Uganda Airlines expands West African operations with four weekly Accra flights

Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1244 EAT on Wednesday 28 October 2026

Uganda Airlines has launched four weekly flights between Entebbe and Accra, Ghana, expanding its African network and seeking to strengthen trade, tourism and business ties between East and West Africa.

The new route adds Accra to the national carrier’s network, offering travellers more options for direct journeys between Uganda and Ghana.

However, the flights will make a stop in Lagos, Nigeria, before proceeding to Accra, rather than operate non-stop. The service will be operated using a Boeing 737-800 wet-leased from Ethiopian Airlines.

Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama said limited air connectivity remained a major obstacle to Africa’s economic integration, forcing travellers to rely on indirect routes and transit stops when travelling between countries.

He said improved air links between East and West Africa could ease travel, strengthen commercial ties and create opportunities for tourism and investment.

The new route is part of Uganda Airlines’ efforts to position Entebbe International Airport as a regional aviation hub, connecting passengers from across Africa to international destinations.

Acting Chief Executive Officer Girma Wake said the airline was reorganising its flight schedules to improve connections between regional and long-haul services, including flights to London, Mumbai and Dubai.

The strategy aims to enable passengers arriving from other African markets to connect through Entebbe to destinations in Asia, Europe and beyond, while allowing international travellers to access more African cities through Uganda.

“We were having flights that were coming from Bombay, Dubai, and London, connecting to nowhere. Now we have made that possible,” Wake said, explaining the airline’s efforts to improve connections through Entebbe.

For travellers between Uganda and Ghana, the new service offers an additional option alongside existing connections through Nairobi and Addis Ababa.

Ghana’s Honorary Consul, Kwame Ejalu, said the route presented an opportunity to strengthen relations between the two countries and make travel between East and West Africa more accessible.

Accra, Ghana’s capital, is a major commercial and administrative centre in West Africa. Improved air links could ease access to Ghanaian markets for Ugandan traders, investors and tourists, while offering Ghanaian travellers another route into East Africa.

The potential benefits extend beyond passenger travel. Improved connectivity could facilitate business meetings, trade missions, tourism exchanges and travel for professionals working across the two regions. However, the scale of these benefits will depend on passenger demand and the route’s commercial performance.

Finance Minister Amos Lugoloobi said Uganda Airlines had grown to account for approximately 30 per cent of air traffic at Entebbe International Airport.

He argued that the airline’s expansion should be assessed not only by passenger numbers but also by its contribution to exports, productivity and broader economic activity.

The government is pursuing a tenfold growth strategy aimed at expanding the economy towards its $500 billion ambition. Improved transport links are among the measures expected to attract investment and improve access to markets.

However, the airline’s expansion faces the challenge of ensuring that new routes attract enough passengers and generate sufficient revenue to cover operating costs.

For Uganda Airlines, the Accra service forms part of a broader effort to build a commercially sustainable network while strengthening Entebbe’s role as a hub connecting African markets to international destinations.

-NilePost

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