By Radarr Africa Business Desk
LAGOS, October 28 (Radarr Africa) – Private-sector bodies from Uganda and Kenya signed three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on tourism, trade and investment on the opening day of a two-day summit in Mombasa, the Nile Post reported.
The fifth Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism and Innovation Summit runs on October 26 and 27 at the Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort & Spa. It is convened by Uganda’s Consulate General in Mombasa under the theme “Unlocking Tourism Opportunities”, according to the report.
The first agreement was signed by AUTO and KATO, the Ugandan and Kenyan associations of tour operators, covering sustainable tourism and regional cooperation in East Africa, the Nile Post said. The second was signed by the travel agents’ associations, TUGATA and KATA, and implements the Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Collaboration, a framework on innovation, investment, youth participation and regional integration.
The third was signed by PSFU and the Mombasa chapter of KNCCI. It covers trade, investment and private-sector cooperation, the report said.
The organisers set several targets. They include at least two digital tourism prototypes ready for commercial backing and at least 10 business-to-business links between Ugandan and Kenyan coastal operators, which will be tracked over three months. They also plan a review of Article 104 of the East African Community (EAC) Treaty, which covers free movement of people, labour and services.
A joint declaration is to be submitted to the EAC Secretariat, and a communique with institutional commitments and deadlines is due within two weeks. It will be reviewed at the 2027 summit, the Nile Post reported.
The report gave tourism figures for both sides. The Uganda Tourism Board recorded Kenyan visitors to Uganda rising from 466,902 in 2024 to 519,041 in 2025. The Kenya Tourism Board recorded 234,556 Ugandan arrivals in Kenya in 2025, making Uganda one of Kenya’s largest source markets. Kenya is aiming for 300,000 Ugandan visitors this year.
Herbert Kiguli, Uganda’s Consul General in Mombasa, said: “Our approach is to embrace complementarity rather than competition.” He described a “Beach to Bush, Bush to Beach” concept for combined promotion.
Charles Ssentongo, representing the Permanent Secretary of Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the government would continue to facilitate and advocate for tourism stakeholders. He said trade barriers are being handled through the Uganda-Kenya Joint Permanent Commission and called for practical, time-bound solutions. He added that tourism is one of four priority sectors under Uganda’s Ten-Fold Growth Strategy, which aims to grow the economy from about $50 billion to $500 billion by 2040.
Susan Nakawuki Nsambu, Uganda’s Minister of State for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, said: “The value of this partnership lies not simply in the meetings we hold.” She asked that organisers of familiarisation trips include officials from her ministry.
Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, Uganda’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for EAC Affairs, gave the keynote address. “Tourism cooperation must go beyond promoting destinations to empowering local communities,” she said. She called for formal cooperation frameworks, business-friendly policies, better transport infrastructure and improved visitor safety.
The summit followed a six-day familiarisation tour of the Kenyan coast by more than 70 Ugandan tour operators, travel agents, hoteliers and Uganda Tourism Board officials, the Nile Post said. Operators hope to use the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, to attract visitors.
The meeting began in 2022 as the Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Conference and falls under Uganda’s Economic and Commercial Diplomacy Strategy for 2025/26 to 2029/30, according to the report.
