KAMPALA, UGANDA – In a bid to bolster its international tourism profile, Uganda has launched the “Explore Uganda” mobile app, a comprehensive travel companion designed to showcase the country’s natural beauty, rich heritage, and diverse culture.
Developed by the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) with support from TotalEnergies Uganda, the app provides a one-stop center for information on attractions, accommodation, events, and service providers.
UTB Chief Executive Officer Lilly Ajarova described the app as a “game-changer” for Uganda’s tourism sector. “The Explore Uganda App is a comprehensive travel companion designed to transform how travelers explore our country. With features like detailed destination guides, real-time event updates, interactive maps, and personalized itineraries, the app ensures that travelers can effortlessly discover Uganda’s natural beauty, rich heritage, and diverse culture.”
Ajarova added that the app lists hotels, resorts, and lodges, and their categories, but only those licensed by UTB will appear on the app. “This app supports our strategy of positioning Uganda as a top global tourism destination, using technology to make our world-class attractions and authentic experiences accessible and engaging for all.”
State Minister for Tourism Martin Mugarra Bahinduka praised UTB for consolidating Uganda’s tourism message under the slogan “Explore Uganda, The Pearl of Africa.” However, he expressed disappointment at the low budgetary allocations for marketing.
“We need to market this app aggressively to ensure its success,” Mugarra emphasized. “Without evidence of sales, there will be no proof of the app’s success.”
UTB Board Chairperson Pearl Kakooza noted that the app will increase Uganda’s visibility and enable industry players to showcase their products. “The app will definitely increase Uganda’s visibility, but also enable the country’s industry players to easily put their products on the market, while tourists will also get all the information they need more easily.”
TotalEnergies Uganda Director for Biodiversity, Pauline MacDonald, emphasized the company’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s socioeconomic development through innovative initiatives. “By supporting the development of this app, we are proud to contribute to the digitization of Uganda’s tourism industry while providing young tech professionals with opportunities to create essential applications.”
MacDonald added that the app will transform information access and serve as an online marketplace for community-based tourism enterprises, tour operators, and potential investors to share and access information on a global scale.
Private sector players have hailed the app as a vital tool for marketing Uganda’s numerous attractions. Travel writer Charlotte Beauvoisin noted that the app will make her work easier, particularly in marketing Uganda to the European market.
“As a travel writer, I focus on marketing Uganda to the European market, leveraging the fact that travelers gain confidence in me because I am European,” Beauvoisin said. “But with the app, my work will be easier.”
Denis Ntege, director at Adrift and Wildwaters Lodge, praised the app for creating a platform for both small and well-known attractions to shine. “The App creates a good platform for both small, unknown and larger popular monuments to shine on the same stage.”
Ntege added that the app has come at the right time, as most people now rely on their mobile phones for information. “This is a solution to the difficulty of marketing Uganda’s numerous attractions scattered all over the country.”
The “Explore Uganda” app is available for download on mobile app stores and is designed to be user-friendly for both domestic and international tourists.
With this innovative app, Uganda is poised to reclaim its position as a top global tourism destination, showcasing its stunning landscapes, diverse biodiversity, and rich cultural heritage to the world.
