Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has thrown his support behind the visa-free Africa tourism campaign, the country’s Tourism Board announced. The endorsement came during a meeting with a Ghanaian delegation, spearheading the Trans-Africa Tourism & Unity Campaign, alongside Ugandan tourism officials at the Mayuge State Lodge.
According to the Tourism Board, Museveni pledged strong backing for the initiative, highlighting its potential to foster unity, development, and collaboration across Africa through tourism. The campaign’s main goal is to create a unified African tourism market, enabling visitors to travel across multiple countries on a single trip without the hassle of visas.
Tourism officials emphasized that current visa restrictions reduce travel flows by up to 63%, affecting not only tourism but also trade and investment across the continent. By removing these barriers, the initiative aims to stimulate economic growth and strengthen cross-border business opportunities.
Uganda’s tourism sector is already showing positive signs of recovery. In 2024, international arrivals grew by 7.7%, reaching 1.37 million visitors, with the majority coming from other African countries. The government sees visa liberalization as a key step toward achieving its long-term goal of increasing tourism’s contribution to GDP to $50 billion by 2040.
The Trans-Africa Tourism & Unity Campaign has been gaining traction across the continent, advocating for easier movement for travelers, enhanced regional cooperation, and sustainable tourism growth. Uganda’s support adds momentum to the initiative, signaling a continental push toward more accessible and interconnected tourism.
With Museveni’s endorsement, the campaign could help position Africa as a seamless travel destination, encouraging more visitors, boosting local economies, and strengthening ties between African nations.
Conclusion: Visa-free tourism in Africa is more than just a travel convenience—it represents a strategic move to enhance economic integration, trade, and investment across the continent, and Uganda is now taking a leading role in this transformative effort.
