By Joseph Mary Buwule
KAMPALA – Uganda has concluded a successful participation at the World Agro-Tourism Conference in Scotland, a milestone expected to strengthen the country’s efforts to diversify its tourism products and prepare for hosting the prestigious global event in 2029.
The Ugandan delegation was led by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Mrs. Doreen Katusiime, and included the Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Juliana Kagwa, UTB Chairperson Pearl Hoareau Kakooza, as well as officials from the Uganda Tourism Board and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF).
The conference brought together tourism experts, policymakers, investors and industry leaders from around the world to discuss the future of agro-tourism and sustainable rural tourism development.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, Uganda’s participation was aimed at benchmarking world-class hospitality models, strengthening international tourism partnerships, diversifying the country’s tourism offerings through agro-tourism, and enhancing institutional capacity ahead of hosting the 2029 World Agro-Tourism Conference.
During the conference, the Ugandan delegation participated in experiential learning visits across farms in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, where they observed successful agro-tourism enterprises that integrate agriculture with tourism experiences.
The study tours exposed the delegation to innovative approaches in farm-based tourism, rural hospitality, visitor engagement and community participation, lessons that Uganda intends to adapt in developing its own agro-tourism sector.
Uganda also mounted an exhibition showcasing its premium agro-tourism products and experiences. The country’s display attracted significant interest from international travel buyers, tourism stakeholders and conference participants seeking authentic tourism destinations that combine agriculture, culture and nature.
Officials said the exhibition provided an opportunity to market Uganda’s rich agricultural heritage, coffee, tea, cocoa, fruits, livestock enterprises and farm experiences as emerging tourism products capable of attracting both domestic and international visitors.
The delegation further participated in high-level seminars and technical sessions focusing on sustainable, community-led tourism initiatives. These discussions explored strategies for ensuring that rural communities directly benefit from tourism while conserving natural resources and promoting local cultural heritage.
The knowledge acquired is expected to contribute to Uganda’s ongoing efforts to position agro-tourism as one of the country’s fastest-growing tourism segments, complementing its traditional attractions such as wildlife, mountain gorillas, birds and adventure tourism.
Officials noted that integrating agriculture and tourism presents enormous opportunities for increasing farmers’ incomes, creating employment, promoting value addition and expanding tourism beyond protected areas into rural communities.
Hosting the 2029 World Agro-Tourism Conference is expected to place Uganda on the global tourism map, attract international investment, promote knowledge exchange and showcase the country’s unique agricultural and tourism potential to the world.
The successful participation in Scotland is seen as an important step towards ensuring that Uganda is fully prepared to host the international event while adopting global best practices in sustainable agro-tourism development.
The Ministry of Tourism reaffirmed its commitment to working with stakeholders across the tourism and agriculture sectors to develop innovative tourism products that benefit communities, enhance visitor experiences and contribute to Uganda’s economic transformation through sustainable tourism.