Uganda Airlines to Launch Kigali and Accra Flights, Breaking Route Monopoly

Uganda Airlines is set to break years of market dominance enjoyed by RwandAir on the Entebbe-Kigali route, officially announcing the launch of daily flights to the Rwandan capital starting November 18, 2026.

The aggressive expansion plan also includes four weekly non-stop flights to Accra, Ghana, beginning October 27, 2026, marking a decisive move by the national carrier to bridge trade and passenger travel between East and West Africa.

For years, Rwandan flag carrier RwandAir has enjoyed an almost total monopoly on direct, scheduled passenger services between Entebbe International Airport and Kigali International Airport. While third-country carriers like Brussels Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and EgyptAir operate multi-stop services between the two cities, non-stop daily connectivity has remained heavily dominated by Kigali.

Uganda Airlines will deploy its fleet of Bombardier CRJ-900 regional jets for the daily Kigali service.

Acting Chief Executive Officer Girma Wake acknowledged that the entry into Rwanda was long overdue, stating that the Kigali route was started very late and should have been launched on day one. His comments highlight the strategic priority of the Entebbe-Kigali transit corridor, which serves as one of the East African Community’s busiest trade and diplomacy routes.

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Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Uganda, John Rutabana, welcomed the national carrier’s announcement, noting that direct competition will likely push ticket prices down, broaden travel options, and deepen bilateral socio-economic ties between the two neighbouring states.

Alongside the Kigali launch, Uganda Airlines is targeting West Africa’s expanding commercial market under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.

Starting October 27, the airline will fly four times weekly to Accra, Ghana. The West African route will be operated using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft wet-leased from Ethiopian Airlines (registration ET-APL).

Girma Wake emphasized that both Accra and Kigali represent commercially lucrative markets driven by rapid growth in trade, government delegations, corporate travel, and tourism. He added that the launch of Accra and Kigali marks another key milestone in Uganda Airlines’ growth strategy, strengthening commercial links while offering guests greater convenience and travel choices.

The airline aims to turn Entebbe International Airport into a regional connecting hub, allowing travelers from Kigali and Accra to seamlessly transit to Lagos, Abuja, Juba, Kinshasa, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Zanzibar, and upcoming long-haul routes.

The route rollout coincides with a transformative fleet upgrade. Uganda Airlines recently signed a purchase agreement with American aerospace giant Boeing to acquire eight brand-new aircraft, marking the airline’s first direct purchase order from Boeing.

 Four Boeing 737-8 Aircraft: Designated for high-density regional routes, Middle Eastern destinations, and services into India.

 Four Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners: Designated for intercontinental long-haul operations connecting Uganda to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Explaining the choice of manufacturer, Girma Wake noted that while Airbus and Boeing offer comparable technology, Boeing’s superior support ecosystem across Africa—including technical support, flight simulators, and pilot training facilities—made it the most operational and practical choice for the carrier.

Uganda Airlines, which resumed commercial operations in 2019, currently operates a mixed fleet of two Airbus A330-800neo aircraft, four Bombardier CRJ-900 regional jets, and one wet-leased Boeing 737-800.