Entebbe, Uganda: Uganda’s tourism sector has taken a significant step toward transformation following the country’s inaugural Top Tourism Investment Round Table, convened by the government and private sector leaders.
The high-level dialogue brought together 35 key stakeholders to map out strategies to position Uganda as a top investment and tourist destination.
The discussions focused on unlocking Uganda’s full tourism potential, highlighting urgent reforms in tax policies, infrastructure, and international branding through the ongoing Explore Uganda campaign.
Key recommendations included infrastructure and accessibility (improving road networks, air connectivity, and utilities to open up new and existing tourist sites, conservation and sustainability (increasing community involvement to preserve biodiversity while enhancing local livelihoods), harmonizing tax frameworks to create a more favorable investment climate, and strengthening security measures for tourists nationwide.
Private sector participants raised concerns over inaccurate tourism data, underfunded marketing, poor infrastructure, and bureaucratic hurdles that have hindered investment growth.
Government Commitment and Economic Outlook
Dr. Basil Ajer, Director of Tourism at the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, emphasized the need to “activate the entire tourism value chain” to make Uganda globally competitive. He pledged that an inter-ministerial meeting would be convened to harmonize solutions, with resolutions from the round table submitted to the Office of the Prime Minister.
Dr. Joseph Muvawala, Executive Director of the National Planning Authority, described the initiative as a “turning point” for Uganda’s economy. He challenged the private sector to drive growth, envisioning a tenfold increase in tourism contributions over the next 15 years.
Muvawala also highlighted Uganda’s fiscal constraints, noting that of a national budget of Shs72 trillion, only Shs32 trillion is locally collected, with the balance financed through borrowing. He underscored the importance of a private-sector-led approach to accelerate economic development.
The round table concluded with stakeholders expressing optimism that this collaboration will serve as a pivotal moment for Uganda’s tourism sector, setting the stage for increased investment, global recognition, and sustainable economic growth.
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