Tourism cooperation between Uganda and Kenya must go beyond marketing destinations to empowering local communities, protecting natural resources and creating sustainable economic opportunities, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, has said.
Kadaga, who delivered the keynote address at the fifth Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism and Innovation Summit in Mombasa, called for formal cooperation frameworks, business-friendly policies, improved transport infrastructure and enhanced visitor safety to unlock the full potential of regional tourism.
“Tourism cooperation must go beyond promoting destinations to empowering local communities, protecting our natural resources and creating sustainable economic opportunities,” Kadaga told delegates at the Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort & Spa.
Her call set the tone for the two-day summit convened by Uganda’s Consulate General in Mombasa under the theme _”Unlocking Tourism Opportunities: Resolving Policy Bottlenecks through Technology, Youth and Seamless Mobility across East Africa.”_
On the opening day of the summit, private-sector groups from both countries signed three landmark agreements aimed at turning policy talk into measurable action.
The Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) and the Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATA) signed an agreement on sustainable tourism and regional cooperation across East Africa.
The Uganda Association of Travel Agents (TUGATA) and the Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) signed a memorandum of understanding on the Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Collaboration, a framework for cooperation on innovation, investment, youth participation and regional integration.
The Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) and the Mombasa chapter of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) signed a third agreement on trade, investment and private-sector cooperation.
Organisers said the three signings were a key target for this year’s summit, signalling a shift from destination promotion to policy action and results. They are also targeting at least two digital tourism prototypes ready for commercial backing and at least 10 business-to-business links between Ugandan and Kenyan coastal operators, to be tracked over the next three months.
Uganda’s Consul General in Mombasa, Herbert Kiguli, said the two countries are embracing complementarity over competition through the “Beach to Bush, Bush to Beach” concept, connecting Kenya’s coast to Uganda’s rich natural and cultural heritage.
Ambassador Charles Ssentongo, representing the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the government will continue to facilitate tourism stakeholders, noting that trade barriers are being handled through the Uganda-Kenya Joint Permanent Commission.
Susan Nakawuki Nsambu, Minister of State for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, said the value of the partnership lies in lasting business relationships, not just meetings.
The agreements come amid rising travel between the neighbours. Kenyan visitors to Uganda rose from 466,902 in 2024 to 519,041 in 2025, according to the Uganda Tourism Board. Ugandan arrivals in Kenya reached 234,556 in 2025, with Kenya targeting 300,000 Ugandan visitors this year.
Delegates are also reviewing Article 104 of the East African Community Treaty on free movement of people, labour and services to identify cross-border barriers. Government representatives are expected to sign a joint declaration for submission to the EAC Secretariat, with a communique due within two weeks.
The summit follows a six-day familiarisation tour of the Kenyan coast by over 70 Ugandan operators and Uganda Tourism Board officials, and is seen as a build-up to leveraging the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.