Uganda Airlines has announced new direct flights to Accra, Ghana, and Kigali, Rwanda, in a move aimed at expanding trade, tourism and regional connectivity.
The national carrier said flights to Accra will begin on October 27, 2026, operating four times weekly, while Kigali flights will start on November 18, 2026, with daily services.
The announcement was made at Sheraton Kampala Hotel on Wednesday during an event attended by government officials, diplomats, business leaders and aviation stakeholders.
Minister of Works and Transport Hon. Fred Byamukama said the expansion reflects Uganda Airlines’ mandate to support economic growth.
“Uganda Airlines was revived with a clear mission; to connect Uganda to the world and to serve as a catalyst for trade, tourism, and investment,” Byamukama said.
“Each new route we open is a bridge that brings our people closer together, fosters economic opportunities, and enhances Uganda’s presence on the continental stage,” he added.
He said Kigali and Accra were chosen because of their strategic importance to Uganda’s regional and continental ambitions.
“Kigali represents our commitment to deepening regional ties and facilitating easier movement for business, tourism, and cultural exchange, while Accra opens doors for Ugandans to engage fully with the dynamic economies of West Africa,” Byamukama said.
He added that the routes would support implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by improving movement of people, goods and services.
The minister also revealed that government had supported Uganda Airlines’ fleet expansion programme, including an order for eight Boeing aircraft and two cargo planes.
Uganda Airlines Chief Executive Officer Ato Girma Wake described the Accra route as a celebration of African unity, recalling his experience in Ghana during his first foreign assignment in 1977.
“Ghana is where I learned one of the greatest lessons of my life: an African cannot be a foreigner in another African country. Africa belongs to all Africans,” Wake said.
He said Accra’s inclusion in Uganda Airlines’ network would strengthen trade and tourism links between East and West Africa.
“There are many products that Uganda produces that can find markets in Ghana, and there are also products we need from Ghana. This is not only about trade between two countries. It is about creating the trade connections that Africa needs between African nations,” he said.
Wake said the Kigali route would provide travellers with more convenient options, including daily flights.
“We want to provide convenient schedules that allow passengers to travel between Uganda and Rwanda easily. They can even come and return on the same day,” he said.
Uganda Airlines Board Chairperson Priscilla Mirembe Sseruka said the routes demonstrate the airline’s commitment to sustainable growth.
“It is a great honour to stand before you as we mark another important milestone in the journey of Uganda Airlines — the opening of our routes to Accra and Kigali,” she said.
She said the new destinations would strengthen Uganda’s position within Africa’s growing economic network.
“Uganda Airlines continues to deepen Uganda’s connectivity with Africa by bringing people closer, supporting commerce, strengthening tourism, enabling investment and reaffirming Uganda’s place within the growing network of African opportunities,” Sseruka said.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Bagiire Vincent Waiswa, welcomed the expansion, saying improved air connectivity would stimulate economic opportunities.
“We have received extremely good feedback on the routes that you are operating at the moment, and your customers have a degree of satisfaction, which means that the airline can only grow,” Bagiire said.
He said aviation goes beyond transportation.
“Air transport does more than move people from one place to another. It connects economies, creates opportunities, and brings nations closer together,” he said.
Bagiire said the Accra route was particularly important because Ghana hosts the AfCFTA Secretariat.
“The national carrier must do more than fly aircraft. It must help fly the flag, open markets, and shorten the distance between opportunity and enterprise,” he said.
Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Ambassador Joseph Rutabana, welcomed the Kigali route, saying it would strengthen ties between the two neighbours.
“The launch of new routes is more than an expansion of an airline’s network. It is an investment in stronger regional and international connectivity, greater trade, tourism, investment, and people-to-people exchanges,” Rutabana said.
He said increased competition could lower travel costs.
“This might definitely reduce the cost of air tickets, and people might start using air mobility instead of buses, which take a lot of time,” he said.
The Honorary Consul of Ghana in Uganda, Mr. Kwame Ejalu, described the Accra route as a historic milestone in Uganda-Ghana relations.
“This is truly a historic day, not only for Uganda Airlines, but also for the Republics of Uganda and Ghana,” Ejalu said.
He said the route gives practical meaning to Africa’s integration agenda, quoting Ghana’s founding President Kwame Nkrumah: “The forces that unite us are intrinsic and greater than superimposed influences that keep us apart.”
“Every direct flight between Entebbe and Accra shortens not only the physical distance between our countries, but also strengthens the bonds of friendship, cooperation and shared destiny that unite our people,” Ejalu said.
The new routes form part of Uganda Airlines’ broader strategy to expand its African network and position Entebbe International Airport as a key continental aviation hub.