The Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE) 2026 officially opened today at Speke Resort Munyonyo, bringing together tourism stakeholders, investors, travel trade professionals, and government officials under one roof to shape the future of Uganda’s growing tourism industry.
The three-day expo, running from May 21 to 23, opened on a confident and ambitious note, with leaders speaking in one voice about Uganda’s potential to become one of Africa’s leading tourism destinations.
The event attracted high-level attention, with President Yoweri Museveni setting the tone through a message that was both reassuring and forward-looking. The President reaffirmed Uganda’s position as one of the world’s most unique travel destinations, citing its favourable climate, rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and lasting peace as the foundation of the country’s tourism appeal.
Addressing the Ebola situation that has attracted international attention in recent weeks, President Museveni moved to calm concerns among potential visitors. He assured the international community that Uganda has implemented targeted, science-led measures to manage the situation while keeping the economy fully open.
His message was direct: Uganda remains safe, welcoming, and open for business.
Looking ahead, the President noted that as Uganda progresses toward upper-middle-income status, the tourism experience will continue to improve, including through more visitor-friendly visa arrangements. He concluded with a warm invitation to the world to visit and explore Uganda, the Pearl of Africa.
On the ground, Permanent Secretary Doreen Silver Katusiime echoed the President’s message, crediting his leadership with laying the foundation for the transformation currently taking place within the tourism sector. She noted that Uganda’s peace and stability are not accidental to tourism growth, but central to it.
Uganda Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Juliana Kagwa addressed delegates with a strong sense of ambition and purpose. She pledged to position tourism as a major driver of Uganda’s journey toward full middle-income status, highlighting the sector’s ability to generate foreign exchange, create jobs, and stimulate local economies across the country.
For Kagwa, POATE 2026 is more than an annual tourism gathering. It is a statement that Uganda’s tourism industry is ready to scale and compete globally.
Uganda Tourism Board Chairperson Pearl Hoareau Kakooza added to the optimism surrounding the opening ceremony, pointing to rising visitor projections and their potential contribution to Uganda’s GDP. She also highlighted the Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to take place in Uganda in 2027, as a defining opportunity for the country’s tourism sector.
According to Kakooza, the tournament will place Uganda before a global audience and is expected to generate long-term interest in the destination well beyond the competition itself.
POATE 2026 comes at an important moment for Uganda’s tourism industry. After recovering steadily from the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the sector is now recording stronger performance and attracting renewed investor confidence.
This year’s expo features an expanded exhibitor base, a packed conference programme, and increased participation from international buyers and travel trade professionals from across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
For the next three days, Speke Resort Munyonyo will serve as the meeting point between Uganda’s tourism ambitions and the world’s growing curiosity about what the Pearl of Africa has to offer.
If the energy from the opening ceremony is any indication, POATE 2026 could mark the beginning of a new chapter in Uganda’s tourism story.
