FROM THE SOURCE OF THE NILE TO THE HEART OF SICHUAN: UGANDA UNVEILS THE PEARL OF AFRICA IN CHENGDU
FROM THE SOURCE OF THE NILE TO THE HEART OF SICHUAN: UGANDA UNVEILS THE PEARL OF AFRICA IN CHENGDU
Chengdu, 20 October 2026 – The Embassy of the Republic of Uganda in Beijing and the Consulate General in Guangzhou, in partnership with the Sichuan Provincial People's Government and the Sichuan Provincial Travel Agency Association, convened the Uganda-Sichuan Tourism and Investment Promotion Conference at the Kempinski Hotel Chengdu under the theme "Explore Uganda, The Pearl of Africa."
The Conference brought together Ugandan Government officials and private tour operators, Sichuan Government representatives, prospective investors and leading Sichuan outbound operators to position Uganda within Sichuan's premium source market.
Sichuan is China's fifth-largest provincial economy, with GDP exceeding USD 946 billion and a population of over 83 million. Its organized outbound market surpasses 1.7 million departures annually, representing a high-yield segment for long-haul experiential travel. As the commercial gateway to Western China, the province offers Uganda strategic access to a sophisticated outbound clientele.
In her keynote address, H.E. Ambassador Oliver Wonekha situated the engagement within the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). She underscored Uganda's comparative advantages as a tourism and investment destination and its strategic role as a gateway to the East African Community market of over 300 million people.
On tourism, she presented Uganda's differentiated offering anchored in primate tourism — mountain gorilla and chimpanzee tracking — complemented by wildlife safaris, the Source of the Nile, Queen Elizabeth National Park, the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains and white-water rafting. She emphasized authenticity, cultural diversity and community hospitality as core strengths of Uganda's competitiveness.
On investment, Ambassador Wonekha invited Sichuan enterprises to explore opportunities in accommodation and MICE infrastructure, tourism support services, agro-processing and value addition, logistics and renewable energy, including solar PV manufacturing. She highlighted Uganda's liberal investment code, attractive incentives and streamlined facilitation through the Uganda Investment Authority.
Mr. Zhang Yechu, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Sichuan Province, welcomed the engagement with Uganda, affirming interest in expanding two-way tourism flows and noting strong alignment between Uganda's nature and heritage products and Sichuan's evolving preference for sustainable and immersive travel.
Sector presentations enriched the deliberations. Ms. Tina Kabazaire, Tourism Focal Officer at the Embassy, showcased Uganda's tourism portfolio and investment prospects. Ms. Rita Mugula of the Uganda Investment Authority outlined bankable project profiles, PPP modalities and investor aftercare services through UIA's One Stop Centre. Ms. Huang Li of the Sichuan Provincial Travel Agency Association shared outbound market trends and prospects for co-branded marketing and charter operations.
The Conference concluded with a presentation by Ms. Bernadette Mwesige Ssempa, Counsellor at the Embassy of Uganda in Beijing, who recapped key achievements and outlined a follow-up framework to translate deliberations into tangible outcomes. Consensus was reached on two actions: establishing a technical liaison mechanism between Uganda's tourism agencies and the Sichuan Provincial Travel Agency Association for sustained promotion and B2B matchmaking; and facilitating, in principle, a Sichuan business and familiarization mission to Uganda in May 2027 for site inspections, consultations and deal structuring with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and private sector stakeholders.
Follow-up will be coordinated by the Embassy in Beijing and the Consulate General in Guangzhou, in liaison with competent authorities in Kampala.
