The 10th edition of POATE took place at Speke Resort and Convention Centre in Munyonyo, Kampala
The 10th edition of the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE) took place from 21–23 May 2026 at the Speke Resort and Convention Centre in Munyonyo, Kampala, bringing together tourism stakeholders, hosted buyers, investors, exhibitors, media, and policymakers from across Africa and beyond. The event was organised by the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) under the theme "Wanderlust."
POATE is Uganda's flagship tourism and travel trade exhibition and serves as a platform for Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Consumer (B2C) engagement within the tourism sector.
According to organisers, POATE 2026 attracted more than 350 Ugandan exhibitors and 120 hosted buyers representing over 40 countries. The expo also drew thousands of visitors throughout the three-day event as Uganda intensified efforts to market itself as a leading tourism and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) destination.
Priority markets highlighted during the expo included Turkey, Egypt, China, and Canada, reflecting Uganda's strategy to diversify its tourism source markets and expand global partnerships.
Structured business engagements
Expert insights and knowledge sharing
Destination showcases
Tourism growth and collaboration
During the official opening ceremony, President Yoweri Museveni emphasized the importance of tourism in driving economic growth, investment, and destination visibility. He also called for reforms to Uganda's visa regime, including simplified travel procedures and longer visa durations for international visitors, arguing that easier travel access is essential for tourism competitiveness.
The Uganda Tourism Board positioned the expo as part of a broader strategy to strengthen Uganda's visibility in global tourism markets while promoting sustainable, inclusive, and community-led tourism development.
Officials also highlighted Uganda's growing focus on MICE tourism, with the country increasingly leveraging conferences, exhibitions, and international events to attract investment and business travel.
The expo also reinforced East Africa's growing emphasis on regional tourism cooperation. Delegations from neighboring countries used the platform to strengthen partnerships and promote cross-border travel initiatives.
Kenya, for example, used POATE 2026 to support efforts aimed at increasing Ugandan visitor arrivals to 300,000 in 2026, with stakeholders emphasizing the importance of aviation connectivity and regional tourism corridors.
As one of East Africa's largest tourism trade platforms, POATE 2026 demonstrated the increasing role of tourism expos in promoting investment, destination marketing, and international business collaboration across the African tourism and MICE industries.
Uganda's Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo continues to grow in stature and influence.
Kenya used POATE 2026 to support efforts aimed at increasing Ugandan visitor arrivals to 300,000 in 2026, emphasizing aviation connectivity and regional tourism corridors.
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