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Uganda Domestic Flights Guide

When domestic flights help a Uganda trip, which park corridors they solve best, and what scheduled-bush-flight reality actually looks like.

By Uganda Guide Team•Reviewed by Uganda Guide Review Team••Updated October 2, 2026

Uganda domestic flights are not there to make every trip luxurious. They are there to change the geometry of the route. The best use of a flight is to remove the one transfer day that would otherwise shrink the whole trip.

Best use

Fix route geometry

Runs every month

07:00 from Entebbe

Bag limit

15 kg in a soft bag

When a flight genuinely improves the trip

A domestic flight is strongest when it makes the route broader without making it more frantic. That usually means removing a punishing transfer to or from Bwindi access airstrips, Kasese, or Murchison rather than inserting flights just because they look premium.

The right mental model is route repair. Flights do not automatically make an itinerary better; they make specific weak segments cleaner.

Where the scheduled flights actually go

AeroLink’s 2026 timetable is the public scheduled network for park flights, and every rotation in it starts at Entebbe International Airport. Kisoro serves southern Bwindi, Kihihi serves northern Bwindi, Kasese serves both Kibale and Queen Elizabeth, and Murchison is reached through the Pakuba, Chobe and Bugungu airstrips.

Choose the airstrip from the permit sector and the lodge, not from the map. Kisoro and Kihihi lead to different sides of Bwindi, so the road transfer after landing is part of the flight decision.

  • The 2026 timetable lists no scheduled Kidepo service. A Kidepo flight is a charter question.
  • Hops between bush airstrips, such as Kihihi to Kasese, are on request at seat rate rather than fixed legs.
  • AeroLink says it guarantees connections only within its own network, not onto another carrier.

Which months and departures run

Only the early rotation, leaving Entebbe at 07:00, is listed for every month. In March, April, May and November the midmorning and afternoon rotations to Kisoro, Kihihi and Kasese do not operate, and there is no scheduled Murchison service at all. Kisoro is flown only early morning and midmorning because of the weather there.

Published times are for the first stop, and they move with aircraft routing. Kasese services need at least two passengers and Murchison at least four per airstrip. AeroLink asks passengers to call its operations team on the morning of the flight for approximate bush-airstrip times.

  • In the four reduced months, plan around the 07:00 departure or a charter, not a midday connection.
  • Do not chain a bush flight to an international departure on the same day without real slack.
  • Use flight days to reduce stress, not to add more same-day complexity.

Bags, check-in and changes

AeroLink’s baggage policy allows 15 kg per person in soft-sided bags, and that allowance includes hand luggage. Excess baggage travels only at the airline’s discretion, so hard suitcases and heavy camera or sports equipment need a plan before travel day. Raise specialist equipment with reservations when you book.

The 2026 timetable sets check-in at 60 minutes before departure at Entebbe and 30 minutes at bush airstrips, while AeroLink’s general terms ask for 90 minutes. Plan on the 90-minute time. Online bookings are paid by credit card, and the same card must be shown at check-in.

The published cancellation terms give no refund within four days of travel or for a no-show. In wet months, a slow road to the airstrip can cost the seat as well as the time.

Charters and other operators

BAR Aviation’s current website presents executive charter, medical evacuation and cargo services from Kajjansi Airfield rather than a public tourist timetable. If a charter is quoted, confirm whether it leaves from Entebbe or Kajjansi before you plan the road transfer to the aircraft.

Which Uganda routes benefit most

Flights make the biggest difference on gorilla-heavy trips, broad western circuits, and Uganda itineraries that want one longer-range safari layer without giving half the trip to road time. They matter less on slower, city-light, overland-first journeys where the road itself is part of the plan.

Freshness watch

What changes fastest on this page

These are the details most likely to move between reviews. Recheck them if your trip or decision depends on a precise current number, route, or rule.

Review cadence: Before booking

Bush-flight schedules and seasonal suspensions

Domestic schedules change with season, loads, weather, and aircraft routing. Public PDFs should be treated as planning references, not as unchangeable promises.

Check source: AeroLink Uganda: Timetable 2026

Review cadence: Before travel

Airport notices and connection timing

Air transport notices and airport timing assumptions should be rechecked close to departure, especially when the trip depends on a same-day connection.

Check source: Uganda Civil Aviation Authority

Useful next reads

Fly-in vs overland Uganda gorilla trip

Use this when the flight decision is really about Bwindi route shape.

Bwindi sectors explained

Match the Kisoro or Kihihi airstrip to the sector on your permit.

Entebbe to Bwindi guide

Compare the overland and flight-access logic directly.

Uganda 10-day itinerary

See when flights turn a broader first trip into a cleaner one.

Frequently asked questions

Are domestic flights in Uganda mainly for luxury trips?+

No. They are most valuable when they fix a route problem, especially a very long overland transfer that would otherwise consume too much of the trip.

Can I plan a Uganda itinerary around scheduled bush flights?+

Yes, but only if you keep the schedule flexible enough to absorb operational changes and avoid brittle same-day chaining.

Do Uganda bush flights run every month?+

In AeroLink’s 2026 timetable, only the 07:00 rotation from Entebbe runs all year. In March, April, May and November the later rotations and the scheduled Murchison service do not operate.

Which airstrip should I fly to for Bwindi?+

The timetable lists Kisoro for southern Bwindi and Kihihi for northern Bwindi. Check the sector printed on your gorilla permit and where your lodge is before choosing.

How much luggage can I take on a bush flight?+

AeroLink allows 15 kg per person in soft-sided bags, including hand luggage. Excess is carried only at the airline’s discretion, so ask before travel if you carry heavy camera or specialist equipment.

Sources

These links are the primary factual basis for sensitive or time-specific claims on this page. Recheck them when your decision depends on a live price, timetable, permit rule, or official notice.