KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s hotel industry is hampered by an unharmonized and uncompetitive tax regime, according to the Uganda Hotel Owners Association (UHOA) and the Uganda Tourism Association (UTA).
The two organizations renewed their commitment to collaborate and address the challenges facing the industry during a meeting at UHOA’s offices in Kololo, Kampala.
UHOA Chairlady Susan Muhwezi said hoteliers in Uganda pay up to 23 types of central government and local council taxes, licensee fees, and statutory contributions. This, she said, increases the cost of doing business and reduces Uganda’s competitiveness as a tourism destination.
“We are happy to pay our taxes, but it is the way they are imposed and collected that we have a problem with,” Muhwezi said. “What we want is a good harmonized tax policy that keeps us and ultimately Uganda as a tourism and tourism investment destination competitive.”
UTA President Yogi Biriggwa emphasized the importance of accurate and up-to-date tourism sector data in guiding policy, regulation, marketing, and consumer experience decisions.
“Accurate tourism sector data enhances evidence-based planning, decision-making, communication, monitoring, and evaluation,” Biriggwa said. “It helps tourism destinations create a more responsive, personalized, and efficient experience for visitors.”
The meeting also discussed the need for joint stakeholder collaboration and investment in research, data collection, and analysis to inform decision-making. Additionally, the two organizations emphasized the importance of access to affordable credit and funding for the private sector.
UHOA and UTA committed to working together to address other challenges facing the hotel industry, including sub-optimal public investment, negative travel advisories, human resources and skills gaps, and low digitalization of the tourism sector.
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