Uganda has been selected to host the 19th World Congress on Environmental Health 2028 (WCEH 2028), a major international gathering that will bring together environmental health professionals, researchers, academics and policymakers from across the globe.
The successful bid was led by the Environmental Health Workers Association of Uganda in collaboration with the Uganda Tourism Board, with support from the Ministry of Health Uganda and the Makerere University School of Public Health.
The International Federation of Environmental Health, the global organising body, confirmed Uganda as the host nation, with the congress scheduled to take place in Kampala in 2028.
Held biennially, the World Congress on Environmental Health serves as a key global platform for addressing pressing public health challenges, including climate change, environmental risks, food safety, sanitation, urban health, sustainability and the strengthening of health systems.
The 2028 edition is expected to attract approximately 1,500 delegates over five days, generating an estimated direct economic impact of shs9.68 billion. Beyond the numbers, the event is set to unlock broad opportunities across Uganda’s private sector.
Hospitality players in Kampala are expected to benefit from extended stays by international delegates, while airlines, airport transfer services and car hire companies will support mobility throughout the event.
Professional Conference Organisers (PCOs) will have the opportunity to showcase Uganda’s capacity to host world-class international events, while Destination Management Companies and tour operators are encouraged to design pre- and post-conference packages to extend visitor stays and boost tourism revenue.
Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Tourism Board, Juliana Kagwa, welcomed the development, describing it as a strong endorsement of Uganda’s growing profile as a global meetings destination.
“Winning this bid is a testament to Uganda’s rising stature as a premier meetings and conventions destination. WCEH 2028 will not only bring global expertise to our shores but will also catalyse investment in hospitality, transport and tourism, while positioning Uganda as a hub for international knowledge exchange,” Kagwa said.
The bid process was coordinated by the Uganda Convention Bureau, a unit established within UTB to grow the country’s share of the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) market. This milestone reinforces Uganda’s broader MICE strategy and builds on recent tourism gains.
In 2024, Uganda recorded approximately 1.37 million international arrivals, representing a 7.7 percent increase from the previous year. International tourism receipts reached a record US$1.28 billion, contributing about 16 percent of the country’s total exports.
Planning for WCEH 2028 will now move into the next phase, with EHWAU and the Uganda Convention Bureau working closely with IFEH, the Ministry of Health and Makerere University School of Public Health to deliver a successful global congress.
The Uganda Tourism Board says it remains committed to attracting landmark international events that drive sector growth, expand Uganda’s global footprint and reinforce its positioning as the Pearl of Africa.