Uganda Airlines has launched flights between Entebbe and Accra, Ghana, expanding its network into West Africa as Uganda seeks to strengthen regional trade, tourism and investment links.
The service, the airline’s 18th destination, will operate four times a week, with passengers travelling between the two cities through Lagos, Nigeria.
Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama said the route would reduce travel time between Uganda and Ghana, with passengers previously spending seven to 10 hours travelling through intermediate airports.
“Previously we could use about seven to eight hours, or even 10, depending 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 at the launch ceremony.
The service is intended to improve connections between East and West Africa, where limited air links have made travel between the regions more difficult, while positioning Entebbe International Airport as a regional hub.
“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,” State Minister for Planning Amos Lugoolobi said.
He said the route would help translate the ambitions of the African Continental Free Trade Area into practical opportunities by facilitating the movement of goods, labour and services between African markets.
Uganda Airlines Chief Executive Officer Girma Wake said the service was part of efforts to develop Entebbe as a connecting point for passengers travelling to Uganda and other destinations in East and Southern Africa.
“For us, it is not just an ordinary flight; it’s a connector, a connector of two nations, a connector of many nations, and building Entebbe as a regional hub is one of the important aspects of our job,” Wake said.
He said the route could also support cargo transportation between Uganda and Ghana, alongside passenger traffic, creating opportunities for exporters and businesses in both countries.
Lugoolobi said Uganda could use the connection to expand exports of coffee, tea, sugar, edible oils, fresh fish, fruits, horticultural products, manufactured goods and pharmaceuticals to West African markets.
“We must optimise our air cargo capabilities to handle a comprehensive range of high-value Ugandan exports,” he said.
The route also offers opportunities to expand tourism between the two countries. Wake said Ugandans could visit Ghana’s historical sites, including locations associated with the slave trade and the Ashanti Kingdom, while Ghanaian visitors could explore Uganda’s wildlife, Lake Victoria and freshwater fish.
Uganda Airlines Board Chairperson Priscilla Serukka said the service would give travellers more options for reaching West Africa, where journeys have often required connections through Europe or Asia.
She said the airline was working towards expanding its network to 24 destinations, while stressing the importance of dependable service, accountability and prudent resource management.
Uganda Civil Aviation Authority Deputy Director Olive Birungi Lumonya said Uganda Airlines accounts for close to 30% of passenger traffic at Entebbe International Airport and has contributed to growth in transit passengers.
She said the authority would continue supporting the development of air routes while ensuring compliance with aviation safety, security and regulatory requirements.
Byamukama said the government remained committed to developing the national carrier as part of Uganda’s wider economic ambitions, adding that improved air connectivity was necessary for a landlocked country seeking greater access to international markets.
The launch comes as Uganda pursues deeper economic integration with other African countries through improved transport links and trade agreements.
