Kampala, May 21, 2026
If there was one message Uganda’s tourism leadership wanted the world to receive from the opening of the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo 2026, it was this; come and enjoy the Pearl of Africa.
Against the backdrop of international nervousness over a recent Ebola situation, the expo’s opening ceremony at Speke Resort, Munyonyo, became something of a deliberate rebranding moment. One where government and industry moved in unison to separate fear from fact and reassure a watching world that Uganda remains safe, stable, and open for visitors.
President Yoweri Museveni addressed the concern head-on, stating that targeted, science-led measures are firmly in place and that the economy has not closed. In his words, he says, “Regarding Ebola, there is no cause for alarm. We are applying targeted measures and continuing to work scientifically to keep people safe while keeping our economy open.”
The timing matters. Tourism does not recover quietly. It requires confidence from airlines, from travel agents, from the couple in Copenhagen deciding where to book their safari. Every day that uncertainty lingers is a booking that goes elsewhere. By using POATE’s opening stage to directly counter the narrative, Uganda’s leadership made a calculated and necessary move.
PS Doreen Silver Katusiime reinforced the broader message, pointing to peace and stability as the country’s most durable tourism assets that have not changed and will not change because of a managed health event.
But the expo’s opening was not solely about damage control. Beneath the reassurances ran a current of genuine ambition.
President Museveni added that friendlier visa arrangements are on the horizon, signalling that the government understands the practical barriers that still keep some visitors away.
Taken together, the opening of POATE 2026 read less like a trade expo and more like a press conference with a single headline: Uganda is here, Uganda is ready, and Uganda is not waiting.
Whether the world listens will depend on how consistently that message is carried beyond Munyonyo. But for one morning on the shores of Lake Victoria, Uganda spoke clearly and loudly enough for the world to hear.
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Article by: Lynette Agnes Kembabazi