Turkish tourist arrivals to Uganda surge as travel ties deepen

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Uganda is increasingly positioning itself as a must-visit destination for travellers from Türkiye, with visitor numbers showing a notable upward trend.

In 2023, Uganda received 1,428 visitors from Türkiye and 1,419 in 2024, according to reports by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities. However, the number of tourists visiting Uganda from Türkiye rose significantly to 3,431 in 2025, reflecting growing interest in the country’s offerings.

Turkish travel agents during their visit to Ngamba chimpanzee island. (Photo by Julius Luwemba)

This was revealed by Nelson Kasigaire, counsellor at the Uganda Embassy in Ankara, Türkiye. According to Kasigaire, Uganda and Türkiye enjoy deep, historical and growing bilateral relations, with tourism among the most promising avenues for collaboration.

"Uganda’s rich wildlife, culture and other attractions offer a raw, authentic connection and nature that is unmatched. On the other hand, Türkiye has established itself as a global tourism powerhouse, attracting tens of millions of visitors, with tourism receipts contributing significantly to the Turkish economy. We have therefore been and continue looking at Türkiye with its vast experience in the tourism industry, to help unlock our own potential," Kasigaire stated.

He made the remarks on April 25, 2026, while leading a group of nine tour operators from the Turkish travel market who arrived in Uganda for an immersive familiarisation trip. The tour operators from different cities in Türkiye, together with staff from Uganda's embassy in Ankara, were received by officials from the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) and Turkish Airlines.

The Turkish tour operators during their visit to Ngamba chimpanzee island. (Photo by Julius Luwemba)

Herman Olimi, a UTB marketing officer, said the country’s marketing agency remains committed to working with embassies and missions abroad to drive tourism numbers.

"This is the second team of tourism drivers that we are receiving from Türkiye. The first group that came in July 2025 comprised mainly media personnel and influencers. We believe that they did a great job to drum up our campaign. So, this time we are hosting this nine-member crew composed mainly of tour operators and agents to beef up the earlier-initiated efforts," Olimi explained.

All nine Turkish travel operators are visiting Uganda for the first time. Kerimcan Akduman of Sayga Travels expressed optimism about Uganda’s tourism potential.

Chimpanzees lying in serenity at Ngamba island on Lake Victoria. (Photo by Julius Luwemba)

Upon arrival at Entebbe Airport on Saturday, the group later took an afternoon boat cruise to Ngamba Island, which hosts 55 chimpanzees. In the following days, they are scheduled to experience Ankole cattle at Emburara Farm in Mbarara district before heading for gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

They are also expected to take a game drive and a boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park before participating in water activities such as bungee jumping and white-water rafting on the River Nile in Jinja. The group also plans to experience.

Uganda's nightlife and take a city tour in Kampala, enabling them to better understand the destination and promote travel packages to their clients.

Due to increased visitor numbers from Türkiye, Turkish Airlines flights have increased in frequency, improving connectivity. Saidi Bagoth Muhammad, the Turkish Airlines corporate sales and marketing representative, said the airline operates 11 flights every week to and from Uganda.

Türkiye tour operators and officials from UTB and the Ugandan Embassy in Türkiye pose for a photo during their visit to Ngamba chimpanzee island. (Photo by Julius Luwemba)

"The airline flies to 131 countries in the world, out of which, there are 64 destinations in 41 African countries. We are proud of the cordial bilateral relationship between Uganda and Türkiye, which continues to drive tourism numbers and improve the economy," Saidi observed.

In July 2025, a team of nine media personnel from the Republic of Türkiye spent ten days exploring Uganda on a trip sponsored by the Uganda Embassy in Türkiye. They visited Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park, experiencing wildlife and boat cruises before taking part in gorilla tracking, the country’s premium tourism product.

They were led by Nusura Tiperu, Uganda's ambassador to Türkiye, who (then) noted that the visit was not just about tourism, but also a demonstration of the friendship between Uganda and Türkiye, and the potential the two countries can unlock together.