better gateway for gorilla trekking in southern Bwindi or Mgahinga, only 3.5–5 hours away by road, and is served by RwandAir, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian and others. Nairobi has the widest choice of international flights in the region, with short onward flights to Entebbe. See our guide to Kigali to Bwindi by road.
After you land
Have your e-visa approval, passport and yellow fever certificate ready for immigration; see our guide to the Uganda e-visa. From Entebbe, the journey to Bwindi takes 8–10 hours by road or about 1.5–2 hours on a domestic flight; see our guide to domestic flights.
Frequently asked questions
Ethiopian, Kenya Airways, RwandAir, Uganda Airlines, Emirates, flydubai, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and Brussels Airlines, among others.
Uganda Airlines flies non-stop between London Gatwick and Entebbe. Most other routes from Europe have at least one stop.
KLM has served Entebbe from Amsterdam, but suspended flights in 2026. Check the current schedule.
Ethiopian via Addis Ababa, Turkish via Istanbul and the Gulf carriers are common choices, depending on your departure city and dates.
Airline route choices to Entebbe are changing rapidly as Uganda’s tourism profile rises. Carriers that served Uganda with small turboprops a decade ago now offer widebody aircraft on the same routes, reflecting demand growth. Checking whether your preferred airline’s current fleet assignment on the Uganda route matches its historical pattern — a route sometimes served by larger aircraft in peak season and smaller aircraft in shoulder months — affects comfort significantly on long-haul connections.
