Uganda Airlines has today launched its much anticipated Accra ,Ghana route bringing the number of destinations being operated by the national carrier to 18 across three continents .
On a fully booked flight with 154 passengers on- board Uganda Airline’s Boeing 737-800 which is operated on a wet lease from Ethiopian Airlines , left Entebbe International Airport (EBB) to Kotoka International Airport (ACC) in Accra, Ghana, at 10.27am –registering yet another land mark in the expansion journey of the Crane . ( In aviation industry ,a wet lease means an aircraft is leased with its crew.)
Cheered on by jubilant well-wishers, Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transport , Mr. Fred Byamukama, who flagged -off the five-hour inaugural flight from Entebbe to Accra ,recalled that Ghana’s founding President, Kwame Nkrumah ,six decades ago –championed the vision of Africa whose political independence would be matched by economic cooperation and integration.
“Today, improved air connectivity is one practical way to advance that vision,” Byamukama declared amid ululation .
The Minister added that Africa cannot fully realise its economic potential if its people, goods and services cannot move efficiently across the continent.
Mr. Fred Byamukama, Minister of Works and Transport
The Entebbe–Accra service, Byamukama noted is a step towards addressing the interconnectivity challenge on the African continent.
“It will offer travellers a direct connection between two important commercial centres, facilitate business engagement, support tourism and strengthen people-to-people relations,” he stated.
The Minister was particularly pleased by Ghana’s visa-free entry policy for holders of all categories of Ugandan passports, noting that this practical cooperation makes African integration meaningful to ordinary citizens, entrepreneurs, and investors.
Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Tourism Board Juliana Kagwa and Uganda Airlines Board of Directors Chairperson ,Ms.Priscilla Serukka , have a light moment with a Uganda Airlines crew member
“As we implement continental initiatives such as the Single African Air Transport Market and the African Continental Free Trade Area, improved connectivity must go hand in hand with policies that make it easier for Africans to travel, trade and invest across borders, the Minister added.
State Minister for Planning Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Amos Lugoloobi, highlighted the strategic economic impacts of the new service and emphasized that the flight does far more than just add a new route; it serves as a powerful economic bridge connecting East and West Africa. He noted it would bring businesses closer to consumers, investors closer to opportunities, and tourists closer to their destinations.
Mr. Amos Lugolobi, State Minister for Planning
He stated that for a landlocked nation like Uganda looking to expand international ties, “International air connectivity is not a luxury; it is an economic necessity.”
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.
Mr. Girma Wake , the Acting Chief Executive Officer and consultant for Uganda Airlines , said the airlines will fly the route four times weekly .
Wake Uganda Airlines consultant and interim CEO
Wake justified the decision to open the new routes saying improved scheduling and connectivity within the EAC region and the continent would lead to increased traffic volumes to facilitate businesses, trade and tourism.
The Deputy Director General Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) , Ms. Olive Birungi Lumonya ,said the regulator recognises the strategic importance of the national carrier and remains committed to working closely with its Board and Management to support its safe, secure, efficient and sustainable growth.
Ms.Olive Birungi Lumonya Deputy Director Generaal UCAA
“Our relationship is guided by a clear understanding of our respective mandates. Uganda Airlines is responsible for delivering reliable air transport services, while UCAA is responsible for regulating and overseeing the industry in accordance with the Civil Aviation Act, applicable Uganda Civil Aviation Regulations, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices, and approved procedures,” she stated.
In this regard, Lumonya said the Authority continues to provide comprehensive regulatory, technical and safety oversight to Uganda Airlines. This includes oversight of the airline’s compliance with applicable safety and operational requirements, as well as engagement to support continuous improvement in its systems, processes and service delivery.
Shakila Rahim Lamar, (left)Head of Corporate Affairs and Marketing at Uganda Airlines with a guest at the launch event
“The growth of air transport must go hand in hand with the protection of passengers and the improvement of service standards. As more travellers choose Uganda Airlines, their expectations for reliable schedules, clear communication, appropriate assistance and fair treatment become increasingly important. In this regard, UCAA continues to work with the national carrier to strengthen compliance with applicable consumer protection requirements and improve the handling of passenger concerns,” she added .
Ambassador Richard Kabonero Head of Regional Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that expanding aviation links forms a core pillar of Uganda’s economic and commercial diplomacy across Africa.
Ms.Priscilla Serukka ,Uganda Airlines Board Chairperson told the audience that Uganda Airline’s Accra route serves as a strategic gateway into West Africa, helping grow Entebbe International Airport into a stronger regional hub and expanding the airline’s network to 18 destinations.
