Speaking at the opening of a three-day top management retreat in Jinja, the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Tom Butime, said adverse media attention linked to the national carrier was already showing signs of affecting travel bookings and, by extension, tourist arrivals.
“Air travel is sensitive. The negative publicity on Uganda Airlines doesn't help the tourist industry. If you observe the bookings, they may have declined sharply,” Butime said, stressing that aviation performance is closely tied to tourism growth and national image.
The retreat, convened by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, is being held at Crested Crane Hotel under the theme “Reflecting, Transforming and Aligning for Competitive Tourism Destinations.” It has brought together top ministry officials and heads of affiliated agencies to assess sector performance and chart strategic priorities.
Butime acknowledged the current setback facing the airline but expressed hope that the situation would be short-lived and resolved decisively. He emphasized the need for professionalism and stability in managing public institutions, arguing that leadership transitions should not trigger public uproar.
“For me, Chief Executive Officers’ contracts come into being and end. There is no hullabaloo. At the Uganda Tourism Board, the CEO completed her contract and we got another one smoothly. At Uganda Wildlife Authority, someone served diligently, his term ended, and we appointed a new Executive Director — and all is quiet,” he said, suggesting that similar composure should guide developments at the national carrier.
Despite present challenges, Butime highlighted what he described as a major milestone for the industry. According to him, Uganda’s tourism sector in 2025 surpassed pre-COVID-19 performance levels for the first time since the pandemic, a development he attributed to resilience and targeted sector interventions.
Tourism remains a strategic pillar under Uganda’s national development agenda, contributing significantly to foreign exchange earnings, employment, and investment inflows.
Also addressing the retreat, Permanent Secretary Doreen Katusiime underscored the government’s designation of tourism as one of the country’s economic “ATMs.” She called for deliberate planning, stronger coordination, and sustained institutional alignment to maintain competitiveness.
“Government made tourism one of the strategic sectors. We must plan and strategise to ensure sustained growth and competitiveness,” Katusiime said.
Officials noted that the three-day deliberations will review progress against performance targets, identify operational and policy gaps, and align sector activities with broader national priorities. Expected outcomes include a renewed strategic roadmap focusing on destination marketing, service delivery standards, conservation efforts, and strengthened air connectivity.
As Uganda positions itself as a competitive regional tourism hub, sector leaders maintain that protecting the country’s reputation — particularly in sensitive areas such as aviation — will be crucial to sustaining the industry’s growth momentum.