Uganda Airlines has begun operating four weekly flights between Entebbe and Accra, Ghana, expanding its African network and aiming to strengthen trade, tourism and business links between East and West Africa. The service launched on Tuesday, October 27, marking an addition to the airline's destination portfolio. However, the flights will transit through Lagos, Nigeria, rather than operate as a direct service, and will use a Boeing 737-800 aircraft wet-leased from Ethiopian Airlines.
Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama said limited air connectivity remained a significant barrier to Africa's economic integration, with travellers forced to rely on indirect connections and transit stops when moving between regions. He argued that improved connections between East and West Africa could facilitate travel, strengthen commercial ties and create opportunities for tourism and investment. The route forms part of Uganda Airlines' strategy to position Entebbe International Airport as a regional aviation hub that connects passengers from African destinations to international services.
Acting Chief Executive Officer Girma Wake explained that the airline was reorganising its flight schedules to improve connections between regional and long-haul services to London, Mumbai and Dubai. He said the airline previously had flights arriving from those cities that connected to nowhere, but the new approach now makes those connections possible. The new Accra service provides travellers between Uganda and Ghana with an additional option alongside existing connections routed through Nairobi and Addis Ababa.
Ghana's Honorary Consul, Kwame Ejalu, said the connection represented an opportunity to strengthen relations between the two countries and make travel between East and West Africa more accessible. Accra is an important commercial and administrative centre in West Africa, and improved air links could benefit Ugandan traders, investors and tourists seeking access to Ghanaian markets, as well as Ghanaian travellers accessing East Africa. The potential benefits extend to business meetings, trade missions and tourism exchanges, though outcomes will depend on passenger demand and commercial performance.
Finance Minister Amos Lugoloobi said Uganda Airlines accounted for approximately 30 per cent of air traffic at Entebbe International Airport. He argued that the carrier's expansion should be assessed beyond passenger numbers to include its contribution to exports, productivity and wider economic activity. The government is pursuing a tenfold growth strategy aimed at expanding the economy towards a $500 billion target, with improved transport links among the measures expected to support investment and market access.
The airline's expansion comes with the challenge of ensuring that new routes attract sufficient passenger traffic to generate revenue that covers operating costs and supports commercial sustainability. For Uganda Airlines, the Accra service forms part of a broader effort to build a commercially viable network while increasing Entebbe's role in connecting African markets with international destinations.