Its eight days in the run- up to Uganda Airlines’ scheduled launch of its daily flights to Kigali Rwanda on November 18th 2026 in a concerted effort to increase regional air travel, boost trade and tourism .
The new Kigali route is the 19th destination to be operated by Uganda Airlines -across three continents ( Africa, Asia and Europe ) in a strategic transformation of Entebbe International Airport as a major regional hub.
The national carrier will operate the route using its tested and proven Bombardier CRJ-900 regional jet .
Mr. Girma Wake , the Acting Chief Executive Officer and consultant for Uganda Airlines , said the new routes will improved scheduling and connectivity within the EAC region and the continent -leading to increased traffic volumes to facilitate businesses, trade and tourism.
“The Kigali destinations will unlock new opportunities for both the airline and Uganda’s economy . This new route presents significant opportunities in business, trade , tourism and investment –which are key drivers for air transport demand ,” Wake stated adding that Kigali remains under-connected and Uganda Airlines is going to bridge that gap.
Wake , however , regretted to note that the Kigali route has come rather too late- noting it should have been launched on day –one.
“This route will not only strengthen bilateral relations but also contribute to the realisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by making air travel and commerce in the EAC region and across our continent more accessible and efficient,” Uganda ‘s Minister of Works and Transport Fred Byamukama stated while announcing the new route recently .
The minister explained that the opportunities created by an expanded route network, from trade and export growth to increased tourism and greater foreign investment, align with Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy under the National Development Plan IV (NDP IV), an agenda to transform Uganda into a modern, prosperous and globally connected economy.
“By strengthening and expanding our aviation sector, we are laying the foundation for accelerated growth across industries, ensuring that Uganda Airlines becomes both a driver and a symbol of our country’s long-term aspirations.”
“ We are building a network that connects Uganda to the region, to the continent, and to the wider world. Each new destination must serve a larger purpose: supporting national development, improving connectivity for travelers, and creating long- term value for the Ugandan people,” Byamukama added.
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.
The Minister for the Presidency, Milly Babalanda, has called for improved institutional performance , effective implementation of government programmes and stronger accountability in the 32 government’s Governance and Security Programme (GSP) agencies .
Babalanda stressed that the achievements so far recorded under the period under review should be felt and appreciated by the ordinary Ugandans at the grassroots.
Babalanda also called upon government institutions to deal with the persistent performance gaps in accountability, gender equity, refugee resilience and international cooperation if Uganda is to achieve its national development ambitions.
In a speech delivered on her behalf by the Minister for Kampala, Hajait Minsa Kabanda, during the opening of the 5th Annual Performance Review of the Governance and Security Programme (GSP) for the 2025/2026 financial year at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala, Babalanda noted the progress made but hastened to add that the – ultimate measure of success should be the impact of government interventions on citizens.
“We must be careful not to equate the performance with the achievement of our national objectives,” she said, urging implementing institutions to focus on outcomes that improve governance, security and public service delivery.
The well attended review held under the theme under the theme: ‘a peaceful and secure Uganda; advancing the rule of law and enabling social economic transformation’ brought together government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to assess progress in governance, security, justice, human rights and accountability.
Among the areas requiring urgent attention, Babalanda highlighted Uganda’s performance on governance indicators, noting that the African governance index stood at 49.21 per cent against a target of 60 per cent.
Implementation of audit recommendations stood at 59 per cent, while gender and equity compliance reached 61 per cent against a target of 70 per cent.
The country’s refugee resilience performance also remained below expectations at 39 per cent against a target of 53 per cent, with declining financing identified as a major constraint.
The international cooperation score similarly remained below its target, while another performance indicator, which recorded a score of 0.104, fell short of the planned target of 0.385.
Babalanda said the gaps reflected the need for stronger implementation, improved institutional coordination and more effective utilisation of public resources.
The Minister challenged government institutions to ensure that audit recommendations are acted upon rather than left outstanding, while gender and equity commitments must be reflected in government budgets, expenditure and service delivery.
“These results require our collective attention,” she said, calling on participants to identify the underlying causes of poor performance and propose realistic, measurable and time-bound interventions.
