Page 113 - Jan-March 2025

Entebbe City
Entebbe City

Entebbe: relax in the Gateway to Lake Victoria Entebbe International Airport
Written by: Charlotte Beauvoisin – Diary of a Entebbe International Airport (EIA) is Uganda’s
Muzungu Uganda & East Africa Travel Blog (diaryo- primary international gateway and largest com-
famuzungu.com) mercial and military airport. It is 41 km by road
Most visitors’ first impressions of Uganda are flying from Kampala and served by a growing number of
over Lake Victoria to land at Entebbe International African, international and domestic airlines. The
Airport, the country’s first international airport. It’s a Civil Aviation Authority of Uganda is headquartered
relaxing town for a few hours - or days - but often near the airport. (Domestic flights also depart from
overlooked by those rushing to the National Parks. Kajjansi, an airstrip on the Entebbe Road).
The small town has a good selection of hotels, and Entebbe International Airport opened in 1929. In
enough activities and restaurants to keep you happy 2021, the airport opened a new departures hall
for a few days. It’s a good place for a staycation and car parks after expanding its cargo handling
away from Kampala, defined by tree-lined streets facilities.
and lake views. The airport gained global fame in 1976 during Oper-
In addition to being Uganda’s international travel ation Entebbe, when Israeli forces covertly rescued
hub, Entebbe is the location for State House, the 100 hostages from a hijacked Air France plane.
official residence and office of the President of Uganda’s President Idi Amin was reportedly caught
Uganda and several key national and international off guard by the raid.
institutions, including Uganda Virus Institute and the Attractions
United Nations.
Location Lake Victoria is Entebbe’s biggest attraction, wheth-
er for ferries to the Ssese islands, the town’s (small)
Located on a peninsula of Lake Victoria, Africa’s beaches or the leisure boat rides.
largest lake, Entebbe is nestled on the lake’s north-
ern shores. Entebbe covers an area of 56.2 square Out and about
kilometers; 20 km square of which is water. ● National Botanical Gardens: established in 1898,
the lakeshore gardens are home to a diverse
Quick Facts collection of tropical plants, birds and monkeys.
● Distance from Kampala: 34 km ● Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC) is a
● Approx. drive time from Kampala: 1-2 hours, sanctuary for various indigenous wildlife and a
depending on traffic day out for the family.
● Average Temperature: 21°C ● Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary. Boats
depart from near UWEC
● Entebbe has a tropical climate with relatively ● Reptiles Village: Ugandan snakes, crocodiles and
constant temperatures throughout the year. Jan- chameleons
uary is the city’s driest month. Entebbe’s wettest ● Sports fishing and sunset cruises
months are April and May. ● Shoebill viewing at Mabamba Swamp
● Elevation: ? ● Friday craft market
● Guided bike tours
● Latitude and Longitude: 0°03’00.0”N, ● Swimming from the sand beach that lines the
32°27’36.0”E check this (Latitude: 0.0500; Longi- shores of the lake.
tude: 32.4600) ● Entebbe Golf Club: The oldest golf course in East
● Population (2024 census): see email Africa, established in 1900.
● Monarch: Kabaka Ronald Edward Frederick ● Kigungu Historical Site: where the first Catholic
missionaries landed in Uganda.
Kimera Muwenda Mutebi II is the 35th Kabaka
of Buganda Kingdom. How to get to Entebbe
History and Background An alternative to the congested two-lane Entebbe
Entebbe, which means “seat” (or literally wood, from Road is the 26.2 km Kampala-Entebbe Expressway,
which the seat was made) in the local Luganda a four-lane toll road linking Entebbe International
language, is thought to have been named for its Airport to Kampala, Munyonyo, Kajjansi, Busega
function as the place where a Baganda chief would and the Northern Bypass.
sit to adjudicate legal cases. This recent development means it’s possible to
Entebbe became a significant British colonial ad- drive from the airport to the National Parks and all
ministrative and commercial center in 1893 and the major tourist destinations without having to drive
seat of government for the Protectorate of Uganda through central Kampala.
prior to the country’s independence in 1962. In the
same year, the capital was transferred to Kampala. For more detailed information, refer to the pages
on Entebbe in the magazine.
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