Uganda Tourism Association (UTA) Facts & Figures

1. General Information

Established: 2014
Legal Status: Company limited by guarantee, without share capital
Mandate: Umbrella body for Uganda’s tourism trade associations, advocating for industry growth and stakeholder collaboration.

2. Vision & Mission

Vision: A professional, competitive, thriving, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable Ugandan tourism sector contributing to national development.
Mission: To be a cohesive industry voice that supports Uganda’s tourism growth through stakeholder collaboration, sustainable tourism advocacy, and enhanced consumer experiences.

3. UTA Membership

Total Member Associations: 9 members and 2 affiliate members
Total Enterprises Represented: Over 2,500
Employment Statistics:
- Women Employees: 60% of the workforce
- Youth Employees: 72% of the workforce

4. UTA’s Member Associations

Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) – Over 425 members
Uganda Hotel Owners Association (UHOA) – Over 748 hotels
Uganda Safari Guides Association (USAGA) – Over 800 members
Uganda Community Tourism Association (UCOTA) – Over 70 groups, 2,121 individuals (63% women)
Uganda Association of Travel Agents (TUGATA) – Over 100 travel agencies, employing 800+ individuals
National Arts and Cultural Crafts Association of Uganda (NACCAU) – 96 members (85% women)
Hotel General Managers’ Association of Uganda (HOGMAU)
Uganda Association of Conference and Incentive Industry (UACII) – 46 members
The Buganda Heritage and Tourism Board (BHTB) – Cultural heritage promoter
Association of Ugandan Women in Tourism Trade (AUWOTT) – Supports women in tourism
Kasese Tourism Investors Forum (KTIF) – Over 150 tourism investors

5. Uganda’s Tourism Sector Statistics

Tourism Contribution to GDP (2023): USD 2.8 billion (5.5% of GDP)
International Tourist Arrivals (2023): 1.274 million (82.6% recovery from 2019)
International Tourist Receipts (2023): UGX 3,818.6 billion (~USD 1.025 billion, 83.4% of 2019 earnings)
Total Tourism Employment (2023): 610,000 jobs (5.7% of total employment in Uganda)
Tourism Industry Establishments: Estimated 998,876 establishments
Total Employment (Direct & Indirect): 2,572,416 jobs (14.7% of national employment)
Sectoral Growth Targets (NDP IV):
- Increase tourism revenue from USD 1 billion (2023) to USD 4 billion (2029/30)
- Increase average visitor stay from 7.6 to 10 nights
- Increase domestic tourism expenditure from UGX 3,675 billion to UGX 5,350 billion