Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Tom Butime, has showcased government-led initiatives, including the 2025 CHAN Games and Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE), that rebuilt global confidence in Destination Uganda.

Held under the theme, “Reflecting, Transforming and Aligning for a Competitive Tourism Destination”, the 3-day Top Management Retreat focuses on areas including strengthening coordination, reflecting on review performance, assessing progress plus aligning strategies that position Uganda as the most preferred tourist destination.

During the retreat, Butime narrated how these events propelled the sector forward during the opening of the third joint tourism top management retreat held on February 19th, 2026, at Jinja City’s Crested Crane Hotel.

“POATE 2025 was a resounding success, and we’re gearing up for an even bigger edition to attract international buyers, media, and investors,” Butime said.

The CHAN Games and Rwenzori Marathon boosted sports tourism nationwide. Meanwhile, the UK’s lifted advisory for Queen Elizabeth and Semuliki National Parks revived Western circuits key wins from Butime’s policy focus.

Cultural celebrations amplified heritage tourism further as the  Omukama of Tooro marked his 30-year reign alongside coronation anniversaries of the Kabaka of Buganda and Kyabazinga of Busoga.

New investments transformed infrastructure rapidly. Developers unveiled the Speke Convention Centre and Hilton Nakasero, alongside others, enhancing accommodations and conferencing.

Butime affirmed that targeted reforms will tackle challenges like road conditions. These efforts position tourism, a National Development Plan IV priority for USD 50 billion in revenues by 2040.

Government leadership continues to unlock tourism’s potential through strategic events, partnerships, and policy reforms. Strong public-private collaboration sustains this momentum, fostering economic growth and investor confidence in destination Uganda.