Uganda Airlines has landed in Ghana’s capital, Accra, launching direct flights between Entebbe and the West African city in a move expected to strengthen trade, tourism and investment ties between the two countries.
The inaugural flight makes Accra the national carrier’s 18th destination and establishes a direct connection between East and West Africa, reducing the need for travellers to transit through other countries.
Minister of Works and Transport Fred Byamukama said the service would operate four times a week, cutting travel time between Entebbe and Accra to about five hours.
“Previously we could use about seven to eight hours, or even 10, depending on the country you are transiting through. But now we are going to board a direct flight; we shall use about five hours maximum,” Byamukama said during the launch.
He described the route as an important step towards improving African connectivity, saying Uganda Airlines would help advance the country’s trade, tourism and wider economic ambitions.
The launch comes as Uganda pursues greater regional trade and economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to expand commerce among African countries.
State Minister for Planning Amos Lugoloobi said the new route would help translate trade agreements into practical business opportunities by making it easier to move goods, services and people between the two markets.
“Today, we are doing far more than introducing a new airline route. We are actually building a powerful economic bridge between East and West Africa, bringing our businesses closer to customers, our investors closer to opportunities, and our tourists closer to destinations,” Lugoloobi said.
He said Ugandan exporters could use the connection to reach West African markets with products including coffee, tea, sugar, edible oils, fruits, juices, fresh fish, horticultural produce, manufactured goods and pharmaceuticals.
Lugoloobi also invited Ghanaian investors to explore opportunities in Uganda’s manufacturing, energy, information and communications technology, healthcare and financial services sectors.
He said the route could support tourism in both countries, allowing Ugandans to visit Ghana’s historic sites and cultural attractions while making Uganda’s wildlife and natural destinations more accessible to Ghanaian travellers.
Uganda Airlines’ chief executive Girma Wake said the connection was intended to strengthen Entebbe’s role as a regional hub for passengers travelling to East Africa and Southern Africa, while creating opportunities for cargo and passenger traffic between the two regions.
“Flying to Accra is not just flying to another destination; it is connecting routes together,” the chief executive said.
The airline also sees potential for cultural exchange between the two countries, whose historical links include their shared support for African unity.
A new destination for the national carrier
Uganda Airlines Board Chairperson Priscilla Serukka said Accra was a strategic addition to the carrier’s expanding network and would make travel between East and West Africa more convenient.
She said the launch coincided with the airline’s seventh anniversary and brought it closer to its ambition of serving 24 destinations.
Serukka, however, emphasised that network expansion must be supported by dependable operations, prudent financial management and accountability.
“The board remains committed to working with management to strengthen accountability, provide strategic oversight, and ensure that we pursue our commercial ambitions sustainably,” she said.
Uganda Civil Aviation Authority Deputy Director Olive Birungi Lumonya said Uganda Airlines contributed close to 30 per cent of passenger traffic at Entebbe International Airport.
She said the authority had also observed growth in transit passengers using Entebbe since the national carrier resumed operations.
Lumonya said Uganda had established 64 bilateral air services agreements with other countries, providing a framework for airlines to access international markets.
She reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to regulatory and safety oversight as Uganda Airlines continues to expand its network.
Diplomacy and easier travel
Ambassador Richard Kabonero, representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the new route would strengthen Uganda’s economic and commercial diplomacy.
He said the ministry and Uganda’s diplomatic missions had supported the airline’s expansion and would continue working to open more routes.
“We look forward to the 19th, which is Kigali, just next month, and our missions are ready,” Kabonero said.
He also highlighted the visa-free travel arrangements between Uganda and Ghana, saying they could encourage tourism, business and cultural exchange.
The direct connection is expected to benefit travellers who previously relied on connecting flights to reach either country, while giving businesses another option for accessing markets across the continent.
The success of the route will depend on passenger demand, cargo volumes and the extent to which businesses and tourism operators in Uganda and Ghana use the new connection to build lasting commercial links.
