For three days, Kampala will become the center of Africa’s tourism conversation as investors, tour operators, travel creators, hoteliers, and global buyers gather for the 10th edition of the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo 2026. More than just a tourism event, the expo is shaping up as Uganda’s biggest statement yet that the country is ready to compete for bigger tourism business, investment, and global attention.
Scheduled for May 21–23, 2026, at Speke Resort Convention Centre in Munyonyo, the expo comes at a time when Uganda’s tourism sector is recording strong recovery, with international arrivals rising and tourism earnings nearing pre-pandemic levels.
Organized by the Uganda Tourism Board under the theme “Wanderlust – It’s Your Time to Thrive,” POATE 2026 is expected to attract international buyers, investors, travel media, tour operators, and tourism stakeholders from across Africa and beyond.
Speaking at the launch of the expo, UTB Chief Executive Officer Juliana Kagwa described the event as a defining moment for Uganda’s tourism industry.
“POATE 2026 comes at a time when Uganda’s tourism sector is regaining strong momentum. We are inviting the world to reconnect with Uganda a country of resilience, diversity, and opportunity,” she said.
Kagwa also emphasized that Uganda wants to move beyond simply showcasing attractions and focus more on business, experiences, and investment.
“Together with the private sector, we are going to demonstrate to the world that Uganda is more than wild animals, landscape, and water views. We are about culture, heritage, people, and food — a 360-degree experience they cannot get anywhere else.”
Uganda has long been known for gorilla trekking and wildlife safaris, but POATE 2026 aims to highlight broader opportunities in cultural tourism, community experiences, agritourism, adventure travel, and MICE tourism, including meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions.
The event will feature exhibitions, networking sessions, panel discussions, cultural showcases, and the inaugural Pearl of Africa Tourism Awards, which will recognize excellence and sustainability in the tourism sector.
For local businesses, the opportunities are significant. Hotels, tour operators, transport companies, restaurants, artisans, and community tourism groups all stand to benefit from exposure to international buyers and travel markets.
Tourism remains one of Uganda’s most important economic sectors, contributing to foreign exchange earnings, employment, and business growth. A successful POATE could attract new investment into hotels, eco-tourism projects, transport infrastructure, and destination marketing while creating jobs for young people across the country.
The expo also comes at a time when global travelers are increasingly seeking authentic and sustainable experiences. Uganda’s combination of wildlife, culture, scenery, and hospitality gives the country a strong position in this changing tourism market.
Even so, expectations for POATE 2026 remain high. Stakeholders see the expo as an opportunity to strengthen Uganda’s tourism brand, deepen regional partnerships, and position the country as a destination ready for the future.
More than just an event, POATE 2026 is becoming a statement about where Uganda’s tourism industry is heading. If successful, it could help accelerate Uganda’s rise as one of Africa’s leading tourism and investment destinations.
