Uganda has begun preparations to position its tourism and hospitality sector more prominently on the global investment map as the country gets ready to host the 2027 Future Hospitality Summit Africa.
The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), together with Kampala Serena Hotel, hosted a launch reception marking the start of the countdown to the summit, which will take place on 2–3 February 2027 at Speke Resort Convention Centre in Kampala.
The reception brought together hospitality investors, hotel operators, tourism industry leaders, government representatives, professional associations and private-sector stakeholders, setting the stage for discussions around investment opportunities across Uganda’s tourism and hospitality value chain.
As Host Partner, UTB’s involvement is expected to give Uganda an opportunity to showcase its tourism proposition directly to international investors, developers and hospitality professionals.
Roy Bannister, Head of Strategic Partnerships at FHS Africa, said bringing the summit to Uganda was about more than hosting an industry conference.
“FHS Africa’s coming to Uganda reflects something much bigger than a conference, it is a platform where capital meets opportunity, investors meet developers and new relationships translate into new investments and new businesses,” Bannister said.
Uganda Tourism Board CEO Juliana Kagwa said the summit provides a platform for the industry to connect investors, developers, operators and professionals while exchanging knowledge and identifying new opportunities.
“Hospitality is about bringing people, ideas and opportunities together. FHS Africa creates a platform where investors, developers, operators and hospitality professionals can meet, exchange knowledge, build relationships and discover opportunities,” Kagwa said.
She pointed to Uganda’s location on the equator, diverse landscapes and tourism assets as some of the country’s advantages in attracting tourism and hospitality investment.
The summit also comes as Uganda seeks to strengthen the wider ecosystem supporting tourism. The opportunity extends beyond hotels and accommodation to aviation, tour operations, food and beverage, destination management, professional services, financial institutions and local enterprises.
Representing Uganda’s public sector and Parliament, Hon. Okot Boniface Henry, Chairperson of the Trade and Tourism Committee and Member of Parliament for Kole South, welcomed the summit and emphasised the importance of collective action in unlocking the country’s tourism potential.
The reception also brought together representatives from Uganda’s tourism and hospitality associations, including hotel owners, tour operators and other industry stakeholders.
Air connectivity was another key part of the investment conversation, with Uganda Airlines recognised for expanding the country’s links to regional and international markets. The airline recently added Accra and Kigali to its network, strengthening connections between Uganda and other African destinations.
For Uganda, the significance of FHS Africa lies not only in the two-day summit itself but in the relationships and investment conversations that could emerge around it.
The event provides an opportunity for local businesses to engage with international investors and potential partners while giving developers and hospitality operators a closer look at Uganda’s investment landscape.
With the countdown now underway, FHS Africa 2027 is expected to put Uganda’s hospitality sector at the centre of conversations around new developments, investment, partnerships, skills and the future growth of tourism.
The launch reception therefore marks the beginning of a wider conversation: how Uganda can convert its tourism assets, connectivity and growing hospitality ecosystem into sustainable investment and new business opportunities.
