Uganda Airlines to launch Entebbe-Accra route next week.

Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1107 EAT on Wednesday 21 October 2026

Uganda Airlines will launch flights between Entebbe and Accra, Ghana, next Tuesday as it expands its regional network ahead of the planned introduction of the Entebbe-Kigali route.

The two routes will bring the national carrier’s network to 19 destinations across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe, including London Gatwick.

The Entebbe-Accra service, which the airline has marketed as direct, will include a stopover in Lagos, Nigeria. Uganda Airlines says the route will operate four times a week using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

The airline has advertised a promotional return fare of $550 (about Shs 2.3 million), offering passengers another option for travel between Uganda and Ghana.

Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines currently serve the route through their respective hubs in Nairobi and Addis Ababa. Return fares range from Shs 2.4 million to Shs 3.8 million on Kenya Airways and Shs 2.2 million to Shs 3.3 million on Ethiopian Airlines, depending on demand and booking time. Fares are generally lower when tickets are booked well in advance.

Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama says improved air connectivity between East and West Africa could unlock trade and investment opportunities, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Byamukama says trade and tourism between East and West Africa remain relatively low, partly due to limited air connectivity. He says the new routes could help bridge the gap and strengthen economic ties between the two regions.

Uganda Airlines acting chief executive Girma Wake says the carrier’s expansion strategy goes beyond serving individual destinations to connecting markets across regions.

“We were having flights that were coming from Bombay, Dubai, and London, connecting to nowhere. Now we have made that possible,” Wake said.

He said the airline intends to position Entebbe as a connecting hub for passengers travelling from West Africa to destinations such as India, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania.

The new routes are part of a broader expansion plan valued at Shs 3.7 trillion, which includes growing the airline’s regional network and expanding its fleet.

Uganda Airlines has signed an agreement with Boeing to acquire 10 new aircraft as it seeks to address capacity constraints affecting some medium- and long-haul operations. The plan also includes acquiring two dedicated cargo freighters to transport agricultural exports and other goods.

The expansion is aimed at strengthening the carrier’s role in facilitating regional and international trade while positioning Entebbe as a hub for passenger and cargo connections.

However, the airline has recently faced operational disruptions, including the suspension of flights to Kinshasa over health concerns and to Dubai following the outbreak of armed conflict in the region.

Flights to Dubai have since resumed, while services to Kinshasa remain suspended. However, the airline’s management has included the Kinshasa route in its near-term plans.

The success of the expansion will depend on the airline’s ability to increase capacity, maintain reliable operations and attract enough passengers to sustain its growing network. The new routes are expected to strengthen Entebbe’s position as a regional aviation hub and improve trade and travel links between East and West Africa.

-Observer

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