The National Tourism Events Organisers Federation (NTEOF) has raised a formal grievance over the systemic exclusion of tourism-focused events from state-backed financial safety nets.
The development follows a crucial consultative review chaired by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja regarding a Shs10 billion government stimulus package earmarked for the entertainment and events sector.
While the meeting evaluated the distribution of an initial Shs3 billion and laid the groundwork for releasing the remaining Shs7 billion, tourism operators argue the funds are disproportionately favouring conventional concert promoters at the expense of experiential tourism gatherings.
The oversight underscores a critical misalignment in Uganda’s economic recovery strategy. Tourism remains one of the country’s largest foreign exchange earners, and experiential events—ranging from cultural festivals to international sporting showcases—serve as primary catalysts for regional hospitality growth.
NTEOF President Peter Sebulime emphasised that these specialised events consistently complement public sector campaigns to market Uganda globally, stimulate secondary spending in domestic transport and aviation, and drive foreign direct investment.
Despite anchoring these economic nodes, tourism event organisers find themselves structurally locked out of emergency liquidity injections.
By limiting the scope of fiscal support primarily to mainstream entertainment promoters, the current allocation framework risks crippling high-yield niche markets that drive long-term traveller retention.
Sebulime has formally petitioned the Office of the Prime Minister to audit and overhaul the selection criteria, demanding fair, ring-fenced representation in both the pending Shs7 billion disbursement and subsequent state interventions.
For Uganda to fully optimise its tourism value chain, industry stakeholders argue that government financial policy must treat tourism-linked events as vital economic infrastructure rather than casual entertainment.