Uganda: Museveni Urges Ugandans to Embrace Tourism to Boost Household Incomes

What the report says

President Yoweri Museveni called on Ugandans to treat tourism as one of the practical ways to raise household incomes, saying the sector can create earnings for communities, small businesses and service providers beyond the capital needed for commercial farming. The remarks were made on September 28, 2026, during national World Tourism Day celebrations at Mbale Secondary School Grounds in Mbale City, according to Nile Post’s report carried by AllAfrica.

Museveni also commissioned the Mbale Wildlife Conservation Education Centre, or Mbale Zoo, which the Uganda Wildlife Authority has established to support conservation education and add to tourism offerings in the Elgon Sub-region. He said Uganda should expand the infrastructure and services that make attractions easier to reach, including roads, electricity, water and communications, and urged residents to benefit from the wider tourism value chain.

The president used the event to launch a Tourism Conservation Strategy for the Elgon Sub-region, warning that deforestation, wetland encroachment and other forms of environmental damage could weaken the country’s tourism appeal. He said the sector depends on forests, wildlife habitats and other ecosystems, and tied conservation to long-term economic growth.

Tourism minister Tom Butime said digital tools and artificial intelligence could help Uganda market destinations, improve booking systems and make tourism information more accessible. The Netherlands ambassador to Uganda, Angèle Samura, also pointed to opportunities for investment, skills development and technology partnerships, while noting growing interest from European visitors. The report said the event highlighted both the economic promise of tourism and the need for conservation and infrastructure to support it.