By Tumwine Byaruhanga
Uganda’s tourism sector has been allocated Shs567.32 billion in the 2026/27 Budget, with government putting money behind destination marketing, tourism infrastructure, hospitality standards, conservation and economic diplomacy.
The allocation comes at a time government says tourism has fully recovered from the COVID-19 slump, with receipts rising to USD1.86 billion in 2025. That is above the USD1.4 billion recorded in 2018/19 before the pandemic, and far from the USD562 million low posted in 2020.
Finance Minister Henry Musasizi presented tourism as one of Uganda’s strongest export industries, saying it brings in foreign exchange, creates jobs, supports thousands of enterprises and sells the country to the world.
The money will go into branding Uganda as a tourism and investment destination, developing tourism infrastructure, constructing highway sanitation facilities and refreshment centres at tourism sites, improving hospitality standards, training workers, conserving wildlife, promoting health tourism and strengthening economic diplomacy.
For the sector, the figures are encouraging. Tourism is no longer being treated only as wildlife and leisure. The Budget places it inside the country’s foreign exchange strategy, together with exports, investment promotion, diaspora mobilisation and commercial diplomacy.
Government says Uganda’s international visibility has grown under the “Explore Uganda, the Pearl of Africa” brand.
In North America, Uganda won “Best in Show – Africa” at the 2026 New York Travel & Adventure Show. In Asia, the country won the “Best Exquisite Destination Award” at the Outbound Travel Mart in Mumbai and gained visibility at a major travel and tourism exhibition in New Delhi.
The Budget also points to stronger marketing in Europe, the United Kingdom, North America, Asia, East Africa and North Africa.
Government says it used major platforms such as AFCON 2025 in Morocco and the 2025 World Travel Market in London to sell Uganda’s tourism offer. That is important because modern tourism is fought in visibility, air access, packaging and confidence. A good destination that is not seen does not sell.
Uganda has also secured bids to host two international conferences, strengthening its position in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions market.
This is one of the more serious business lines in the tourism budget. MICE tourism brings visitors who spend on hotels, transport, meals, conference services, security, media, interpretation, tours and entertainment. It also keeps hotels busy beyond the traditional leisure seasons.
The Budget further links tourism to the Economic and Commercial Diplomacy Strategy. Under this plan, Uganda’s missions abroad have been given measurable targets in tourism marketing, trade promotion, investment attraction and diaspora mobilisation.
That means embassies are expected to do more than protocol work. They are being asked to sell Uganda as a destination for travel, conferences, investment and trade.
On infrastructure, government says progress was made on museums and cultural heritage sites in Moroto and Dokolo.
Work is also underway on the Rwenzori Central Circuit Trail, Kitagata Hot Springs and visitor facilities at the Source of the Nile in Jinja. Government has also completed rehabilitation of the Crested Crane Tourism Training Institute, including an observatory deck and a modern restaurant.
A new wildlife education centre has also been established in Mbale.
These investments matter because Uganda’s tourism problem has not been only marketing. It has also been the visitor experience. Poor roads to sites, weak sanitation, limited visitor facilities, poor service standards and underdeveloped cultural sites reduce tourist spending and shorten stays.
The highway sanitation facilities and refreshment centres planned in the new Budget speak directly to that gap. Tourists do not only judge a country by national parks. They judge the road journey, stopovers, toilets, food, safety, guides, hotels and how organised the whole trip feels.
The focus on hospitality standards and training is also key. Uganda can market aggressively, but if hotels, restaurants, guides and tourism operators do not deliver consistent service, the country loses repeat visitors and referrals.
Conservation remains part of the funding plan, with government saying it will protect wildlife and increase populations across national parks. This is central because wildlife remains one of Uganda’s main tourism anchors.
The Budget also introduces health tourism as a priority. That points to an attempt to connect the health sector, specialised treatment and hospitality industry. If properly built, health tourism could bring in regional patients seeking treatment, recovery packages and medical services, but it will require trusted hospitals, regulation, good service and proper marketing.
For private players, the Budget opens opportunities in hotels, tour operations, transport, events, conference management, cultural tourism, food services, training, digital marketing and site development.
But the sector will still need better air connectivity, easier visa processes, clean cities, stronger domestic tourism, reliable roads to attractions and consistent destination branding.
