Uganda hospitality investment is entering a pivotal year, with three major events due in or around Kampala between April and July 2027. Together, they put investors, tourism buyers and international football audiences in front of Uganda’s hotel and resort sector.
The sequence starts with FHS Africa on 28–29 April 2027 at Speke Resort Munyonyo. The Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE) follows on 6–8 May 2027 at the same venue, according to the organiser’s announcement. The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) then runs from 19 June to 17 July 2027. For anyone tracking tourism investment in Africa, few destinations offer this much in so short a window.
Recent data back the Uganda hospitality investment, and Uganda tourism statistics for 2025 show a sector that has fully recovered and is still growing. Add a roster of hospitality events and a continental football tournament, and Kampala is becoming a practical place to meet partners and assess projects.
Uganda Hospitality Investment and the Uganda Tourism Statistics 2025
The 2025 figures give investors a solid baseline. The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities reports that international arrivals rose 19.7% to 1,642,215 visitors, roughly 106% above 2019, with a record of UGX 5,829.2 billion (Ugandan Shillings). That equates to about USD 1.62 billion (United States Dollars), according to the Tourism Statistical Abstract 2025.
Wildlife continues to anchor demand. Gorilla tourism revenue reached Shs110 billion in 2025/26, and Uganda hosts more than half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas.
Uganda Hospitality Investment and POATE 2027
The Uganda Tourism Board organises the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo annually, typically at Speke Resort Munyonyo. It combines business-to-business and business-to-consumer formats. The 10th edition in May 2026 drew more than 350 Ugandan exhibitors and 120 buyers from 40 countries. The 2027 edition is listed on the UTB’s POATE page.
By holding FHS Africa just before POATE, the organiser, The Bench, aims to link hospitality capital with tourism marketing. Juliana Kagwa, CEO of the Uganda Tourism Board, says the pairing strengthens the connection between destination promotion and investment. For hotel owners and operators, that means a hospitality investment summit followed by a trade show in one trip.
Uganda Hospitality Investment and AFCON 2027 Uganda
CAF describes the tournament as the first AFCON hosted by three countries, reaching more than 400 million people in East Africa. Uganda co-hosts with Kenya and Tanzania, and the finals run from 19 June to 17 July 2027.
Preparations for AFCON 2027 are underway, with upgrades advancing at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, alongside work at Kyambogo and FUFA Stadium Kadiba, and Hoima City Stadium has been commissioned.
Uganda Hospitality Investment: Where the Gaps Lie
Not every indicator is rosy, and that matters to investors. Leisure and holiday travel grew only 0.4% in 2025, to 265,905 visitors, or 16.2% of international arrivals. The same report notes 3.27 million domestic tourists in 2025/26, above the target of about 2.69 million.
That points to room for leisure-oriented products, mid-market hotels and domestic-focused accommodation. The same report adds that nearly 30km of tourism roads were completed in 2025/26, bringing the reported total to 1,733km, which may widen access to destinations outside Kampala.
Regional demand is another opportunity. More than 750,000 visitors travelled between Uganda and Kenya in 2025.
Plan Your Uganda Hospitality Investment Strategy
Start with the calendar: FHS Africa on 28–29 April, POATE in early May and AFCON from 19 June. Review the latest Uganda tourism statistics, then use the meetings in Kampala to test assumptions on location, brand, financing and demand with operators, developers and tourism officials.
Details on registration and sponsorship are on the FHS Africa website, and organiser background is at The Bench.
