Uganda Airlines is set to intensify competition in the East African aviation market with the launch of daily direct flights between Entebbe and Kigali from November 18, 2026, ending years of RwandAir’s dominance on the route. The new service forms part of the national carrier’s regional expansion strategy aimed at strengthening connectivity, trade, tourism and investment across Africa.
According to Nile Post, the airline also announced that it will begin four weekly flights to Accra, Ghana, on October 27, 2026, describing both Kigali and Accra as commercially attractive markets with strong demand driven by business travel, tourism and regional commerce.
The Kigali route will be operated using Uganda Airlines’ Bombardier CRJ-900 regional jets, while the Accra service will be flown by a Boeing 737-800 wet-leased from Ethiopian Airlines. Acting Chief Executive Officer Girma Wake said the airline should have entered the Kigali market much earlier, noting that the Entebbe-Kigali corridor is one of East Africa’s busiest business routes. “We started the Kigali route very late. I believe it should have been launched on day one,” Wake said.
For years, RwandAir has been the only airline consistently operating nonstop scheduled passenger flights between the Ugandan and Rwandan capitals. While some international carriers have served the route as part of multi-stop services, none has matched RwandAir’s frequency or market focus. Uganda Airlines’ entry is therefore expected to increase competition, provide passengers with more travel options and potentially lower airfares. Wake said the launch of the two new routes represents another 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,” he said. The airline believes the Kigali route will strengthen links between two of East Africa’s fastest-growing economies while providing seamless onward connections through Entebbe to destinations across Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe.
Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Uganda, John Rutabana, welcomed the development, saying increased competition on the route could reduce ticket prices, expand travel choices and further strengthen regional connectivity between the two neighbouring East African Community member states. Beyond passenger traffic, Uganda Airlines expects the route to attract growing demand from business travellers, government delegations, conference participants and tourists travelling between Uganda and Rwanda. However, the airline will face stiff competition from RwandAir, which has built strong brand recognition, customer loyalty and an established sales network on the route over many years.
