Uganda's flag carrier · Entebbe International Airport hub · holds a direct cargo channel between China and East Africa (Entebbe-Guangzhou). A330-800neo belly capacity and a regional fleet serve perishables, temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals and African transhipment cargo.
Chinese partner: Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited. We provide booking, clearance and end-to-end logistics for international air freight, including routings from China to Uganda, Africa and major markets worldwide.
Uganda Airlines (IATA two-letter code UR, ICAO three-letter code UGD) is Uganda's flag carrier, headquartered and hubbed at Entebbe International Airport (EBB). For shippers in China the core value is the Entebbe-Guangzhou nonstop: Chinese exports of machinery, building materials and consumer goods to Uganda, and Ugandan return cargo of cut flowers and coffee, move efficiently on that flight and the Entebbe regional network.
The present airline relaunched in August 2019 and serves about 17 scheduled destinations in East Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe. The fleet is mainly 2 Airbus A330-800neo widebodies and 4 Bombardier CRJ900 regional jets; the A330-800neo flies Dubai, Mumbai, London and Guangzhou, with belly capacity providing steady cargo space.
Cargo is marketed as UR Cargo and covers general cargo, perishables and temperature-controlled goods, pharmaceuticals and repatriation. Of particular note for shippers in China: in June 2022 the airline opened Entebbe to Guangzhou Baiyun, the first direct route between Uganda and China after the pandemic, giving a direct channel for flowers, agricultural products, pharmaceuticals and industrial goods between the two countries. Uganda Airlines has no dedicated freighters, cargo moves mainly in passenger belly holds and payload per shipment is limited, so book early when high-season space is tight; for cargo between China and Uganda or elsewhere in Africa, ask us for space and rates.
| Airline | Uganda Airlines (UR Cargo) |
| Company type | Flag carrier (passengers and cargo) |
| Country | Uganda |
| Headquarters/hub | Entebbe (Entebbe International Airport, EBB) |
| Founded | Predecessor 1976; present company relaunched August 2019 |
| IATA two-letter code | UR |
| ICAO three-letter code | UGD |
| Air waybill prefix | 109 (per public AWB directory) |
| Official website | www.ugandairlines.com Cargo site www.ur-cargo.com |
| Fleet size | A330-800neo x2, CRJ900 x4 (plus a wet-leased A320) |
| Nonstop to China | Entebbe-Guangzhou (about one flight a week, opened June 2022) |
The new-generation Airbus widebody flies Dubai, Mumbai, London and Guangzhou with generous belly volume, providing steady capacity for long-haul cargo.
UR Cargo focuses on flowers, fruit and vegetables, seafood and other perishables plus temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals, with airport-to-airport temperature-controlled service.
Entebbe is Uganda's only international airport and the export gateway for East African flowers and horticulture, connecting to regional airports such as Nairobi and Mombasa.
UR Cargo also handles general cargo, pharmaceuticals and repatriation under its own standards for documents, packing and handling.
The essentials: UR Cargo is positioned as an East African gateway with a perishables express lane. Chinese exports of machinery, building materials and consumer goods to Uganda, and Ugandan return cargo of flowers and coffee, move efficiently on the Entebbe-Guangzhou nonstop and through the Entebbe hub. Because cargo rides in the belly, payload per shipment is limited, so secure space early in high season.
| Aircraft type | Number | Mainly flies | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A330-800neo | 2 aircraft | Dubai, Mumbai, London, Guangzhou | Twin-aisle widebody, latest NEO generation, about 261 seats in three classes |
| Bombardier CRJ900 | 4 aircraft | East African points such as Nairobi, Mombasa and Zanzibar | Regional jet, about 90 seats, the mainstay of the regional express network |
| Airbus A320 (wet lease) | 1 aircraft | High-demand routes | Wet-leased capacity top-up, deployed as needed |
Note: fleet composition and numbers follow the airline's latest publication; public information in 2026 shows some aircraft in maintenance or storage and actual capacity is subject to booking confirmation. Uganda Airlines has ordered Boeing 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner aircraft and the fleet will keep growing.
| A330-800neo | Widebody twin-aisle airliner |
| Seat layout | About 261 seats in three classes (20 business, 28 premium economy, 213 economy) |
| Maximum range | About 15,000 km (8,150 nautical miles as quoted by Airbus) |
| Wingspan | About 64 m |
| Belly cargo | Generous widebody belly volume taking containers and bulk cargo; payload per the carrier's confirmation |
| CRJ900 | About 90 seats, the mainstay of East African regional routes |
The A330-800neo belongs to the Airbus A330neo family, with new-generation engines and winglets and markedly better fuel efficiency than the previous A330; range of about 15,000 km covers Entebbe to Guangzhou, London and Mumbai. For cargo the widebody fuselage means more belly volume and payload, so space beyond passenger baggage takes air containers and bulk cargo, a dependable vehicle for long-haul freight.
