Uganda Airlines on Wednesday, 5 August 2026, announced the launch of direct flights to Accra, Ghana, and Kigali, Rwanda, at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel in Uganda, unveiling a major expansion aimed at improving African connectivity, supporting trade and strengthening tourism links across the continent.
The new routes will see flights to Accra begin on 27 October 2026, operating four times weekly, while services to Kigali will commence on 18 November 2026, with daily flights.
Also read: US Embassy Nigeria announces dates services will be unavailable in 2026
The announcement brought together government officials, diplomats, business leaders and aviation stakeholders, who described the expansion as a significant step towards building stronger economic and social connections between African nations.
Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. Fred Byamukama, who officially launched the routes, said the development represented another milestone in Uganda Airlines’ growth and its contribution to national and continental 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,” Byamukama said.
He described Kigali and Accra as carefully selected destinations with strategic importance, noting that Rwanda’s capital would strengthen East African integration, while Ghana’s capital would provide Uganda with improved access to West African markets.
Byamukama added that the new services would support the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by making it easier for people, goods and businesses to move across borders.
He also disclosed that the Ugandan government is supporting the airline’s long-term growth plans through an aircraft expansion programme involving an order for eight Boeing aircraft, including four Boeing 737s, four Boeing 787 Dreamliners and two cargo aircraft.
Uganda Airlines Chief Executive Officer Ato Girma Wake said the new routes represented more than an expansion of aviation services, describing them as part of Africa’s broader effort towards unity and closer cooperation.
Reflecting on his personal connection with Ghana, Wake recalled his experience in the country in 1977 and highlighted the importance of stronger African ties.
“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.
Wake noted that the Accra route would create fresh opportunities for trade and business cooperation between Uganda and Ghana, while the daily Kigali flights would provide passengers with more convenient travel options, including same-day return possibilities.
Uganda Airlines Board Chairperson Priscilla Mirembe Sseruka said the new routes reflected the airline’s commitment to sustainable expansion and its vision of creating stronger connections for commerce, tourism and investment.
Permanent Secretary at Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bagiire Vincent Waiswa, praised the airline’s service improvements and said efficient air transport remained essential for connecting economies and bringing nations closer together. He also highlighted Accra’s role as the host city of the AfCFTA Secretariat.
Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Ambassador Joseph Rutabana, welcomed the Kigali service, saying it would deepen bilateral relations, reduce travel challenges and provide passengers with more alternatives to lengthy road journeys.
The Honorary Consul of Ghana in Uganda, Kwame Ejalu, described the Accra route as a historic development in Uganda-Ghana relations and linked it to the wider dream of African integration.
Quoting Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, Ejalu said: “The forces that unite us are intrinsic and greater than superimposed influences that keep us apart.”
The launch of the Accra and Kigali services represents another major step in Uganda Airlines Expands Flight Routes strategy as the carrier seeks to position Entebbe International Airport as a continental hub connecting African markets with greater efficiency.
Also read: US Embassy Nigeria announces dates services will be unavailable in 2026
The expansion comes at a time when African aviation stakeholders continue to push for improved intra-African travel, with easier movement of people and goods seen as a key driver of economic growth and regional cooperation.
Mariam Balogun is a contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
