Uganda Airlines Entebbe–Accra Flights Start 27 October: What the New West Africa Link Means

On 27 October 2026, Uganda Airlines will fly to Ghana for the first time, opening a scheduled link between Entebbe and Accra that ties East and West Africa together through Uganda's national carrier. The new Uganda Airlines Entebbe–Accra flights will run four times a week, with a stop in Lagos, and they arrive alongside a second new route, a daily service between Entebbe and Kigali that starts on 18 November.

For travellers, tour operators and anyone doing business between the two halves of the continent, the routes are among the most significant changes to Uganda's air links this year.

What has been announced

Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama unveiled both routes in Kampala in early August, according to the Nile Post, as reported by AllAfrica. "Each new route we open is a bridge that brings our people closer together," he said.

Under the published plan:

Accra: four flights a week from 27 October 2026, flown with a Boeing 737-800 that the African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA) reports is wet-leased from Ethiopian Airlines.

Kigali: a daily service from 18 November 2026, flown with a Bombardier CRJ900 regional jet.

AeroRoutes, which tracks airline schedules, lists the Accra service as flight UR900, leaving Entebbe in the morning and routing via Lagos before reaching Accra in the early afternoon local time, with the return, UR901, leaving Accra in the evening and arriving back in Entebbe before dawn. Its listing shows the flights operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Schedules can change before launch, so check the times with the airline when you book.

Why Accra, and why now

Uganda Airlines' chief executive, Girma Wake, described both new destinations as "commercially attractive markets driven by business travel, trade, tourism and investment," according to ATTA. The airline's stated aim is to turn Entebbe into a connecting hub between Eastern, Central and West Africa.

The Ghana launch comes with a business push. MyJoyOnline reports that the airline, the Uganda Tourism Board and the Uganda High Commission in Ghana will host a Ghana–Uganda Trade and Business Forum at the Accra Marriott Hotel on 28 October, the day after the first flight, under the theme "Leveraging Air Connectivity for Trade, Tourism, Investment and Economic Cooperation."

For tourism, the route matters because of where Uganda's visitors come from. The Ministry of Tourism's 2025 Statistical Abstract shows that mainland Africa supplied 79.2 per cent of Uganda's 1.64 million international arrivals last year. Easier travel between West and East Africa gives Ghanaian and Nigerian travellers a more direct path to Uganda's parks, and gives Ugandans a new way to reach Ghana's coast, forts and festivals. See our story on Uganda's record 2025 tourism numbers for the full breakdown.

The Kigali route ends a monopoly

The Kigali service is shorter but may matter just as much to visitors on gorilla circuits that combine Uganda and Rwanda. ATTA notes that it ends RwandAir's long-standing position as the only airline flying scheduled direct services between Entebbe and Kigali. Rwanda's High Commissioner to Uganda, John Rutabana, welcomed the route, saying it could lower fares and strengthen ties between the two countries, according to ATTA.

Travellers combining Bwindi with Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park, for example, will have a second airline to choose from when flying between the two capitals. If you are planning that kind of trip, see our guide to the East Africa Tourist Visa, which covers Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya on one document.

A carrier under pressure

The expansion comes at a difficult moment for the airline. Speaking at the launch, Girma Wake said that "almost 60 per cent of our capacity was grounded because of engine problems," and that the airline had leased aircraft to keep its schedule, which "has affected our finances," as reported by the Nile Post. The grounded aircraft include two Airbus A330s and a CRJ regional jet; one CRJ was expected back within weeks and one A330 in January 2027.

The government has ordered eight new Boeing aircraft, four 737s for regional and continental routes and four wide-body jets for long-haul flying, which it says will be funded from the national budget rather than commercial borrowing. ATTA reports the order as four 737-8s and four 787-9 Dreamliners.

With the new routes, The EastAfrican reports, Uganda Airlines' network reaches 19 destinations across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

What it means for travellers

For now, the key practical points are timing and flexibility. The first Accra flight is less than three weeks away, and schedules for new routes are often adjusted in their first months, especially when aircraft are leased. If you are travelling for a fixed event, such as the trade forum in Accra, or connecting onward to a safari, leave a buffer and keep your booking flexible.

The routing through Lagos also means one stop more than a true non-stop flight, so allow for a longer journey time than the distance alone suggests.

Planning a visit

Book: Flights are sold through Uganda Airlines' own channels and travel agents. Check the current schedule before you book, as times for new routes can change.

Entry rules: Visa requirements depend on your nationality, so check with the immigration authorities of Ghana and Uganda before you travel. Uganda's single-entry tourist visa costs US$50, applied for online.

Arriving in Accra: See our Accra destination page for what to see, when to go and getting around.

Arriving in Entebbe: see our Entebbe page for where to stay on arrival, and our guide to the best time to visit Uganda before you choose your dates.

Photo: Francisco Anzola / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).