REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON TECHNICAL COMMITTEE– 6TH BIANNUAL CEO RETREAT, DR RUTH BIYINZIKA KASOLO Media Launch | August 19, 2025
Hon Minister,
CEO UTB
ED UWA
President UTA
Chairperson WIT
Captains of Industry
Distinguished guests,
Partners, members of the Fourth Estate,
Ladies and gentlemen—
Good morning, and thank you for being with us today.
It is my privilege to speak to you as the Chairperson of the 6th Biannual CEO Retreat, an initiative that has become a flagship platform for unlocking sector-specific reform and driving private-sector-led growth.
Today marks a critical milestone as we officially kick off the countdown to the Retreat, with a well-curated calendar of stakeholder engagements designed to ensure wide consultation, robust insights, and most importantly—shared ownership of the outcomes we aim to deliver.
Why We Are Here
Our theme this year—“Transforming Uganda into a Preferred Tourist Destination”—is both timely and urgent. Tourism is a $1.6 billion industry in Uganda (pre-COVID), contributing 7.7% of GDP and employing over 700,000 Ugandans directly and indirectly, the majority being youth and women. As the World Tourism Organization notes: “Tourism is not just about travel; it’s about development, opportunity, and sustainability.”
Our mission is to build a globally competitive tourism brand for Uganda—one that’s inclusive, investable, and proudly Ugandan. The Road to Fort Portal – Key Activities Over the next three weeks, we will host a series of high-impact stakeholder forums—each one building momentum toward the main Retreat, to be hosted by His Excellency the President of Uganda, from 9th to 11th September in Fort Portal, our Tourism City.
More importantly, tourism is pro-equity. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (2017), Uganda ranked first globally in terms of how tourism revenue impacts local economies. Tourism earnings reach households and communities across all levels—directly and indirectly. Complementary data from the World Bank shows that each tourist dollar generates up to $2.03 in local income near Queen Elizabeth National Park, and $0.37 near Bwindi. This demonstrates the deep and inclusive footprint of tourism in Uganda.
Our discussions will revolve around the Five A’s of Tourism and the Creative
Sector:
- Attractions
- Accessibility
- Accommodation
- Awareness/Marketing
- Arts and Creatives
We expect tangible outcomes, including:
- Growth in high-value leisure tourism, longer stays, higher spend per visitor, and stronger linkages to Ugandan enterprises—to drive broad-based and sustainable prosperity.
- Mobilisation of private investment, increased formalisation of tourism businesses, and enhanced participation by women and youth.
- A renewed commitment to the sustainability of Uganda’s tourism assets. Event dates, venues, and our speaker line-up will be announced shortly via PCF platforms. Following the Retreat, a comprehensive memo will be submitted to H.E. the President, outlining key takeaways and implementation milestones.
Uganda does not lack beauty. We are the Pearl of Africa, gifted by nature and culture. What we must now build is a world-class tourism experience—powered by infrastructure, policy, investment, and passionate people. As we begin this journey to Fort Portal, I invite all of you—media, investors, creatives, tourism operators, and policymakers—to come on board. Let’s work together to make Uganda a destination that is compelling, competitive, and above all—repeatable. “Tourism is the only industry that creates jobs while conserving nature, celebrates culture while driving innovation, and unites nations while building economies.”
Let’s make that true for Uganda.
Thank you.
RBK