A delegation of Kenyan tourism stakeholders has concluded an eight-day familiarisation (FAM) trip across Uganda, aimed at strengthening cross-border tourism collaboration and promoting the country as a top regional destination.
The trip, organised by the Uganda Consulate-General in Mombasa, sought to deepen ties between Uganda and Kenya’s tourism sectors and reciprocate an earlier visit by Ugandan operators to Kenya’s coast.
The familiarisation tour ended with a farewell dinner at Hotel Africana in Kampala, where delegates pledged to promote Uganda as a “must-visit” destination for East African travelers.
The itinerary showcased Uganda’s diverse attractions from gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and cultural tours of Buganda Kingdom heritage sites such as Kabaka’s Palace and the Kasubi Royal Tombs, to adventure tourism at the Source of the Nile in Jinja, where participants enjoyed white-water rafting and boat cruises.
The delegates also explored agro-tourism at Kaynela Farms, experiencing farm-to-table cuisine and birdwatching activities.
Ambassador Paul Mukumbya, Uganda’s Consul-General in Mombasa, emphasised that the initiative promotes complementarity rather than competition between Uganda and Kenya.
“We also have beaches in Uganda, just as Kenya has her coastal beaches but while they have the coast, we have the gorillas,” Mukumbya said. “As they promote their beaches, we promote our gorilla trekking experiences. The goal is to complement each other and grow East African tourism together.”
Mukumbya added that regional tourism offers greater sustainability than relying solely on international arrivals.
“All the numbers we want to achieve may not be possible unless we grow regional tourism, which is more reliable. These familiarisation trips allow tour operators to experience Uganda’s tourism products firsthand so they can sell them from a place of knowledge and passion,” he explained.
The trip also included a press conference in Kampala, where delegates highlighted the potential to boost visitor flows between the two neighbouring nations through joint marketing, shared events, and product development.
Among the participants was Kenyan travel influencer Sharon, who described Uganda as “a home away from home.”
She praised the hospitality, scenic beauty, and comfort of Uganda’s hotels, noting that the experience exceeded her expectations.
“My favorite was rafting on the River Nile,” she said, “but the gorilla trekking and accommodation at Gorilla Safari Lodge in Bwindi truly took the crown. It was a long ride, but worth every moment.”
The Uganda Consulate-General in Mombasa has pledged to continue organising such cross-border exchanges, with hopes of turning them into a joint Uganda–Kenya tourism initiative to further position East Africa as a unified, world-class tourism destination.
