Uganda Airlines launches direct flights to Abuja

Uganda Airlines has expanded its footprint in West Africa with the introduction of direct flights to Abuja, Nigeria’s administrative capital.

This makes Abuja the second Nigerian city the national carrier serves, following the existing route to Lagos.

The inaugural flight took off from Entebbe International Airport at 16:00 on Thursday, landing at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 18:15. The new route will operate twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays, using the airline’s flagship Airbus A330-800neo aircraft.

“We are proud to fulfill our promise to connect Nigeria and Uganda, with Abuja now becoming our 14th destination as part of our broader expansion strategy,” stated Uganda Airlines CEO, Jenifer Bamuturaki.

“This launch underscores our commitment to facilitating travel across Africa by offering efficient and affordable air services for business, tourism, and leisure.”

Abuja, a key yet underserved market in Africa, will now have direct connectivity to Uganda, addressing a significant travel gap between East Africa and Nigeria’s central region.

This new service is strategically designed to offer seamless connections for travelers from Nigeria’s central, northern, and northeastern regions to destinations such as Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, Mogadishu, Mumbai, and Dubai.

Uganda’s State Minister for Transport, Fred Byamukama, emphasized the importance of the new route, noting that it would boost Uganda’s tourism sector by increasing the flow of visitors from Nigeria and vice versa.

“This will enhance cultural and economic ties between our two nations, building on the foundation laid by Nigerian movies and music that have become popular in Uganda,” Byamukama said.

The addition of the Abuja route brings Uganda Airlines’ network to 14 destinations, including Bujumbura, Dar es Salaam, Dubai, Johannesburg, Juba, Kilimanjaro, Kinshasa, Lagos, Mogadishu, Mombasa, Mumbai, Nairobi, and Zanzibar.

The airline plans to further expand its network with new routes to Lusaka and Harare later this month, with four weekly flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

This expansion is part of Uganda Airlines’ broader strategy to enhance its catchment area, improve connectivity across Africa, and provide travelers with more options for business, leisure, and cultural exchange.