Uganda aims to welcome 13,000 to 15,000 French tourists next year, leveraging its Pearl of Africa
branding and improved tourism infrastructure, according to Ambassador Doreen Ruth Amule. The target follows a 19.7% rise in international visitors in 2025, with tourism revenue hitting $1.62 billion.
Uganda’s Tourism Targets and Strategic Push
Uganda’s Ambassador to France, Spain and Portugal, Doreen Ruth Amule, confirmed the country’s goal to host between 13,000 and 15,000 tourists from France next year. The target, she said, is achievable despite past challenges like Ebola outbreaks. Regardless of setbacks such as Ebola, I am setting myself a target of between 13,000 and 15,000 [tourists],
Amule stated, emphasizing Uganda’s positioning as a “safe zone” amid global instability. The push comes after a 19.7% increase in international visitors in 2025, with tourism receipts rising 21.3% to $1.62 billion. France’s share of these arrivals more than doubled to 7,439 in 2025, placing it among Uganda’s leading European markets.
IFTM Paris Showcases Uganda’s Tourism Ambitions
Uganda highlighted its tourism offerings at the International and French Travel Market (IFTM) Top Resa in Paris from 15 to 17 September 2026, using the event to attract investment and partnerships. The country’s delegation included government agencies and 17 destination management companies and tour operators, promoting the Pearl of Africa
brand. Three branded buses promoting Uganda traveled through central Paris, amplifying visibility. Amule noted the shift from inconspicuous stands to “elegance” and strategic placements, including large screens showcasing gorillas and wildlife. Our objective is not simply to raise awareness about Uganda, but also to give travel professionals the tools and contacts they need to sell the destination more effectively,
she said.
Tour Operators and Market Challenges
Local tour operators like Amon Gamparo of Tricare Adventures and Robert Ntare emphasized the need to overcome awareness gaps. People are interested in seeing the gorillas, and they are interested in coming to Uganda, but when you talk to some of them, they have never heard of the country,
Gamparo said. Ntare, another tour operator, praised the IFTM event for drawing in visitors who knew nothing about the country. The Embassy in Paris is targeting at least 13,000 French visitors, with a combined target of 18,000 from France, Spain and Portugal, with Uganda’s Economic and Commercial Diplomacy programme focusing on air connectivity, European distribution networks, and business partnerships. French foreign direct investment in Uganda exceeded $1.6 billion in 2023, underscoring the bilateral relationship.
