UGANDA TO HOST 6TH BI-ANNUAL PRIVATE SECTOR CEO RETREAT WITH SPOTLIGHT ON TOURISM AS A DRIVER OF ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION.

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Hon. Martin B. Mugarra, the State Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities (C), Tourism Sector Leaders, Private Sector Players, and Ministry officials pose for a photo after a planning meeting at the Ministry head offices in Nakasero, Kampala, Uganda.

Kampala, Uganda | August 19, 2025 — The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, in partnership with the Presidential CEO Forum (PCF), has announced the 6th Bi-Annual Private Sector CEO Retreat, scheduled to take place from September 9^th –11^th, 2025, at the Mountains of the Moon Hotel in Fort Portal City.

This year’s retreat will be under the theme, “Transforming Uganda into a Preferred Tourism Destination: Enhancing Public-Private Sector Investment in Infrastructure, Conservation, Digitalization, Product Diversification, Marketing, and Tourist Safety,”. The retreat will bring together leaders from government, the private sector, and development partners to forge strategies that position tourism as a central pillar in Uganda’s economic transformation.

Tourism remains one of Uganda’s most resilient and fast-growing sectors, contributing 6.6% to GDP in 2024, generating over USD 1.2 billion in foreign exchange earnings, and supporting over 800,000 jobs across the tourism value chain business such including transport, hospitality, food services, guiding, and the creative industries, among others.

Visitor arrivals rose to 1.37 million in 2024, an increase of 7.7%, while domestic tourism surged by 15.7% to reach 244,843 park visitors. These figures underline tourism’s vast potential to accelerate inclusive growth, cultural preservation, and environmental sustainability.

The retreat will be preceded by Stakeholder Engagement with Top Tourism Investors on August 21^st, 2025, paving the way for dialogue and action-oriented strategies.

The Honourable Tom Butime, Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, emphasized that the retreat coincides with September, a month where we celebrate World Tourism Day, making it a timely opportunity to amplify the country’s visibility and competitiveness. “This retreat will serve as a moment for reflection and demonstrate our ambition to make Uganda the leading sustainable tourism destination in Africa,” he said.

The Presidential CEO Forum is essential in aligning the priorities of the public and private sectors. The upcoming retreat will focus on several key areas such as enhancing roads, airports, digital platforms, and visitor facilities, protecting Uganda’s natural and cultural heritage, leveraging technology for marketing and visitor management, ensuring that regulatory frameworks support private sector competitiveness and positioning Uganda as Africa’s preferred tourism destination according to Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan IV (NDP IV).

Hon. Mugarra Martin Bahinduka, State Minister for Tourism, urged all tourism actors to seize the opportunity. He said, “Tourism is not only about wildlife and scenery, but also about people and peace. Uganda must ensure tourists come, stay longer, spend more, and return with friends,” he noted, echoing the words of H.E. the President of Uganda.

The Ministry has extended an open invitation to tour operators, hoteliers, airlines, cultural institutions, local governments, entrepreneurs, and community groups, especially from Fort Portal and the Rwenzori sub-region, to actively participate in the retreat and benefit from new opportunities in enterprise, employment, and cultural showcasing.

The media was also called upon to play its key role in boosting Uganda’s image, investment confidence, and global visibility. “Tourism thrives on visibility and confidence. Through your platforms, we can showcase Uganda’s attractions and inspire both domestic and international travel,” emphasized the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities.

About the Presidential CEO Forum (PCF)

The PCF is a platform for structured public–private dialogue, enabling CEOs and government leaders to co-create strategies that unlock Uganda’s economic potential. By convening bi-annually, the forum serves as a crucible for innovation, investment mobilization, and policy alignment in priority growth sectors.