UTB CEO Juliana Kagwa Urges Tourism Sector to Turn Poate Gains Into Investments

Juliana Kagwa, Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), has called upon tourism stakeholders to leverage the connections established during the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE) 2026. She urged them to convert these interactions into concrete investments, partnerships, and business opportunities that will drive economic growth and create jobs.

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My call to our tourism industry, investors, development partners and private sector stakeholders is this: let us convert the connections made at POATE into bookings, partnerships, investments and bankable projects that create jobs and drive growth across our economy.

Kagwa's appeal follows her recognition as "CEO of the Week" by CEO East Africa Magazine. She attributed the success of POATE 2026 to the collective efforts of the tourism industry and its partners. "My call to our tourism industry, investors, development partners and private sector stakeholders is this: let us convert the connections made at POATE into bookings, partnerships, investments and bankable projects that create jobs and drive growth across our economy," she stated.

The POATE 2026 expo brought together tourism operators, investors, buyers, and industry players from across the region and beyond to highlight Uganda's tourism potential. Kagwa noted that the event successfully raised Uganda's profile as a destination and generated significant interest among potential investors and travel partners. "The visibility has been created. The interest has been generated. Now we must collectively turn that momentum into tangible results for Destination Uganda," she urged.

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The visibility has been created. The interest has been generated. Now we must collectively turn that momentum into tangible results for Destination Uganda.

Kagwa also credited the UTB staff and numerous partners for their tireless efforts in delivering a successful expo. The Ugandan government has identified tourism as a pivotal growth sector, with increasing emphasis placed on investment, marketing, and product development as essential drivers for increasing foreign exchange earnings, generating employment, and fostering economic transformation.

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As the article rightly notes, POATE 2026 was an important moment for the entire team at UTB and the many partners who worked tirelessly to make it a success.