Kampala, Uganda: Government has allocated Shs567.32 billion to the tourism sector in the Financial Year 2026/27, with a renewed focus on destination marketing, wildlife conservation, tourism infrastructure, and positioning Uganda as a leading tourism and investment destination.
Presenting the FY2026/27 national budget on Thursday, Finance Minister Henry Musasizi said the funding will support a range of interventions aimed at increasing tourism earnings, attracting investment and enhancing Uganda’s competitiveness in the global tourism market.
The allocation forms part of the government’s broader strategy to accelerate economic growth through the Agriculture, Tourism, Minerals and Science, Technology and Innovation (ATMS) agenda.
A significant portion of the funding will go towards branding and marketing Uganda as both a tourism and investment destination. Government hopes to leverage Uganda’s unique wildlife, natural attractions, cultural heritage and growing infrastructure to attract more international visitors and investors.
The move comes as Uganda continues to recover from the effects of global travel disruptions and seeks to increase tourism’s contribution to GDP and foreign exchange earnings.
The budget also prioritises tourism infrastructure development across the country. Among the planned interventions is the construction of highway sanitation facilities and tourism site refreshment centres aimed at improving the travel experience for both domestic and international tourists.
Officials say improved infrastructure is critical to increasing visitor satisfaction and encouraging longer stays at tourism destinations.
Focus on Wildlife Conservation
Government has also earmarked funding for conservation and wildlife protection programmes intended to increase wildlife populations across Uganda’s national parks.
The intervention is expected to strengthen Uganda’s appeal as a premier wildlife tourism destination while supporting biodiversity conservation efforts.
Uganda is home to several internationally renowned protected areas, including Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Kidepo Valley National Park.
The government will also invest in improving and enforcing hospitality standards while expanding training opportunities within the tourism and hospitality industry.
Officials believe better service delivery and professional skills development will enhance Uganda’s reputation among international travellers and improve competitiveness within the region.
For the first time, government has highlighted health tourism as a strategic growth area, reflecting efforts to attract regional and international patients seeking specialised medical services in Uganda.
The budget also emphasises economic and commercial diplomacy, with diplomatic missions expected to play a greater role in promoting tourism, trade and investment opportunities abroad.
The Shs567.32 billion allocation proves government’s growing recognition of tourism as a key driver of economic growth, job creation, and foreign exchange earnings as Uganda pursues its ambition of becoming a middle-income economy.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