The minister also emphasised patriotism as a critical requirement for effective implementation of the Governance and Security Programme, saying public officials must place national interests above personal ambitions.
“Patriotism is not merely an expression of love for our country. It is demonstrated through our commitment to protecting the vital interests, preserving national unity, respecting the law and serving our people with integrity,” Babalanda said.
She said government officials should demonstrate patriotism by safeguarding public resources and ensuring that government interventions deliver value to citizens.
Development partners, she added, should align their financial and technical support with national priorities, strengthen institutional capacity and promote sustainable development rather than create dependence on external funding.
Babalanda further urged civil society organisations and other non-state actors to contribute to national development through constructive engagement, independent oversight, service delivery and evidence-based advocacy.
The minister outlined the five strategic priorities that should guide implementation of the GSP to include consolidating peace and security, strengthening governance and accountability, improving access to justice and protecting human rights, advancing inclusive governance and resilience, and strengthening programme coordination and results-based management.
On security, she called for sustained progress in crime reduction, expanded policing coverage and improved institutional readiness to respond to emerging security threats.
On governance and accountability, she emphasised the need for more effective policy and legislative processes, stronger anti-corruption measures, improved compliance with audit recommendations and greater value for public expenditure.
She also called for investment in justice infrastructure, forensic capacity and institutional reforms to improve access to timely and responsive justice services.
On inclusive governance, Babalanda said government must address gender and equity gaps while strengthening support systems for refugees, particularly amid financing constraints affecting refugee protection and resilience programmes.
She warned that the effectiveness of these interventions would depend on clearly defined institutional responsibilities, measurable performance indicators, realistic timelines and regular follow-up.
The minister also called for stronger coordination between government institutions and development partners, cautioning against duplication of interventions and urging stakeholders to assess partnerships based on actual results rather than resources mobilised or activities undertaken.
“Partnerships should be assessed not only by the resources mobilised or activities undertaken, but by the results achieved and the institutional capacities strengthened,” she said.
Babalanda said government retained the primary responsibility for providing leadership, policy direction, institutional coordination and accountability for national development results, but acknowledged that achieving these objectives required cooperation with other stakeholders.
The Fifth Annual Performance Review comes during the first year of implementation of the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), covering the 2025/2026 to 2029/2030 financial years, which seeks to strengthen governance, security and the rule of law as foundations for national development.
Babalanda urged participants to ensure that resolutions reached during the review translate into concrete action in the coming financial year.
“The value of this annual review will ultimately depend on how effectively its recommendations inform the work of government and its partners during the coming financial year,” she said.
The Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President who is also the Chairperson GSP programme working group, Hajj Yunus Kakande told the meeting that the strategic contribution of the 32 GSP government agencies is to enable the national transformation agenda by putting in place the necessary governance conditions that facilitate inclusive social and economic development..
“We re-enforce the economic driving sectors in the pursuit of the Uganda Vision 2040, the African Union Agenda 2063, and the United Nations Agenda 2030,” he added .
Hajj Kakande thanked Uganda’s development partners for their continued interventions in the country’s development journey . “While the duty and responsibility of ensuring adherence to the rule of law, human rights, democracy, accountability and promotion of peace and security in Uganda lies with the government of Uganda, I acknowledge the contributions of our development partners that are an indelible substantial proportion of our fabric,” Hajji Kakande stated .
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.
Moses Paul Sserwanga Esq is a distinguished Ugandan professional . He is an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda . He is the MD/Managing Editor of ugandaupdatenews.com one of Uganda's leading online news publications.He is a Development Communication and Media Consultant.He has established himself as a leading Human Rights , Commercial and Environment lawyer. He has served as Editor at Saturday and Sunday Monitor. He has also Editor at Uganda's leading daily The New Vision newspaper. He has 20 years experience as an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda and 17 years experience as development communications consultant , respectively . He has 20 years experience as a reporter and editor .He has written widely about issues of media and communication ,law reform ,human rights, gender balance, public policy , national development , good governance and the rule of law and environmental protection in Uganda.He was served as a Trainer, Presenter, Rapporteur and Resource person at different fora. Email:msserwanga@gmail.com