The CRJ900 is a Bombardier regional jet, now part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, with about 90 seats, agile performance and modest field requirements; it serves high-frequency short East African routes such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam. Its belly is small but keeps the regional capillaries open, gathering cargo from across East Africa at Entebbe for the A330-800neo to carry to China, the Middle East and Europe.
Nairobi and Mombasa (Kenya), Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), Juba (South Sudan), Bujumbura (Burundi), Kigali (Rwanda, from November 2026), Mogadishu (Somalia) and Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo), flown at high frequency by CRJ900s and feeding the Entebbe hub.
Lagos (Nigeria), Accra (Ghana, from October 2026), Johannesburg (daily, South Africa), Cape Town (South Africa) and Lusaka (Zambia), linking the main economic centres of west and southern Africa.
Dubai (UAE), Mumbai (India), London Gatwick (UK) and Guangzhou (China), the medium and long-haul trunk flown by the A330-800neo and the main cargo routes.
| Destination | Weekly flights | Aircraft operated | Flight time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai (DXB) | 4 flights a week | A330-800neo | About 5 h 25 min |
| London Gatwick (LGW) | 3 flights per week | A330-800neo | About 9 h 25 min |
| Mumbai (BOM) | 3 flights per week | A330-800neo | About 7 h 10 min |
| Lagos (LOS) | 3 flights per week | A330-800neo | About 4 h 30 min |
| Guangzhou (CAN) | About 1 flight weekly | A330-800neo | About 9 hours |
Note: schedules are compiled from the UR Cargo website (2026); flight times and aircraft may change and the airline's publication and booking confirmation apply. The Guangzhou route opened in June 2022 and its frequency varies with the season and capacity.
Through the Guangzhou nonstop, the Entebbe hub and the regional network, Uganda Airlines reaches markets in East, West and southern Africa plus the Middle East, South Asia and Europe. The main directions from China are:
Booking connections:For cargo from Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing and other cities, we first move it to Guangzhou on a domestic or regional flight and connect to the Uganda Airlines nonstop to Entebbe; for other East African destinations it can connect at Entebbe on one air waybill. Uganda Airlines does not cover China-US routes; for that use a trans-Pacific carrier such as Delta or United, which we can arrange as well.
One of the few nonstop options between China and Uganda, about 9 hours direct without transit waiting, so flowers, seafood and other time-critical cargo reach Kampala and nearby markets sooner.
UR Cargo treats perishables (flowers, fruit and vegetables, seafood) and temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals as priority products, with temperature control and fast loading from Entebbe to destination.
Entebbe sits at the centre of East Africa and connects to regional airports such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Juba and Bujumbura, so one booking covers several East African Community markets.
The A330-800neo is young and fuel-efficient with reliable long-haul performance, and its belly takes air containers and bulk cargo for volume shipments.
General cargo, temperature-controlled perishables, pharmaceuticals and repatriation each have their own handling standards and documentation, which suits shippers with strict requirements.
As the flag carrier Uganda Airlines has state support and stable traffic rights, and is one of the official channels for Ugandan and East African trade.
Note: Uganda Airlines relies mainly on passenger belly holds with limited payload per shipment, so oversize, overweight or whole-aircraft loads should be assessed for charter or freighter options; China-US routes are not covered, so use a trans-Pacific carrier.
| Official website | www.ugandairlines.com (passenger) www.ur-cargo.com (cargo) |
| Headquarters/hub | Entebbe International Airport (EBB) |
| Address | P.O. Box 431, Entebbe, Uganda |
| China office | No directly owned China office is publicly listedNone available Book space through a freight forwarder or via ur-cargo.com |
| Air waybill prefix | 109 (per public AWB directory) |
Note: booking in China is best handled through a freight forwarder, which brings faster Chinese-language service, confirmed rates and end-to-end tracking.
