Uganda Airlines has announced the launch of direct flights to Accra, Ghana, and Kigali, Rwanda, in a move aimed at strengthening African connectivity, expanding trade opportunities, and promoting tourism.
The national carrier announced that flights to Accra will begin on October 27, 2026, operating four times weekly, while flights to Kigali will start on November 18, 2026, with daily flights.
The announcement was made during a breakfast event at Sheraton Kampala Hotel on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, attended by government officials, diplomats, business leaders and aviation stakeholders.
Minister of Works and Transport Hon. Fred Byamukama, who officially launched the routes, said the expansion marked another milestone in Uganda Airlines’ growth and its role in supporting national development.
“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 the choice of Kigali and Accra was strategic, with Rwanda representing deeper East African integration and Ghana opening access to West Africa.
“Kigali, our neighbour and partner in the East African Community, represents our commitment to deepening regional ties and facilitating easier movement for business, tourism, and cultural exchange,” he said.
“Accra, a vibrant hub in West Africa, opens doors for Ugandans to engage fully with the dynamic economies of the region, while also welcoming our brothers and sisters from Ghana to explore the beauty and opportunities Uganda has to offer,” he added.
Byamukama said the routes would contribute to the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by improving movement of people and goods.
He also revealed that government was supporting Uganda Airlines’ fleet expansion with an order for eight Boeing aircraft, including four Boeing 737s, four Boeing 787 Dreamliners, and two cargo aircraft.
African Unity and Trade Potential
Uganda Airlines Chief Executive Officer Ato Girma Wake said the new routes represented more than aviation expansion, describing them as part of Africa’s journey towards greater unity.
Reflecting on his first assignment in Ghana in 1977, Wake said the country shaped his belief in African belonging. “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,” he said.
He said Accra’s addition to Uganda Airlines’ network reflected the vision of African unity championed by leaders such as Ghana’s founding President Kwame Nkrumah. “Today, what we are doing is celebrating that vision of African unity,” Wake said.
He said the Accra route would create opportunities for trade, tourism and connections with the wider West African market.
“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.
On Kigali, Wake said Uganda Airlines would introduce daily flights to provide travellers with more convenient options. “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.
Routes Reflect Growth Strategy
Uganda Airlines Board Chairperson Priscilla Mirembe Sseruka said the new routes demonstrate the airline’s commitment to sustainable expansion.
“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,” she said.
She described the routes as strategic gateways that would strengthen regional cooperation. “The two routes we are launching — Accra in Ghana and Kigali in Rwanda — are strategic gateways. They reinforce the ties of the East African Community, strengthen regional trade and support the shared progress that connects our continent,” she said.
Expansion
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Bagiire Vincent Waiswa, commended Uganda Airlines for improving its services, saying the ministry had received positive feedback from passengers.
He said aviation connectivity was essential for economic development. “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 would help bridge East and West Africa, particularly 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 Welcomes Kigali Connection
Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Ambassador Joseph Rutabana, welcomed the Kigali route, saying it would deepen relations 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 Uganda and Rwanda’s close ties made the route a natural development. “Rwanda and Uganda are neighbours and partners, and we share strong historical, cultural and economic ties. Therefore, air connectivity is one of the key drivers of this relationship,” he said.
Rutabana said the route could reduce travel costs and increase options for passengers. “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.
Ghana Consul Hails Historic Link
The Honorary Consul of Ghana in Uganda, Mr Kwame Ejalu, described the Accra route as a historic step 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 builds on decades of cooperation between the two countries.
Ejalu linked the new route to the dream of African integration, quoting Kwame Nkrumah: “The forces that unite us are intrinsic and greater than superimposed influences that keep us apart.”
The new routes mark another step in Uganda Airlines’ ambition to position Entebbe as a continental aviation hub connecting Africa to Africa.