Overview:
The Uganda Tourism Policy 2025 targets $4 billion in revenue by diversifying attractions beyond wildlife to include cultural and water-based tourism.
KAMPALA, Uganda — The government has launched a new national tourism policy aimed at increasing annual earnings to $4 billion and doubling international arrivals to 2.4 million over the next five years.
The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities unveiled the strategy as part of a broader plan to transform the sector into a primary driver of economic growth. The policy, titled the Uganda Tourism Policy 2025, seeks to fix long-standing gaps in infrastructure, regulation and marketing that officials say have hindered the industry for more than a decade.
Tourism Minister Tom Butime described the policy as a turning point for the nation, which currently relies heavily on wildlife attractions despite having vast potential in cultural heritage and water-based tourism.
Uganda can and will become one of Africa’s top five destinations, Butime said. Potential is not progress. We must convert our resources into tangible products, investments, experiences and earnings.
The policy identifies several obstacles to competitiveness, including high investment costs, multiple taxation and weak enforcement of international service standards. It also notes that fragmented coordination across government agencies has limited the country’s ability to counter negative travel advisories.
To address these issues, the policy establishes a Tourism Coordination Committee to streamline efforts between security, immigration and infrastructure agencies. The Uganda Tourism Board will also lead an intensified marketing campaign to strengthen the national brand identity.
Doreen Katusiime, permanent secretary at the ministry, called the document a blueprint for national transformation. She urged all government departments to view themselves as players in the tourism value chain.
The strategy includes plans to:
- Expand investment incentives and reduce business costs.
- Implement a long-delayed tourism development levy.
- Prioritize local investors in the allocation of public land.
- Improve digital platforms and tourism information centers.
Private sector leaders, including Uganda Tourism Association Chairperson Yewagnesh Birigwa, welcomed the move but emphasized that success depends on professional delivery and community participation in conservation.
Tourism is already a vital part of the Ugandan economy. In 2024, the sector accounted for 16 percent of exports and supported more than 803,000 jobs, contributing 5.7 percent to the gross domestic product.