Entebbe International Airport is the gateway for Uganda's flower and horticulture exports. Uganda is one of Africa's significant cut-flower producers, and roses and similar stems demand tight transit times and temperature control. UR Cargo uses the nonstop Guangzhou link and the Entebbe hub to load flowers within hours of picking; the flight reaches Guangzhou in about 9 hours and the cargo then moves on to major Chinese cities, giving the Chinese market a fast air link from African flower farms to Chinese flower markets.
Pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biological products and perishables such as seafood and fruit are temperature sensitive. UR Cargo runs dedicated procedures for temperature-controlled cargo, managing temperature and transit from acceptance and loading through to delivery; where a cold chain is needed, the forwarder can arrange insulated containers and temperature loggers to keep quality stable along a long transport chain.
UR Cargo provides compliant repatriation of human remains, covering documents, packaging and destination clearance as a complete process and handling cross-border movement with professionalism and respect. Its cargo operation also supports rapid movement of international aid and relief supplies, making it part of the humanitarian logistics system in East Africa.
Entebbe sits in the interior of East Africa and its CRJ900 regional network connects Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, Burundi and Rwanda. Chinese shippers can fly cargo to Entebbe and distribute it across East Africa, or consolidate cargo from those countries at Entebbe for onward movement, creating a China to Entebbe to East Africa corridor with flexible distribution for importers and exporters working the African market.
Note: the service information above is drawn from public material on the UR Cargo website; handling details and rates are subject to confirmation at booking.
Yes. A nonstop Entebbe to Guangzhou service opened in June 2022 at about one flight a week; cargo from other Chinese cities such as Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing moves first to Guangzhou and connects to that flight, or routes via Dubai, Doha or Addis Ababa.
Not at present. Cargo moves in the belly holds of A330-800neo and CRJ900 passenger aircraft, so capacity per shipment is limited; for large, outsized or heavy shipments we assess freighter or charter options and compare them.
Guangzhou to Entebbe is about 9 hours nonstop; with domestic feeder flights, export clearance, loading and destination clearance and delivery, door to door normally takes 3 to 5 days to Kampala, and 5 to 8 days via a Middle East or Addis Ababa connection. Perishables should use the nonstop rotation to keep transit short.
No. Uganda Airlines covers East Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and Europe and does not serve the trans-Pacific direction; for China to US cargo use Delta, United or similar carriers, and we can arrange the full China to US air program.
General cargo such as machinery, building materials, consumer goods and textiles fits well, as do time- and temperature-sensitive loads such as flowers, fruit and vegetables, seafood and pharmaceuticals. Dangerous goods and outsized or overweight pieces need their acceptance conditions confirmed in advance.
Public information in 2026 shows some aircraft under maintenance or parked, and available capacity moves with the season. We verify the latest space situation before booking and, where space is tight, recommend booking earlier or offer an alternative.
The nonstop Guangzhou to Entebbe service runs a fixed schedule of about one flight a week and suits time-critical flowers, perishables and urgent shipments. Connections via Dubai, Doha or Addis Ababa are more frequent and suit cargo with looser deadlines where space availability matters more. We advise nonstop or connecting routing according to shipping date and commodity; actual schedules are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
Space on each nonstop rotation is limited, so provide the commodity, pieces, weight and dimensions and your target flight date as early as possible to secure Guangzhou to Entebbe capacity. If aircraft are under maintenance or peak-season space is tight, we propose a Middle East connection as an alternative and set out the document requirements at the time of booking.
Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited is based in Shenzhen, China and specializes in international air freight from China to the United States and other major world markets. It holds capacity on Uganda Airlines' East Africa nonstop and on China to US mainline services, covering booking, export clearance, air carriage, import clearance and delivery. Space on the nonstop Guangzhou to Entebbe flight is limited on each rotation, so we verify the carrier's latest capacity and parking situation when accepting a booking and separate nonstop from Middle East connecting options by commodity; perishables and flowers go on the nonstop rotation wherever possible. Schedules change with the season and are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking. Transport plans and quotations are available on request.
Disclaimer:Prepared by Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight). Airline names, codes and brand marks mentioned here belong to their respective owners, and our company has no affiliation, agency or investment relationship with the airlines described. The information is compiled from public sources for reference only and does not form a contract of carriage or a commitment. Space, rates and schedules are subject to actual confirmation by the carrier or its authorized agent at the time of booking.