TOURISM GOLD MINE! FDC Presses Govt to Pump More Cash into Katusiime’s Tourism Ministry, Dr Musinguzi’s UWA & Kagwa’s UTB as M7 Unveils Elgon Plan

KAMPALA — Concerns have erupted over Uganda’s tourism sector, with the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) demanding increased government financing for the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities and its agencies.

The FDC says inadequate funding and poor infrastructure are holding back one of Uganda’s key economic sectors, accusing government of celebrating tourism while failing to adequately finance the institutions responsible for promoting and protecting the industry.

The call came as Uganda marked World Tourism Day 2026 on Sunday, with national celebrations held in Mbale under the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.”

Speaking during the FDC media briefing on Monday, the party’s Deputy Secretary for Publicity, Publication and Documentation, Mulindwa Walid Lubega, said the celebrations could not mask what he described as persistent funding and infrastructure challenges in the sector.

“Fanfare cannot hide the truth: this government has failed the tourism sector,” Lubega said.

The FDC wants government to increase funding for tourism ministry under PS Doreen S. Katusiime, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) under Dr. James Musinguzi and the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) under Juliana Kagwa, institutions that play key roles in tourism policy, conservation and destination marketing.

Lubega said tourism contributes about nine percent of Uganda’s GDP and remains an important source of foreign exchange and employment, but argued that the sector has not received funding commensurate with its economic importance.

He cited Shs430 billion in direct tourism-sector funding during the 2025/26 financial year against a national budget of more than Shs72 trillion, arguing that the allocation represented less than one percent of the national budget.

The FDC also criticised what Lubega said were repeated shortfalls between planned and actual government releases for tourism programmes.

He cited poor roads to tourist attractions, particularly routes serving Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, arguing that infrastructure challenges increase the difficulty and cost of accessing some of Uganda’s major attractions.

The party further raised concerns about Uganda’s international image, citing security concerns and the effects of disease outbreaks and travel restrictions on tourism.

“Tourism can work for Uganda, but only if government stops treating it as a photo opportunity and starts treating it as an economic priority,” Lubega said.

MUSEVENI FIRES BACK WITH ELGON PLAN

While the FDC is demanding more money for the sector, Museveni has unveiled a fresh strategy aimed at protecting the natural resources that underpin tourism in the Elgon Sub-region.

At the World Tourism Day celebrations in Mbale on Sunday, the President unveiled the Tourism Conservation Strategy for the Elgon Sub-region and commissioned the Mbale Wildlife Conservation Education Centre, commonly known as Mbale Zoo.

The strategy focuses on protecting forests, wetlands, wildlife habitats and other ecosystems from encroachment and degradation.

Museveni warned that environmental destruction could undermine tourism because the country’s forests, wetlands and wildlife habitats form the foundation of many tourist attractions.

He also called for stronger conservation measures in Elgon, pointing to changes in weather and temperatures as evidence of the need to protect the environment.

The President urged residents, particularly households with limited land for commercial agriculture, to turn to tourism and other productive sectors as alternative sources of income.

He said tourism supports a wide chain of businesses, including accommodation, transport, food, entertainment, tour guiding and cultural enterprises.

MUSEVENI BACKS UWA EXPANSION

Museveni also commended UWA for establishing the Mbale facility, saying wildlife conservation education can help create awareness while providing another attraction for residents and visitors.

The government has been positioning tourism beyond traditional wildlife destinations, with the Ministry saying Mbale and the wider Elgon region offer opportunities based on the Mount Elgon landscape, scenery, culture, cuisine and hospitality.

The Ministry has also placed Artificial Intelligence and digital technology at the centre of its tourism strategy, including digital booking platforms, smart park gates, AI-supported safari planning and digital destination marketing.

Tourism Minister Col. (Rtd) Tom Butime said limited investment and access to capital for tourism facilities, infrastructure gaps and visa-related challenges remain among the constraints facing the sector.

He called for increased investment and improved accessibility to unlock Elgon’s tourism potential.

The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Doreen Katusiime, has separately said digital transformation is increasingly important because modern travellers discover destinations online, compare experiences, make bookings digitally and share their experiences through social media.

TOURISM MONEY QUESTION

The funding debate comes against official figures showing significant tourism activity.

The Ministry of Tourism’s 2025 statistical abstract reports 1.64 million international tourist arrivals in 2025, up 19.7 percent from 2024, while tourism receipts reached Shs5.83 trillion (US$1.62 billion). The same report says tourism generated 876,512 direct jobs in 2024.

The FDC says those figures should strengthen the case for increased public investment in tourism marketing, infrastructure and conservation.

Government, meanwhile, is seeking to expand the sector through conservation, digitalisation, infrastructure and development of new tourism destinations.