Uganda to Set up Trade Hubs at Airports to Attract Tourists and Promote Exports

President Yoweri Museveni has made a call to support the private sector to increase Uganda’s export earnings.

In his quarterly address on Wednesday, the President issued five directives aimed at presenting Uganda in a more welcoming way to the world, with a particular focus on the tourism sector. The first directive was to set up Uganda Trade Hubs at airports and aerodromes throughout the country, followed by tarmacking the four export aero drones.

The President also called for the training of hospitality industry staff about Uganda’s tourist locations and harmonization of communication regarding tourism across government institutions. Additionally, the President called for monthly updates from the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) on the repair and maintenance of roads in the city.

The President directed the Ministry of Finance to urgently release the quarterly contribution of UGX6bn to KCCA for pothole filling, repairs, and road maintenance. The President noted that only 30% of this money has been released this financial year, causing roads outside the AFDB project to fall into disrepair, leading to traffic jams.

The President also directed KCCA to follow the Parish model approach and provide at least one garbage truck for each of the 99 parishes, 10 garbage skips per parish, and four skip-loaders per division. Furthermore, the President directed that all cities, starting with Kampala, should have ‘lost and found’ locations and accessible places of convenience for tourists. “This should also be replicated in the districts of Kabarole, Gulu, Mbarara, Soroti, Arua, Masindi, Mubende, Kabale, and other locations that are usually frequented by tourists,’ he directed.

Regarding the setting up of Uganda Trade Hubs, the President directed the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Ministry of Works to work with the private sector and set up these Hubs starting at Entebbe International Airport.

The Trade Hubs will be composed of coffee, chocolate, Uganda leather products, sugar, fruits, vegetables, dairy, beef, poultry, etc., and will be placed for content about Ugandan tourism and hospitality. The President emphasized that the Trade Hub and private sector will work with Uganda Airlines, the internet, and other media channels to produce and provide content on these sites and more in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and its institutions of Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). The President stated that the Hub idea will be replicated at all aerodromes across the country wherever tourists land, including the border points.

The President added that the Trade hubs will also be in Belgrade, Serbia, the Uganda UN mission in New York, Uganda High Commission in London, Uganda High Commission in Kinshasa, Uganda missions in Brussels and South Africa, the Uganda mission in Beijing, Uganda mission in the UAE and Uganda mission in India.

The President also directed that the four export aerodromes of Pakuba, Kasese, Kidepo, and Kisoro be tarmacked with hard surfaces and other appropriate facilities to allow arrivals that don’t need to first get to Entebbe airport. The President also directed that the aerodromes should have international codes to allow tourists to book directly to the game parks.

He further directed the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to work with telecom operators to provide broadband internet in the game lodges and in the aerodromes, including 5G networks for places like hospitals, hotels, and educational institutions.

All border points, starting with Malaba, Mpondwe, Elegu, and Mutukula, should be treated as export and tourism points, and the private sector should be involved in the design and set up of the Hubs. The President directed the Ministry of Works and Transport to have information points and automated teller