UGANDA’s TOURISM ROARS BACK AS VISITOR ARRIVALS HIT 1.6 MILLION, EARNINGS RISE TO UGX 5.8 TRILLION
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Uganda’s tourism sector has posted a strong comeback, with international visitor arrivals climbing to more than 1.6 million in 2025 and tourism earnings surging to UGX 5.8 trillion (about USD 1.62 billion), according to the newly released Tourism Statistical Abstract 2025.
The figures, presented by Senior Statistician at the Ministry of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities, Mr Denis Rodney Ojok, during a high-level breakfast meeting in Kampala, signal a sector that has not only recovered from the effects of the pandemic but is now expanding beyond pre-COVID performance levels.
Speaking at the official dissemination, State Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Hon. Martin Mugarra Bahinduka described the results as evidence that Uganda’s tourism industry is firmly back on a growth trajectory and increasingly attracting higher-value visitors.
He noted that the average tourist now spends about USD 986 per trip, while average length of stay has risen to 8.8 nights, translating into deeper visitor engagement and stronger returns for hotels, tour operators, transporters, artisans and communities along the tourism value chain.
The Minister credited the progress to deliberate government interventions and paid tribute to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for consistently championing the sector through enhanced budget allocations, support for gazettement of tourism sites, policy reforms, strengthened national security, infrastructure development
“These efforts have created the enabling environment necessary for tourism to thrive,” the Minister said, adding that government remains committed to positioning Uganda as a preferred destination globally.
Tourism remains one of Uganda’s most strategic economic sectors, contributing an estimated 5.9 percent to GDP and directly supporting more than 876,000 jobs, equivalent to about 7.5 percent of total national employment. The sector also continues to rank among the country’s leading sources of foreign exchange earnings.
The Permanent Secretary Mrs Doreen S. Katusiime pointed to the Statistical Abstract being more than a data publication, describing it as a strategic planning tool for investors, policymakers, researchers and private sector players. She emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening the tourism data ecosystem through the ongoing operationalization of the Tourism Information Management System (TIMS) and advancement of the Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) to ensure timely and internationally comparable data.
The event drew a broad spectrum of stakeholders from across the tourism ecosystem, including agencies under the Ministry such as the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Uganda Wildlife Research and Training College (UWRTC), the Hotel and Tourism Training College (HTTI). Also present were representatives from Uganda Tourism Association (UTA), Tourism Police, academia, development partners, private sector operators and officials from line ministries, departments and agencies.
The latest data also points to changing market trends, with stronger growth from overseas markets and increased expansion of high-value segments such as leisure tourism and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE).
As Uganda celebrates the milestone, officials say focus will now shift to improving accessibility, upgrading tourism infrastructure, expanding domestic tourism, investing in quality experiences and using real-time data to sustain momentum.
With the numbers now speaking loudly, Uganda’s tourism sector appears poised not just for recovery, but for a new era of growth.
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