Uganda Airlines opens new gateway to West Africa, boosting trade, tourism and integration
Uganda Airlines on 27th October, 2026, launched the Accra route, as it expands its service across Africa. Uganda is targeting this route as a gateway to facilitate rapid movement of goods, labor and services.
Uganda Airlines on 27th October, 2026, launched the Accra route, as it expands its service across Africa. Uganda is targeting this route as a gateway to facilitate rapid movement of goods, labor and services.
“To ensure that this route serves as an important economic asset, we must optimize our cargo capabilities to handle a range of Uganda’s high value exports. This direct connection will open West African markets to our premium agricultural products including roasted coffee, tea, sugar, edible oil, fruits, horticulture and pharmaceuticals,” State Minister for Planning, Hon. Amos Lugoloobi said at the launch.
Lugoloobi also invited Ghanaian investors to establish long term ventures with Ugandan enterprises. “On the investment front, economic transformation requires productive capital and technology. Uganda offers immense opportunities across manufacturing, energy, ICT and healthcare,” he added.
This new route is the eighteenth destination in Uganda Airlines’ expanding network, reducing travel time to the West African country to 5 hours. The Chairperson Board of Directors at Uganda Airlines, Pricilla Serukka, emphasized the existing challenge for travelers to West Africa. “You had to first fly to Europe and then come back to Africa,” she said.
Serukka also mentioned that Uganda Airlines is working towards 24 destinations and promised dependable services and management.
The Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. Byamukama, highlighted the travel challenges to the West African nation. “Previously passengers could spend between eight to ten hours in transit, depending on the country one was transiting through. But now we shall use about five hours maximum. This saves time and removes all those inconveniences we are going through,” Byamukama said.
This landmark expansion will operate four weekly flights between Entebbe International Airport and Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana using a Boeing 737-800 Aircraft.
The round trip fares start at $550 giving passengers alternatives from existing connections and are expected to strengthen the commercial bridge between East and West Africa, easing movement for business travelers, opening opportunities for tourism, trade and enhancing connections between two countries with significant potential for economic cooperation.
“Our end goal is to be an engine of change, productivity, growth and prosperity for the nation we serve. We believe we are not only serving Ugandans and Ghanaians. We connect the whole of Africa through Entebbe to Ghana,” Ag. Chief Executive Officer Uganda Airlines, Girma Wake, said.
Accra is a gateway for Uganda Airlines to serve the countries in West Africa, connecting many nations and building Entebbe as a regional hub to foster trade, tourism and integration.
Girma also highlighted the tourism potential of the route to Accra. “We can bring Ghanaians here and show them the wildlife and feed them with freshwater fish and Ugandans can visit Ghana’s historical sites,” he said.
At a time when Africa is seeking to expand intracontinental trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), improved air connectivity is an important enabler of cross-border business, investment and regional integration.
“Today we are opening a powerful economic bridge between East and West Africa. Bringing our businesses closer to our customers, our investors closer to opportunities and our tourists closer to destinations,” Girma Wake said.
Speaking at the Entebbe-Accra launch, Ambassador Richard Kabonero talked about the contribution of our foreign missions in the expansion of Uganda Airline routes. He highlighted the engagements in South Africa and Somalia. “We were in South Africa for negotiations, and in Mogadishu last week to remove some bottleneck. Today a team from our mission is ready to receive you in Accra,” he said.
The Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. Byamukama, emphasized government’s commitment to expansion of regional airports like Kabalega which is at 90% completion and is expected to be launched in early 2027. Arua Airport and Mbarara Airport are also in the pipeline to promote domestic tourism and give our visitors a pleasant experience.
The Deputy Director, Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, Birungi Lumonya, congratulated Uganda Airlines for contributing almost 30% of the transit traffic at Entebbe International Airport and promised continued support while ensuring regulatory compliance.
Originally Published at Uganda Media Centre
