By Joseph Mary Buwule
Ugandan tourism entrepreneur and conservation advocate Amos Wekesa has shared his memorable experience promoting Uganda in Canada, describing it as a powerful opportunity to market the country as a world-class tourism destination.
Wekesa, who was one of the keynote speakers during Africa Day celebrations at Western University, said the event brought together audiences eager to learn more about Africa, with Uganda taking center stage through presentations focused on tourism, culture and investment opportunities.
According to Wekesa, Uganda’s High Commission in Canada played a major role in encouraging him to attend the event, a decision he now says was extremely important after witnessing the impact his presentation had on the audience.
During the event, Uganda’s High Commissioner, Amb. Joy Ruth Acheng Kajjubi, also delivered what Wekesa described as a “fantastic speech,” while his own presentation focused on explaining why Uganda is “a must-visit destination before one dies.”
Wekesa revealed that many people are often surprised by the depth of knowledge and statistics he shares during such engagements, noting that public speaking and destination marketing are skills he has developed over many years.
“After my talk yesterday, my whole table was like, ‘You have made us want to book tickets to Uganda now,’” Wekesa shared in a social media post reflecting on the event.
He added that moments like those reaffirm his belief that promoting Uganda internationally is a meaningful mission driven by purpose and passion.
The tourism entrepreneur also recounted another recent engagement where he addressed military attachés, one of whom praised him for being exceptionally prepared and naturally gifted in communication, despite Wekesa insisting that he had not made extraordinary preparations for the presentation.
Wekesa’s remarks come at a time when Uganda continues to intensify efforts to market itself globally as a premier tourism destination, highlighting attractions such as mountain gorillas, wildlife, diverse cultures, and scenic landscapes.
His participation in international forums is seen as part of broader efforts by Ugandan tourism stakeholders and diplomatic missions to attract more visitors, investors and partnerships to the country’s tourism sector.