A Ugandan tourism operator has called on President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to intervene over what he describes as the growing economic strain caused by international travel advisories issued during disease outbreaks, warning that repeated alerts continue to undermine the country’s tourism recovery efforts.
Mr Akampurira Rodgers, a tourism operator and travel specialist, raised the concern in a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), where he highlighted the impact of global health-related advisories linked to outbreaks such as Ebola, Marburg and Covid-19 on Uganda’s tourism industry.
He commended government for what he termed a “strong and coordinated” response to public health emergencies, noting that Uganda has in recent years strengthened its capacity to detect and contain outbreaks.
However, he argued that despite these efforts, international travel advisories often trigger immediate cancellations by tourists and travel partners, leading to significant financial losses across the tourism value chain.
“Each outbreak announcement is followed by cancellations, refund demands and uncertainty among international travellers, regardless of the country’s preparedness and response measures,” Mr Rodgers said.
He warned that the effects are being felt across the entire sector, including tour operators, hotels, airlines, transport providers, safari guides and local communities that depend on tourism for livelihoods.
According to him, the situation has led to reduced bookings, delayed recovery of the industry and declining confidence in Uganda as a travel destination during health-related crises.
Mr Rodgers further noted that tourism remains one of Uganda’s key foreign exchange earners, supporting thousands of jobs across hospitality, conservation, agriculture, transport and creative industries.
He argued that while Uganda continues to strengthen its public health systems, the country often suffers reputational and economic setbacks whenever international media coverage of disease outbreaks escalates.
The tourism operator called for stronger international communication and public relations strategies to ensure balanced reporting on Uganda’s outbreak response capacity.
Among his proposals are closer engagement with diplomatic missions, international media and global tourism partners, as well as the establishment of a structured recovery framework to support operators during crisis periods.
“We fully support disease prevention and public safety measures. However, there is a need to address the long-term economic impact on citizens whose livelihoods depend on tourism,” he said.
Mr Rodgers also appealed for an opportunity to present detailed research and testimonies from industry players on how repeated advisories affect investment, employment and Uganda’s competitiveness as a tourism destination.
The appeal comes as Uganda continues to position itself as a leading tourism destination in East Africa, with ongoing investments in wildlife conservation, infrastructure development and international destination marketing.