President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has emphasized once again the importance of preserving the country's natural resources, highlighting that these are the foundation of the tourism industry. 

He made these remarks during the 2026 World Tourism Day celebrations held in Mbale city, stating that tourism cannot thrive if the essential resources that sustain it are damaged.

 “Our forests, wetlands, rivers, mountains and national parks are therefore not obstacles to development. They are national economic assets. Government has taken firm measures to protect our forests, wetlands, national parks and wildlife. - The increasing wildlife populations in several protected areas, the regeneration of forests and restoration of wetlands demonstrate that conservation and economic development can reinforce each other when properly managed,” he explained.

Museveni added that for many years, one of the constraints to tourism development was accessibility and government has taken it up to invest heavily in roads, airports, energy, water, telecommunications and other infrastructure that is opening up all parts of the country.

He noted; The development of infrastructure is not only about making it easier for tourists to travel. It is about opening economic opportunities for Ugandans. The improvement of utilities and communication infrastructure is consequently creating the conditions for investment in tourism across the country.

Recent sector results indicate that  In 2025, Uganda recorded 1.64 million international tourist arrivals, while tourism receipts increased to approximately US$1.62 billion, or about UGX 5.83 trillion. Tourism directly supports more than 876,000 jobs and has become a significant contributor to Uganda's service exports. These are not merely tourism statistics. They are jobs for Ugandans, foreign exchange for our economy, markets for our businesses and resources for national development.

In line with the this year’s theme; “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” President Museveni advised on the use of Artificial Intelligence  in destination marketing, visitor information, product development, customer engagement, conservation management and understanding visitor behaviour.

He congratulated the Ministry of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities and Uganda Wildlife Authority plus the  people of Mbale for establishing the regional wildlife centre in Mbale city the Mbale Wildlife Education Centre (MWEC). He said the MWEC is an important investment that brings wildlife education and appreciation closer to people who may otherwise have to travel long distances to experience Uganda's wildlife.

During his visit to MWEC, where he experienced animals in their semi-natural habitats, Museveni emphasized the importance of using traditional names for animals and urged UWA to lead efforts in restoring degraded ecosystems, particularly forest reserves.

The Minister  of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities Hon. Col. Tom Butime, revealed to the president that the interventions in promoting tourism are yielding exceptional market rewards and the country has also transcended post-pandemic recovery and entered a paradigm of unprecedented growth.

He said; Uganda was officially declared Ebola-free on 28 July 2026, with no further transmission detected. We commend Your Excellency's leadership and the health workers, security agencies, local governments, communities and development partners who worked tirelessly to protect our people and our economy.

Uganda Wildlife Authority received the Best Sustainable Tourism Initiative Award at the 2026  Uganda Tourism Excellence Awards.