Uganda and Kenya: In Nuptials to Foster Complementary Tourism

By Abdul Rahman Bangura-

NEW AFRICA DAILY NEWS (NADN) Freetown, Sierra Leone– Uganda is banking on Kenya’s coastal towns to grow its tourism numbers after it emerged that Kenya’s tourism numbers to Uganda have been increasing.

Exponents enunciate that the notion behind the alliance of Uganda and Kenya…into Tourism is to nurture complementary tourism products in Kenya and Uganda.

Uganda Consul General to Mombasa Amb. Paul Mukumbya, spoke out that the number of tourists from both termini have been thriving over the years.

“In 2023 the number of Ugandans visiting Kenya rose from 150,000 in 2022 to 201,620 accounting for 10% of all arrivals in Kenya last year,” he said.

Amb. Mukumbya, who was addressing delegates from Kenya, further explained that Uganda panned out to be the enormous Kenyan source of visitors behind the US.

“Similarly the number of Kenyans visiting Uganda in 2023 stood at 490,000, which made Kenya the biggest source market for Ugandan tourism industry,” he said.

“The strategy is going to change, we are rolling out the Uganda Kenya coast tourism conference, exhibition and fam trips 2024; the other two were successful,” Amb. Mukumbya said, noting that the second Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Conference last year enticed more than 500 participants, of which 200 were from Uganda and the rest from Kenya.

“After the conference, we carried out a survey of 112 Ugandan participants, the feedback showed that over 1,860 business-to business deals during the conference were signed,” he said. The assemblage this year is foreseen to bring on board golfers, which after consultations with Uganda Golf Union and Kenya Golf Federation, has been acquiesced that the second Uganda Kenya open golf tournament takes place on November 9th, 2024 at Kampala Golf Club, the same day the conference will begin under the theme Uganda-Kenya coast tourism partnership; promoting job creation, inclusiveness and sustainability”.

Stephen Asimwe, the Private Sector Foundation Uganda Executive Director,, let out although Kenyans has a large disposable income, Uganda should work on taxes, fix infrastructure and air ticket pricing.

“Tourists will come but we should work on the over 25 taxes in the industry. Also, the pricing on air tickets is still a deterrent,” he noted.

New Africa Daily News Abdul Rahman Bangura Reports, Africa Correspondent