Uganda’s tourism sector is set for renewed focus following government commitments to market the country globally, improve tourism infrastructure and create stronger economic opportunities for local communities.
Newly appointed State minister for tourism Susan Nakawuki Nsambu said tourism remains one of Uganda’s strongest economic pillars and pledged to take the sector “to another level” through aggressive promotion of the country’s attractions and improved service delivery in tourism destinations.
“Tourism is Uganda’s second-largest revenue-generating sector and one of the biggest contributors to the country’s GDP. We are determined to take this ministry to another level,” Nakawuki said.
She noted that Uganda possesses enormous untapped tourism potential, including national parks, lakes, wildlife, sports tourism and cultural heritage, but argued that the country has not done enough to properly profile and market its attractions internationally.
Nakawuki said government plans to promote domestic tourism while also expanding Uganda’s international visibility through documentaries, exhibitions and global media platforms such as CNN, BBC and Al Jazeera.
She also highlighted persistent challenges affecting the tourism sector, including poor internet connectivity, unreliable water supply and electricity shortages in some game parks and lodges.
According to Nakawuki, government will work closely with other ministries and telecommunications companies to improve services in tourism areas.
On the recent Ebola outbreak, Nakawuki urged careful public communication to avoid damaging Uganda’s international image, noting that only isolated cases had been reported.
“It matters the way we communicate these situations because what is out there is like all Ugandans are suffering from Ebola, yet these are isolated cases,” she said.
Nakawuki further praised President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for championing economic empowerment programmes aimed at transforming Uganda into a middle-income country.
She cited the Parish Development Model (PDM), whose funding she said had increased from Shs100 million to Shs200 million per parish, as a major poverty alleviation initiative.
However, she stressed that increasing production alone is not enough without creating markets for local products, arguing that a stronger tourism sector would help absorb agricultural output and stimulate local economies.
“For example, if people increase egg production from one million trays to three million trays, where will those eggs go? Tourism will help create demand because tourists consume these products,” Nakawuki said.
She also called for a mindset change among young people, encouraging them to embrace opportunities in rural areas instead of migrating to urban centres in search of jobs.
Nakawuki said Uganda is richly endowed with resources and opportunities, adding that the country’s challenge lies not in the absence of policies but in implementation and ensuring citizens understand and benefit from government programmes.
She expressed confidence that with better planning, improved infrastructure and effective marketing, Uganda can significantly increase tourist numbers and strengthen its global identity as the “Pearl of Africa.”