Kenya and Uganda have taken another step towards strengthening regional tourism after signing four business agreements at a major tourism summit in Mombasa. The meeting brought together government officials, investors and young innovators to explore ways of making cross-border travel easier, increasing tourist arrivals and using technology to create new opportunities for East African businesses.
Highlights
- Kenya and Uganda signed four Memoranda of Understanding during the summit.
- Kenyan visitors to Uganda increased to 519,041 in 2025.
- Ugandan arrivals to Kenya rose to 234,556, making Uganda Kenya’s second-largest source market.
- Leaders called for fewer bureaucratic hurdles and smoother movement across East African borders.
- Young entrepreneurs showcased digital innovations aimed at transforming the tourism industry.
Main Story
Kenya and Uganda Strengthen Tourism Cooperation
Kenya and Uganda are looking to deepen their tourism partnership, with Mombasa hosting the fifth edition of the Uganda–Kenya Coast Tourism and Innovation Summit.
The two-day event, held on October 26 and 27, 2026, at Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort & Spa, brought together senior government officials, tourism industry representatives, investors and young entrepreneurs from both countries.
Organised by the Consulate General of Uganda in Mombasa in collaboration with tourism stakeholders, the summit focused on addressing policy challenges, improving cross-border mobility and expanding tourism opportunities through technology.
Unlike previous editions, which were organised as conferences, the 2026 gathering adopted a summit format designed to produce practical decisions and measurable commitments.
Organisers expect the discussions to result in an official communiqué outlining specific responsibilities for participating institutions, together with implementation timelines that will be reviewed during the 2027 edition.
Leaders Call for Easier Movement Across East Africa
Uganda’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, delivered the keynote address during the opening session.
She emphasised the importance of implementing Article 104 of the East African Community Treaty, which provides for cooperation on the free movement of people within the region.
Kadaga argued that regional integration should provide practical benefits to citizens, particularly those travelling, working and conducting business across national borders.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for East African Community, ASALs and Regional Development, Beatrice Askul Moe, also highlighted the need to address administrative challenges affecting travellers and businesses.
She pointed to inconsistent border procedures, inadequate public awareness of travel rights and excessive documentation requirements as some of the obstacles that continue to affect regional movement.
The Kenyan government expressed its commitment to working with Uganda to address these challenges and extend successful cooperation to other East African Community member states.
Tourism Numbers Between Kenya and Uganda Continue to Grow
Statistics shared during the summit indicate that tourism exchanges between the two countries are gaining momentum.
According to the Uganda Tourism Board, the number of Kenyan visitors travelling to Uganda increased from 466,902 in 2024 to 519,041 in 2025.
Meanwhile, figures from the Kenya Tourism Board show that Ugandan arrivals in Kenya rose from 201,623 to 234,556 within the same period.
The growth has positioned Uganda as Kenya’s second-largest source market for visitors.
More than 450 tourism stakeholders have also participated in cross-border familiarisation trips organised through the partnership, helping operators understand and promote attractions in both destinations.
Uganda’s Minister of State for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Susan Nakawuki Nsambu, said the two countries have different but complementary tourism attractions.
Uganda offers wildlife experiences, primates, lakes, mountains and cultural heritage, while Kenya’s Coast attracts visitors through its beaches, historical sites and coastal experiences.
She called for the two countries to package their attractions together and market East Africa as one tourism destination rather than competing against each other.
Four Major Agreements Signed
One of the key achievements of the summit was the signing of four Memoranda of Understanding involving tourism and business organisations from Kenya and Uganda.
The agreements brought together:
- Kenya Association of Travel Agents and Uganda Association of Travel Agents.
- Kenya Association of Tour Operators and Association of Uganda Tour Operators.
- Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Private Sector Foundation Uganda.
- Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Banana Industrial Research and Development Centre.
The agreements are expected to strengthen professional relationships, encourage business partnerships and create opportunities for organisations operating across the two markets.
The summit also featured business-to-business meetings and speed-dating sessions connecting tour operators, hoteliers, technology developers and investors.
These engagements were designed to help participants identify potential partners and explore opportunities for joint tourism ventures.
Young Innovators Put Technology in the Spotlight
Technology and youth entrepreneurship also featured prominently during the discussions.
Young innovators from Kenya and Uganda presented digital solutions aimed at improving tourism services and creating new ways for travellers to discover and access destinations.
Other sessions explored investment opportunities in digital tourism platforms, connectivity infrastructure and technology-supported destination management.
The smart destinations discussions examined how data can help tourism stakeholders understand visitor behaviour, improve destination planning and deliver better experiences.
The focus on young entrepreneurs reflects growing recognition of the role technology can play in making tourism more accessible and competitive.
Mombasa County Welcomes Stronger Regional Partnerships
Mombasa County’s Chief Executive Committee Member for Tourism, Culture and Trade, Mohamed Osman, welcomed the continued cooperation between Kenya and Uganda.
He noted that partnerships with Ugandan businesses create opportunities for coastal hotels, tour operators, traders and young entrepreneurs.
The county government pledged continued support for initiatives that strengthen commercial relationships and encourage innovation within the tourism sector.
Uganda’s Consul General in Mombasa, Ambassador Herbert Kiguli, said the decision to elevate the annual conference into a summit reflected the need to move towards concrete results.
He expressed hope that the final communiqué would outline practical measures to help young people travel more easily, establish tourism businesses and access markets across the two countries.
The 2026 gathering also marked ten years since Uganda established its consulate presence in Mombasa, highlighting a decade of diplomatic, economic and commercial engagement along Kenya’s Coast.
What the Summit Means for East African Tourism
The next challenge will be translating the agreements and discussions into changes that travellers and businesses can experience.
The proposed communiqué is expected to outline institutional commitments and delivery timelines, with participating organisations set to assess progress at the next summit in 2027.
For Kenya, stronger cooperation with Uganda could increase visitor numbers, create new business opportunities and encourage tourists to combine coastal holidays with experiences in other East African destinations.
For Uganda, the partnership provides an opportunity to attract more Kenyan travellers while expanding commercial links with tourism businesses along the Coast.
Ultimately, the initiative seeks to make regional travel easier while giving young innovators and businesses a bigger role in the tourism economy.
As East Africa works towards greater integration, the real measure of success will be how easily its people can travel, trade and turn opportunities across borders into meaningful livelihoods.
