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Entebbe International Airport (EBB) is Uganda’s only international airport, on the shore of Lake Victoria about 40 km south of Kampala. On arrival you go through a health check, immigration with your pre-approved e-visa, baggage claim and customs, and you will need a yellow fever vaccination certificate. Most visitors are met by their driver-guide in the arrivals hall and either stay the first night in Entebbe or continue to Kampala, about 45–60 minutes away on the expressway. Here is what to expect, step by step.
Before you fly
Apply for your visa online before travelling through Uganda’s official immigration portal: a single-entry e-visa costs US$50, or US$100 for the East Africa Tourist Visa covering Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya. Print the approval letter. Carry your yellow fever certificate, as it is checked on entry, and a passport valid for at least six months with blank pages. Plastic carrier bags are banned, so pack shopping in other bags. See our guide to Uganda’s entry requirements.
Arrival, step by step
After leaving the aircraft, you pass a health desk where your yellow fever certificate may be checked and, during disease alerts, temperatures screened. At immigration, show your passport and e-visa approval; officers take fingerprints and a photo. Queues are usually short to moderate, but several flights arriving together can mean a wait of an hour or so. Then collect your bags and pass through customs, where most tourists walk through the green channel. Declare drones, which need prior permission, and large amounts of cash.
Money and SIM cards
ATMs and currency exchange desks in the arrivals area give Ugandan shillings; bring clean US dollar notes printed in 2013 or later, as older or damaged notes are often refused. MTN and Airtel have desks where you can buy a SIM card, registered with your passport, and mobile data bundles, which are useful for mobile money and staying in touch on safari. See our guide to SIM cards and data in Uganda.
Leaving the airport
If you have booked a safari, your driver-guide or lodge will usually meet you with a name board in the arrivals hall. Otherwise, use an airport taxi or a ride-hailing app; agree the fare before setting off. Entebbe town, with lakeside hotels, the botanical gardens and the wildlife education centre, is 10–15 minutes away, which makes it ideal after a late arrival. Kampala is about 45–60 minutes via the expressway, longer in traffic on the old road. See our guide to Entebbe airport to Kampala transport.
Domestic flights and departure
Scheduled light aircraft to Kihihi and Kisoro, for Bwindi, and to other parks leave from Entebbe, with strict luggage limits of around 15 kg in soft bags. For international departures, arrive about three hours early: there is a security check at the entrance to the terminal before check-in. See our guide to domestic flights in Uganda. If you are heading straight for the gorillas, the permit costs US$800, or US$600 in April, May and November.
Frequently asked questions
Apply for an e-visa online before you travel and carry the approval letter.
About 40 km, or 45–60 minutes on the expressway.
Yes, it is required for entry to Uganda.
Yes, from MTN or Airtel in arrivals, registered with your passport.
