A 10-day Indian Travel Trade Familiarisation Trip (Fam Trip) to Uganda has culminated in renewed calls for deeper tourism and investment cooperation between Uganda and India. Hosted by Uganda’s High Commission in India and the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), the initiative showcased Uganda’s potential as a top destination for Indian travellers.Speaking at a press conference marking the end of the visit, Uganda’s High Commissioner to India, Joyce Kikafunda, hailed the growing bilateral relations between the two nations, now celebrating 60 years of diplomatic ties. She emphasized Uganda’s commitment to boosting tourism through Economic and Commercial Diplomacy (ECD), with a particular focus on the Indian market.“We aim to increase tourist arrivals from India by at least 20% over the next two years,” Kikafunda stated. She highlighted major developments including Uganda Airlines’ launch of direct Mumbai-Entebbe flights and expedited e-visa processing as part of efforts to attract Indian travellers.She also celebrated Uganda’s recent recognition as the “Most Promising New Destination” at the 2025 Outbound Travel Market (OTM) in Mumbai and its strong presence at the South Asia Travel and Tourism Exchange (SATTE). These efforts, she said, reflect Uganda’s growing visibility in one of the world’s fastest-growing outbound tourism markets.India’s Deputy High Commissioner to Uganda echoed these sentiments, praising the warmth of the Ugandan people and the country’s unmatched natural beauty. He noted that while official figures show 37,000 annual Indian tourist arrivals to Uganda, the real number could be closer to 50,000 when including the diaspora and diplomatic travellers. He pledged India’s continued support in growing two-way tourism and economic ties.Francis Nyende, Marketing Manager at the Uganda Tourism Board, outlined key strategies aimed at raising Uganda’s profile among Indian travellers. These include destination certification programs for Indian travel agents, brand ambassador campaigns, film tourism partnerships, and upcoming Uganda-India travel roadshows.“India is not just a tourism market—it’s a trusted ally,” said Nyende. “We want to connect Kampala to Kochi, Bwindi to Bengaluru.”Ambassador Elly Kamahungye, representing the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vicent Bagiire, emphasized the role of commercial diplomacy and infrastructure development in achieving Uganda’s Vision 2040. He underscored the emotional and cultural resonance between the two countries, symbolized by Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes being scattered at the Nile in Jinja.With Uganda targeting a $40 billion tourism sector, officials agreed that India will be a crucial partner in reaching that goal. The Fam Trip was not only a showcase of Uganda’s attractions but a strategic step toward forging lasting tourism and investment partnerships.
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