TOURISM MINISTRY CONVENES TOP LEADERSHIP IN JINJA FOR HIGH-STAKES SECTOR REBOOT

The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities has today kick-started a three-day Top Management Retreat in Jinja, bringing together senior leadership from the Ministry, its agencies, boards and key representatives from selected line ministries to deliberate on sector performance, institutional alignment and strategic priorities for Uganda’s tourism development agenda.

The retreat, scheduled to run from 18th–20th February 2026, is being held under the theme “Reflecting, Transforming and Aligning for a Competitive Tourism Destination.” It comes at a critical moment as government intensifies efforts to strengthen tourism as a key driver of economic growth under the National Development Plan (NDP IV) and the Tenfold Growth Strategy.

The meeting has attracted participation from senior officials of Uganda Tourism Board, Uganda Wildlife Authority, the Hotel Tourism and Training College, Uganda wildlife Research and Training College, board chairpersons, and technical representatives from line ministries.

According to the Ministry, the retreat is designed to provide a structured platform for reflection on past performance, identification of implementation gaps and alignment of institutional priorities with Uganda’s broader development objectives. It also seeks to strengthen coordination across agencies and enhance accountability in service delivery within the tourism value chain.

A key highlight of the retreat is the presentation and planned launch of several strategic management instruments, including the Ministry Balanced Scorecard, the National Tourism Strategic Plan and the Client Charter. These tools are expected to strengthen performance tracking, improve service delivery standards and reinforce a results-based management culture across the sector.

Speaking at the opening session, Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Tom Butime emphasized the need for urgency and cohesion in executing the sector’s mandate. He noted that Uganda’s tourism competitiveness will depend on the ability of institutions to translate strategy into measurable outcomes. “We are at a defining moment where we must move beyond planning to disciplined implementation. Every institution represented here must take ownership of the national tourism agenda and deliver results that are visible and impactful,” he said.

Permanent Secretary Doreen Katusiime underscored the retreat as a critical milestone in strengthening institutional discipline and performance accountability. She noted that the Ministry is intentionally embedding systems that promote evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement. “This retreat is about resetting our focus. We are strengthening the systems that will ensure every intervention in the tourism sector is measurable, coordinated and aligned to national priorities,” she said.

A notable component of the retreat is the deliberate use of the newly constructed Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training College in Jinja as both a hosting and test facility. The Centre is being assessed for operational readiness, functionality and its capacity to support high-level sector engagements and tourism training needs.

Over the three days, participants will engage in structured sessions including statistical performance reviews, strategic visioning, sector financing discussions and competitive benchmarking. The top management is expected to further forge and strengthen ties with the Busoga kingdom and a planned site visit to the ministry’s under takings at the source of the Nile in jinja.

The retreat is expected to yield strengthened inter-agency coordination, improved performance management systems and enhanced accountability mechanisms. More broadly, it sets a foundation for a more integrated, efficient and competitive tourism sector anchored in strategic planning, institutional discipline and measurable results.