Uganda Airlines has secured fifth freedom traffic rights from Ghana, allowing the national carrier to transport passengers and cargo between Lagos, Nigeria, and Accra, Ghana, in order to strengthen its West African operations and improve the commercial prospects of its new route.
The approval allows the airline to carry passengers travelling specifically between Nigeria and Ghana, in addition to those connecting through the two West African cities to or from Entebbe, Uganda.
Uganda Airlines Chief Executive Officer Girma Wake confirmed the development during the reception of the airline’s inaugural flight at Kotoka International Airport in Accra on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
“We first of all thank the Ghana Civil Aviation for offering us all the support required, for giving us fifth freedom traffic between Accra and Lagos,” Wake said.
The approval comes as Uganda Airlines expands its African network, with the Accra service operating four times a week through Lagos using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft wet-leased from Ethiopian Airlines.
The airline plans to increase the frequency as demand grows, with daily and potentially twice-daily services among the options being considered.
“We’re coming to Ghana for the first time, but definitely we will continue. Not four times a week, gradually to daily and, if possible, why not double daily?” Wake said.
The fifth freedom rights could give Uganda Airlines access to a wider pool of passengers by allowing it to compete for traffic on the busy Lagos-Accra corridor, rather than depending exclusively on travellers connecting through Entebbe.
Under international aviation rules, fifth freedom rights allow an airline to carry passengers or cargo between two foreign countries as part of a journey that begins or ends in its home country. The International Civil Aviation Organization recognises these rights as part of the framework governing international air transport.
For Uganda Airlines, the arrangement creates an opportunity to generate additional revenue from the Lagos-Accra sector, improve the utilisation of its aircraft and strengthen connections between East and West Africa.
Ghana Airports Company Limited welcomed the airline’s entry into the market, saying the new service would expand passenger choice and reinforce Accra’s role as a regional aviation gateway. The company also pledged support in passenger handling, operational efficiency and on-time performance.
Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama said the new connection would reduce the time and inconvenience associated with travelling between Uganda and Ghana.
He said journeys that previously took between seven and 10 hours, depending on the connecting flights and transit arrangements, could be completed in approximately five hours using the new service.
Byamukama said the route would also create opportunities for tourism, trade and business exchanges, encouraging more Ghanaian visitors to travel to Uganda and explore its attractions.
Ghana’s Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe welcomed the service, saying improved air connectivity was necessary to strengthen trade and movement between African countries.
Nikpe also urged airlines to make tickets more affordable, arguing that expanded connectivity would have limited benefits if air travel remained beyond the reach of many Africans.
He said Ghana was investing in airport infrastructure and pursuing plans to establish a national airline following the collapse of Ghana Airways. A presidential task force examining the proposed carrier was nearing completion of its work, he added.
The Accra route builds on Uganda Airlines’ existing services to Lagos and Abuja in Nigeria. By extending its Lagos operation to Ghana, the airline is seeking to develop a stronger presence in West Africa while using Entebbe as a connecting point for passengers travelling across the continent.
New Vision reported ahead of the launch that the airline intended to operate four weekly services between Entebbe and Accra via Lagos, with the new route designed to strengthen its regional connections and build passenger volumes between the two regions.
Uganda’s government has also presented the expansion as an opportunity to increase trade and exports. In a statement issued on October 28, the Uganda Media Centre said the Accra route could help open West African markets to Ugandan products, including coffee, tea, sugar, edible oil, fruits, horticultural products and pharmaceuticals.
The new service comes as the government seeks to position Uganda Airlines as a contributor to trade, tourism and economic growth, while improving the country’s links with markets beyond East Africa.
However, the commercial success of the route will depend on passenger demand, competitive fares, reliable operations and the airline’s ability to secure connecting traffic from both Lagos and Accra.
The fifth freedom approval gives Uganda Airlines an additional commercial opportunity, but sustained growth will depend on how effectively it converts the new traffic rights into passengers, cargo and revenue.,
