Uganda Airlines has launched direct flights between Entebbe and Accra, Ghana, opening a new air link between East and West Africa aimed at expanding trade, tourism, investment and cultural exchange.
The route, which brings the national carrier’s network to 18 destinations, is expected to reduce travel time between the two countries and provide Ugandan and Ghanaian businesses with easier access to each other’s markets.
Minister of Works and Transport Fred Byamukama said the service would operate four times a week, reducing the inconvenience of connecting through intermediate airports in Europe, Asia or other African countries.
“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 said the government viewed Uganda Airlines as a strategic asset for advancing the country’s trade and tourism ambitions, adding that improved air connectivity was essential for a landlocked country seeking to expand its international economic links.
“International air connectivity is not a luxury; it is an economic necessity,” said State Minister for Planning Amos Lugoloobi.
Lugoloobi said the route would help Ugandan products reach West African markets while encouraging investment and tourism between the two countries.
He identified potential exports including coffee, tea, sugar, edible oils, fruits, juices, fresh fish, horticultural products, soap, detergents, cosmetics, steel, plastics and pharmaceuticals.
The minister also urged businesses in Uganda and Ghana to take advantage of the new connection to develop commercial partnerships and expand trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
“This new route transforms our shared trade policies into practical realities by directly facilitating the rapid movement of goods, labour and services,” Lugoloobi said.
He added that the connection could encourage Ghanaian investors to explore opportunities in Uganda’s manufacturing, energy, information and communications technology, healthcare and financial services sectors.
Tourism and regional connectivity
Uganda Airlines Chief Executive Officer Girma Wake’s remarks were not included in the supplied transcript, but the airline’s leadership and government officials highlighted the route’s potential to connect travellers to tourism destinations in both countries.
Uganda Airlines’ chief executive described the new service as more than an ordinary flight, saying it would connect markets and make Entebbe a stronger regional hub for travellers heading to East Africa and Southern Africa.
The airline sees opportunities to attract Ugandan travellers to Ghana’s historic sites, including locations associated with the transatlantic slave trade and the Asante Kingdom, while bringing Ghanaian visitors to Uganda’s wildlife attractions and Lake Victoria.
“Flying to Accra is not just flying to another destination; it is connecting routes together,” the chief executive said.
The service is also expected to facilitate cargo movement, potentially giving Ugandan agricultural and manufactured products more direct access to buyers in Ghana.
Uganda Airlines expands its network
Uganda Airlines Board Chairperson Priscilla Serukka said Accra was a strategic link between East and West Africa and would expand travel options for passengers who previously faced lengthy connections when travelling between the regions.
She said the launch came as the airline marked its seventh anniversary and moved towards its ambition of serving 24 destinations.
Serukka also emphasised that the airline’s growth must be accompanied by sound governance, prudent resource management and reliable operations.
“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.
She urged travellers, businesses and tourism operators in both countries to use the service, saying its long-term success would depend on customer uptake.
Uganda Civil Aviation Authority Deputy Director Olive Birungi Lumonya said Uganda Airlines accounted for close to 30 per cent of passenger traffic at Entebbe International Airport, demonstrating its growing contribution to airport operations and the wider aviation industry.
She said the authority had also observed growth in transit passengers passing through Entebbe since the national carrier resumed operations.
“As UCAA, we recognise the strategic importance of the national carrier,” Lumonya said, adding that the authority would continue providing regulatory, technical and safety oversight.
She said Uganda had concluded 64 bilateral air services agreements with other countries, which support the establishment and operation of international routes.
Diplomatic ties
Ambassador Richard Kabonero, representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, described the new route as an important step in 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 additional markets.
“We look forward to the 19th, which is Kigali, just next month, and our missions are ready,” Kabonero said.
He also noted that Uganda and Ghana allow visa-free travel for holders of their passports, a policy he said could support tourism, business and people-to-people relations.
Ghana’s founding president, Kwame Nkrumah, championed African unity and economic cooperation, a vision that officials said could be advanced through more direct transport links between African countries.
Byamukama said the government expected investments in Uganda Airlines to deliver more dependable services, stronger commercial links and greater value to the economy.
The launch of the Entebbe–Accra service therefore marks a new connection in the airline’s network, with its commercial impact likely to depend on passenger demand, cargo volumes and the ability of businesses in both countries to convert improved connectivity into sustained trade and investment.
