Arusha, Tanzania – Uganda’s participation at Karibu-KILIFAIR 2026 in Arusha, Tanzania, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to regional cooperation, tourism development, trade promotion, and economic integration within the East African Community. Through its active engagement at the expo, the Uganda Consulate in Arusha, in collaboration with the Uganda Tourism Board, showcased Uganda’s diverse tourism attractions, rich cultural heritage, world-class hospitality, and expanding investment opportunities. The participation underscored Uganda’s broader Economic and Commercial Diplomacy agenda, with a focus on strengthening tourism promotion, facilitating trade, attracting investment, and deepening regional integration.
The expo commenced with Business-to-Business (B2B) engagements that brought together tourism stakeholders, investors, tour operators, hospitality players, development partners, and private sector actors from across East Africa and beyond. These engagements provided a platform for strengthening partnerships, exploring investment opportunities, and promoting sustainable tourism growth across the region. A key highlight was Uganda Night 2026, held under the theme “Building Bridges, Unlocking Opportunities Together.” The event brought together government officials, diplomatic missions, investors, tourism stakeholders, development partners, media, and private sector leaders to celebrate Uganda–Tanzania relations and reinforce the broader East African integration agenda.
Speaking during the engagements, the Consul General of Uganda in Arusha, Amb. Anne Katusiime, accompanied by Amb. Richard Kabonero, emphasised the importance of strengthening Uganda–Tanzania relations through complementary destination marketing, improved connectivity, and strategic cooperation in tourism development. She noted that Uganda and Tanzania are natural tourism partners, with Arusha serving as a strategic gateway for regional connectivity. She further highlighted that enhanced collaboration between the two countries strengthens tourism and business linkages, increases destination visibility, and supports emerging sectors such as sports tourism. Amb. Katusiime also underscored the importance of deepening cooperation in trade and investment to promote foreign direct investment, job creation, and shared prosperity.
The Consul General further highlighted the Uganda–Arusha Connect Campaign, a flagship initiative aimed at strengthening tourism and business linkages between Uganda and Tanzania. The programme included familiarisation trips for Tanzanian tour operators to Uganda, offering firsthand exposure to Uganda’s tourism attractions and hospitality. The initiative later contributed to participation at the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo 2026, where Uganda further promoted its tourism products and established new regional partnerships. She emphasised that tourism growth in East Africa should be driven by collaboration rather than competition, noting that the region offers a unique multi-destination tourism experience. This includes attractions such as gorilla tracking in Uganda, the Source of the Nile, the Serengeti migration, Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro, and diverse cultural heritage sites across the region.
Amb. Kabonero commended the Consulate’s leadership in advancing tourism diplomacy and reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to strengthening cooperation within the East African Community. He stressed the importance of joint destination marketing, improved air connectivity, and development of shared tourism resources such as Lake Victoria. He also welcomed ongoing efforts by Uganda Airlines to expand regional connectivity. The Guest of Honour, Amb. Stephen Patrick Mbundi Secretary General of the EAC commended the Uganda Consulate and tourism stakeholders for promoting regional integration through initiatives such as familiarisation trips, joint marketing, sports tourism, and the Uganda Village concept at Karibu-KILIFAIR.
He reiterated the East African Community’s commitment to harmonised tourism standards, improved connectivity, and collective branding under the Visit East Africa: Feel the Vibe campaign as he continued to highlight opportunities linked to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, to be jointly hosted by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania under the Pamoja Bid, encouraging stakeholders to develop multi-destination tourism packages.
Uganda’s exhibition attracted strong interest, featuring cultural performances, Ugandan coffee, and culinary showcases such as Rolex, Kabalagala, and Uganda Waragi, alongside investment and tourism promotion displays. Uganda reaffirmed its commitment to using tourism as a catalyst for regional integration, economic growth, and people-to-people connectivity, with stakeholders agreeing that strengthened cooperation will unlock broader opportunities for jobs, investment, and shared prosperity across East Africa.
Amb. Patrick Stephen Mbundi (L), Amb. Richard Kabonero (C), and Amb. Anne Katusiime speak at the Uganda Night in Arusha
Amb. Katusiime – (L) with Amb. Kabonero and Uganda Airlines officials, (C) speaking at the event, and (R) promoting Ugandan products to a visitor at the 2026 Karibu Kilifair
Uganda’s Crane Performers showcase traditional dances in Arusha
Photo Credit: Herbert Ssekatawa
