Uganda Airlines will launch flights between Entebbe and Accra, Ghana, next Tuesday, as it expands its regional network ahead of the planned introduction of the Entebbe-Kigali route.
The two routes will increase the national carrier’s network to 19 destinations across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe, including London Gatwick.
The Entebbe-Accra service, which the airline has marketed as direct, will include a stopover in Lagos, Nigeria. Uganda Airlines says the route will operate four times a week using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
The airline has advertised a promotional return fare of $550 (about Shs 2.3 million), offering passengers an alternative to existing connections through Nairobi and Addis Ababa.
Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines currently serve the Uganda-Ghana route through their respective hubs in Nairobi and Addis Ababa. Their return fares range from Shs 2.4 million to Shs 3.8 million for Kenya Airways and Shs 2.2 million to Shs 3.3 million for Ethiopian Airlines, depending on demand and booking time. Fares generally fall when tickets are purchased well in advance.
Works and Transport minister Fred Byamukama says improved air connectivity between East and West Africa could unlock trade and investment opportunities, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Byamukama argues that trade and tourism between the two regions remain relatively low, partly because of inadequate air links, and that the new routes could help bridge the gap.
Uganda Airlines acting chief executive Girma Wake says the carrier’s expansion strategy is not limited to transporting passengers to individual destinations but also aims to connect markets across regions.
“We were having flights that were coming from Bombay, Dubai, and London, connecting to nowhere. Now we have made that possible,” Wake said.
He said the airline intends to use Entebbe as a connecting hub for passengers travelling from West Africa to destinations such as India, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania.
The new routes form part of a broader expansion plan valued at Shs 3.7 trillion, which includes growing the airline’s regional network and expanding its fleet.
Uganda Airlines has signed an agreement with Boeing to acquire 10 new aircraft as it seeks to address capacity constraints that have affected some medium- and long-haul operations. The plan also includes acquiring two dedicated cargo freighters to transport agricultural exports and other goods.
The expansion is intended to strengthen the carrier’s role in facilitating regional and international trade while positioning Entebbe as a connecting hub for passengers and cargo.
However, the airline has recently faced operational disruptions, including the suspension of flights to Kinshasa over health concerns and to Dubai following the outbreak of armed conflict in the region. Flights to Dubai have since resumed, while services to Kinshasa remain suspended, although management has included the route in its near-term plans.