MINISTRY OF TOURISM, WILDLIFE & ANTIQUITIES PERMANENT SECRETARY’S SPEECH DELIVERED BY DR. BASIL AJER, DIRECTOR OF TOURISM, DURING THE LAUNCH OF THE 6TH BI-ANNUAL PRIVATE SECTOR CEO RETREAT ON TUESDAY, 19TH AUGUST 2025, AT UGANDA MEDIA CENTER
On behalf of the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, I warmly welcome you to this media conference where we announce the 6th Bi-Annual Private Sector CEO Retreat, to be held under the leadership and support of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Uganda.
This upcoming retreat, organized in close partnership with the Presidential CEO Forum (PCF), is among several strategic interventions that are aimed at placing Tourism at the centre of Uganda’s economic transformation agenda. The planned activities for the retreat will start on 21st August 2025 with a High-level stakeholder engagement with Top Tourism Investors in Uganda and climax with a three-day retreat from 9th to 11th September 2025 at the Mountains of the Moon Hotel in Fort Portal City.
The retreat will run under the theme: “Transforming Uganda into a Preferred Tourism Destination: Enhancing Public-Private Sector Investment in Infrastructure, Conservation, Digitalization, Product Diversification, Marketing, and Tourist Safety.” This focus could not be more timely. Tourism is an industry with transformational potential for Uganda’s economy, as the statistics below can illustrate;
- In 2024, tourism contributed 6.6% to GDP and earned over USD 1.2 billion in foreign exchange.
- The sector directly supports more than 800,000 jobs across accommodation, transport, guiding, food services, and creative industries.
- Tourist arrivals have increased significantly and grown by 7.7% in 2024 to clock 1.37 million
- Domestic tourism is also rising, with visits to national parks growing by 15.7% in 2024 to reach 244,843 visitors.
Despite these milestones, it is noted, however, that challenges remain in infrastructure, product diversification, skills, and marketing. This upcoming retreat provides the perfect platform to address these challenges.
Through the 6th Bi-Annual Private Sector CEO Retreat, we intend to:
- Advocate for investment in tourism infrastructure such as roads, airports, digital platforms, and visitor facilities.
- Address conservation financing, ensuring that Uganda’s wildlife and heritage are protected for future generations.
- Speak to digital transformation, enabling real-time marketing and visitor management.
- Focus on aligning government policy with private sector needs, making it easier to invest and thrive in tourism.
- Strategize on how to position Uganda as the preferred tourism destination in Africa, in line with NDP IV and Vision 2040.
I, therefore, wish to invite all tourism stakeholders, including our tour operators, hoteliers, airlines, cultural institutions, and entrepreneurs, to fully participate in the retreat. Your role has been and continues to be vital in ensuring that Uganda’s tourism sector grows stronger, more competitive, and more sustainable.
I also urge local governments and communities, especially the people of Fort Portal and the entire Rwenzori sub-region, to seize the opportunities that the retreat will open up. Through job creation, enterprise development, and cultural showcasing, our people can directly benefit from the growth of tourism and take pride in preserving our unique heritage.
Finally, I call upon the media; your role in this retreat cannot be overstated. Tourism thrives on visibility and confidence. Through your platforms, we can continue showcasing Uganda’s unique attractions, communicating investment opportunities, and inspiring domestic, regional, and international visitors.