Kampala, August 5, 2026 — Uganda Airlines has announced the introduction of direct scheduled flights to Accra, Ghana, and Kigali, Rwanda, marking a significant expansion of its African network and intensifying competition on the busy Entebbe-Kigali corridor.
The national carrier revealed the new routes during a breakfast event at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel on Wednesday, attended by government officials, diplomats, business leaders and aviation stakeholders. Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama formally unveiled the services, describing them as a key milestone in Uganda’s regional integration agenda.
Flights to Accra will commence on October 27, 2026, operating four times a week on a Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Daily services to Kigali will begin on November 18, 2026, operated by the airline’s Bombardier CRJ900 regional jets.
“Each new route we open is a bridge that brings our people closer together, creates economic opportunities and enhances Uganda’s position on the African continent,” Byamukama said. He noted that the Kigali service will deepen economic ties within the East African Community by facilitating business travel, tourism and cultural exchange, while the Accra route will provide a direct gateway to West Africa and support the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Acting Chief Executive Officer Girma Wake described the launches as another key milestone in the airline’s growth strategy. “As Africa’s connectivity continues to grow, these routes will strengthen commercial and tourism links while offering our guests greater convenience and more travel choices. We remain committed to connecting Africa and supporting regional integration through reliable and efficient air transport,” Wake said.
On the Kigali route, Wake acknowledged that the service was long overdue. “We started the Kigali route very late. I believe it should have been launched on day one,” he remarked, adding that daily flights would allow passengers the flexibility of same-day return travel. For years, RwandAir has largely dominated direct scheduled passenger services between the two capitals.
Accra becomes Uganda Airlines’ second West African destination after Lagos. The airline said both cities have remained under-connected to much of Eastern and Southern Africa and were previously unserved by the carrier from Entebbe.
The expansion comes as Uganda Airlines advances a major fleet renewal programme. The government is supporting an order for new Boeing aircraft, including Boeing 737s for regional and continental operations and Boeing 787 Dreamliners for long-haul routes, aimed at increasing capacity and opening further international destinations.
Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Ambassador Joseph Rutabana, welcomed the Kigali connection, saying it would further deepen bilateral relations between the neighbouring countries.
Uganda Airlines said the new routes form part of its strategy to build a commercially sustainable network and strengthen Entebbe International Airport as a regional hub linking East, West and Southern Africa. Bookings for the new services are now open via the airline’s website and sales channels.
The move is expected to boost trade, tourism and investment flows while giving travellers more choice on two strategically important African corridors.