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In Summary: Uganda Airlines this week launched direct flights between Entebbe and Accra, Ghana, introducing four weekly services intended to improve travel between East and West Africa. Government officials say the route will support trade, tourism, investment and access to West African markets for Ugandan exporters.
Entebbe, Uganda — Uganda Airlines this week launched direct flights to Accra, Ghana, in a major expansion of its African network that government officials say could strengthen trade, investment and tourism links between East and West Africa.
The route, launched on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, is the airline’s 18th destination and will operate four times a week between Entebbe International Airport and Kotoka International Airport using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
The direct service is expected to reduce travel time between Uganda and Ghana to approximately five hours, offering passengers an alternative to connecting flights that previously required transit through other countries.
Beyond passenger travel, the government is positioning Accra as a strategic gateway for Ugandan businesses seeking access to West African markets, particularly for agricultural products, manufactured goods and pharmaceuticals.
Speaking at the launch, State Minister for Planning Hon Amos Lugoloobi said the route should be developed into an economic asset by strengthening the airline’s cargo-handling capacity.
“To ensure that this route serves as an important economic asset, we must optimize our cargo capabilities to handle a range of Uganda’s high value exports. This direct connection will open West African markets to our premium agricultural products including roasted coffee, tea, sugar, edible oil, fruits, horticulture and pharmaceuticals,” Lugoloobi said.
He also called on Ghanaian investors to establish long-term partnerships with Ugandan enterprises, pointing to opportunities in manufacturing, energy, information and communications technology and healthcare. “On the investment front, economic transformation requires productive capital and technology. Uganda offers immense opportunities across manufacturing, energy, ICT and healthcare.”
For travellers, the direct connection is expected to reduce the time and inconvenience associated with reaching Ghana from Uganda.
Uganda Airlines Board Chairperson Priscilla Serukka said passengers previously had to travel through Europe before returning to Africa to reach some West African destinations. “You had to first fly to Europe and then come back to Africa,” Serukka said.
She said the airline was working towards expanding its network to 24 destinations, while pledging reliable services and effective management.
The Minister of Works and Transport, Byamukama, also highlighted the time savings expected from the new service, saying passengers previously spent between eight and ten hours in transit, depending on their connecting route. “But now we shall use about five hours maximum. This saves time and removes all those inconveniences we are going through,” he said.
Round-trip fares on the new route start at $550, according to the launch information, giving passengers another option for travelling between the two countries.
Acting Uganda Airlines Chief Executive Officer Girma Wake said the airline’s broader ambition was to contribute to national economic growth by connecting businesses, investors and tourists across the continent.
“Our end goal is to be an engine of change, productivity, growth and prosperity for the nation we serve. We believe we are not only serving Ugandans and Ghanaians. We connect the whole of Africa through Entebbe to Ghana,” Wake said.
He described the route as an economic bridge between East and West Africa, bringing businesses closer to customers, investors closer to opportunities and tourists closer to destinations. Wake also pointed to opportunities for tourism exchanges, saying Ugandans could visit Ghana’s historical sites while Ghanaian travellers could experience Uganda’s wildlife and freshwater fish.
The new service is also being presented as an opportunity to strengthen Uganda’s position as a regional aviation and transit hub, with Entebbe serving as a connecting point for passengers travelling between different parts of Africa.
Speaking at the launch, Ambassador Richard Kabonero highlighted the contribution of Uganda’s foreign missions to the airline’s route expansion efforts. He cited diplomatic engagements in South Africa and Somalia aimed at addressing challenges affecting air connectivity and said Uganda’s mission in Ghana was ready to support the new service.
The expansion comes as African countries seek to increase trade and economic cooperation under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with improved air connectivity expected to support the movement of people, goods and services.
Government plans to complement the airline’s international network expansion with improvements to regional airport infrastructure.
Byamukama said Kabalega International Airport had reached 90 per cent completion and was expected to be launched in early 2027. He also identified Arua and Mbarara airports as part of the government’s plans to strengthen domestic aviation, tourism and connectivity.
Deputy Director of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority Birungi Lumonya congratulated Uganda Airlines on the expansion, saying the national carrier contributes almost 30 per cent of transit traffic at Entebbe International Airport. She pledged continued regulatory support while emphasising the importance of compliance with aviation standards.
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