By John Barnes Ssentamu
Uganda’s tourism sector continues to attract global attention as the Uganda High Commission in the United Kingdom brought the group called nine hosted buyers that includes tour operators and media representatives, for a familiarisation trip ahead of the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo, POATE 2026.
The visitors arrived in Uganda on 14th May and began their tour with a flight from Entebbe to Kisoro before proceeding to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for mountain gorilla tracking.
The group encountered the famous Busingye gorilla family, made up of fifteen members led by the dominant silverback, Busingye.
The delegation later traveled to Murchison Falls National Park where they experienced game drives, nature walks, and visited the top of the world’s most powerful waterfall.
On their return journey to Kampala, they made a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary before concluding the trip at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
Speaking ahead of POATE 2026 in Munyonyo, H.E. Nimisha Madhvani, Uganda’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Ireland, said the initiative reflects the Mission’s commitment to strengthening international tourism partnerships and marketing Uganda as a premier destination.
“The peace, security, and stability that Uganda continues to enjoy under the leadership of His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has become the cornerstone of our growing tourism earnings,” she said. “Tourists seek safety and assurance before all else, and Uganda offers both in abundance.”
The High Commissioner thanked the Government of the United Kingdom and the British High Commission in Kampala for their constructive partnership in revising the UK travel advisory for Uganda. She noted that the decision has already led to a boost in tourist arrivals from the UK and Ireland and encouraged renewed investment in the hospitality and tour operations sectors.
The UK delegation joins other hosted buyers at POATE 2026, running in Kampala under the theme “Wanderlust It’s Your Time to Thrive.”
The High Commission said it is using every platform to showcase Uganda for leisure, adventure, culture, and business, and is now expanding its focus to promote Uganda as a competitive destination for the film industry.
“In all this work, we stand on the shoulders of many stakeholders,” Madhvani added. “I extend appreciation to the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, the Uganda Tourism Board, the Uganda Hotel Owners Association, the Uganda Tourism Association, the Uganda Tour Operators Association, and all private sector players for their investment, innovation, and commitment to service excellence.”
Invoking Sir Winston Churchill’s description of Uganda as the “Pearl of Africa,” the High Commissioner invited visitors to experience the country’s gorillas in Bwindi, lions in Queen Elizabeth, and the source of the Nile in Jinja.
“Together, we will ensure that the Pearl of Africa shines even brighter on the world stage,” she said.
