Uganda has taken a decisive step toward transforming its tourism sector into a major economic driver following the announcement that it will host the prestigious Future Hospitality Summit Africa (FHS Africa) next year.
The summit widely regarded as one of the world’s leading hospitality investment platforms will bring together global investors, hotel brands, developers, financiers, tourism executives, and policymakers with the goal of unlocking capital and accelerating investment across Africa’s tourism and hospitality value chain.
For Uganda, hosting the summit represents far more than a conference. Sector leaders describe it as a strategic opportunity to reposition the country as a competitive tourism and investment destination on the continent.
According to Roy Bannister, the development marks a turning point for Uganda’s tourism industry, which has steadily grown over the years but still faces major investment gaps.
“Bringing FHS Africa to Uganda is a turning point. The country has made steady progress over the years, but the real opportunity lies in scaling investment. This platform connects Uganda directly to global capital and expertise,” Bannister said.
For decades, Uganda has largely marketed itself through its natural attractions, including mountain gorillas, national parks, lakes, and cultural heritage. However, tourism leaders now argue that the focus must shift beyond attracting visitors to attracting long-term investment capable of strengthening the entire tourism ecosystem.
Tourism expert Juliana Kagwa said one of Uganda’s biggest challenges remains inadequate hospitality infrastructure, especially accommodation facilities and tourism products that meet international standards.
“We need accommodation it’s as simple as that. We need beds, we need products, and we need experiences. Without that, we cannot fully monetize the tourism potential we have,” Kagwa explained.
Her remarks reflect a broader structural challenge facing Uganda’s tourism sector. While visitor demand continues to grow gradually, investment in hotels, lodges, conference facilities, and tourism experiences has not expanded at the same pace.
Industry stakeholders believe the summit could help bridge this gap by connecting Uganda to investors actively seeking tourism opportunities across Africa.
Unlike conventional tourism conferences that focus primarily on networking and discussions, FHS Africa is structured as an investment and deal-making platform where business partnerships, financing agreements, and hospitality projects are initiated and often concluded.
Kagwa pointed to previous editions of the summit where major hotel development deals were signed within days.
“This is not just about conversations. We are bringing in decision-makers people who can commit capital. By the time the summit ends, we expect to see real projects taking shape,” she said.
Uganda expects between 500 and 700 high-level delegates to attend the summit, including representatives from international hotel chains, investment funds, development institutions, and tourism agencies.
Preparations are expected to include investment roadshows, business-to-business meetings, and the packaging of bankable tourism projects aimed at attracting foreign direct investment.
The government has identified tourism as one of the country’s key economic growth sectors under the broader “ATMs” strategy Agriculture, Tourism, Minerals, and Technology which seeks to expand Uganda’s economy significantly over the coming years.
Officials believe hosting FHS Africa could accelerate Uganda’s ambitions by attracting long-term capital, strengthening the country’s global tourism profile, and creating jobs.
For the Uganda Investment Authority, the focus extends beyond attracting investors to ensuring investments create employment opportunities and skills development for Ugandans.
Rita Mugula emphasized the importance of connecting Uganda’s youthful population to opportunities emerging from the tourism and hospitality sector.
“We have a rapidly growing tourism sector and a young workforce. The opportunity is to connect the two through skills development, partnerships, and knowledge transfer from global hotel brands,” Mugula noted.
She added that Uganda also intends to position itself strategically within the wider East African tourism market.
“We are not only looking at Uganda. With the single tourist visa, we are positioning ourselves to benefit from travelers exploring the wider East African region,” she said.
Private sector players have described Uganda’s successful bid to host the summit as a milestone years in the making.
Jean Byamugisha said the development reflects the country’s growing recognition within Africa’s tourism and hospitality industry.
“Eight years ago, we attended the Africa Hotel Investment Forum in Nairobi and saw opportunities that seemed out of reach. Today, Uganda is hosting—that’s a full-circle moment for us,” Byamugisha said.
“This is our baby, and we are committed to making it one of the most impactful editions on the continent.”
Stakeholders are also pushing for investments to spread beyond Kampala into lesser-developed but high-potential tourism destinations, including national parks, lakeside regions, and culturally rich communities across the country.
The broader objective is to diversify Uganda’s tourism offering while ensuring economic benefits reach different regions.
Organizers and tourism officials have called for close collaboration between government agencies, the private sector, and the media to maximize the summit’s impact and position Uganda as a serious hospitality investment destination in Africa.
With international attention now shifting toward Uganda, expectations remain high that the summit could usher in a new phase of tourism growth one driven not only by visitor arrivals, but by the large-scale investment needed to unlock the sector’s full economic potential.
