Tourism to get sh430b for branding, marketing Uganda

KAMPALA - A total of shillings 430 billion is to be used in the branding and marketing of Uganda as the preferred tourism destination in East Africa.

The money that is expected to be released to the tourism ministry in the next fiscal year is an addition of shillings 2.2 trillion provided for other tourism support investments such as roads, ICT infrastructure in tourism areas, African Cup of Nations infrastructure, and strengthening in tourism areas among others.

Finance minister Matia Kasaija made the revelation while reading the budget at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala city on Thursday, June 12, 2025.

According to Kasaija the focus in the tourism sector should be on branding and marketing of Uganda as a tourism and investment destination; infrastructure development in tourism sites; construction of refreshment centres and highway sanitation facilities, improving and enforcing hospitality standards and training; and promoting health tourism by investment in specialized health facilities.

Kasaija added that the Government has also stepped-up investment in missions abroad to promote economic and commercial diplomacy. Under this arrangement, each mission has been asked to bring investors and tourists to Uganda but also open up export markets, Kasaija added.

From the previous interventions, the Government was able to promote its goods and services through international Explore Uganda promotional campaigns in USA, Canada and the United Kingdom.

“As a result, the year-on-year growth of interest in Uganda by tourists is 33% for the United Kingdom, 19% for Canada and 5% for the US,” he said.

Additionally, through the theme “Uniquely Ours”, Uganda has also promoted domestic tourism leading to visits to national parks increasing by 15.7% in 2024, stepped-up innovations and modernising tourism products to make them more competitive.