Uganda has secured the rights to host the 19th World Congress on Environmental Health in 2028, a major international event expected to draw over 1,500 global delegates and inject nearly UGX 9.68 billion into the economy.
The global congress, organised by the International Federation of Environmental Health, will take place in Kampala and position Uganda at the centre of international dialogue on climate change, sanitation, food safety and public health systems.
The winning bid was led by the Environmental Health Workers Association of Uganda in partnership with the Uganda Tourism Board, with backing from the Ministry of Health and Makerere University School of Public Health, highlighting strong institutional coordination in securing high-value global events.
The biennial congress is regarded as a flagship gathering for environmental health professionals, researchers and policymakers, and its selection of Uganda reflects growing international confidence in the country’s capacity to host large-scale conferences.
Beyond its public health significance, the event is expected to deliver tangible business and investment benefits across multiple sectors. Hotels in Kampala are projected to see increased occupancy from international delegates, while airlines, transport providers and tour operators are set to benefit from heightened travel demand.
The conference is also expected to create opportunities for professional conference organisers and destination management companies to showcase Uganda’s capability in delivering world-class events.
Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Tourism Board, Juliana Kagwa, said the successful bid signals Uganda’s rising profile in the global meetings and conventions market. She noted that hosting the congress will not only bring international expertise to the country but also stimulate investment across hospitality, transport and tourism value chains while strengthening Uganda’s position as a hub for knowledge exchange.
The bid process was coordinated by the Uganda Convention Bureau, a unit under the tourism board tasked with growing Uganda’s share of the global meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) market.
The win builds on Uganda’s recent tourism performance, with the country recording approximately 1.37 million international arrivals in 2024, a 7.7 percent increase from the previous year, while tourism receipts reached a record US$1.28 billion, accounting for about 16 percent of total exports.
With preparations now underway, organisers are expected to work closely with government and academic institutions to deliver the 2028 congress, which is anticipated to further elevate Uganda’s global profile as both a tourism destination and a centre for international business events.