The 5th Uganda and Kenya Coast Tourism and Innovation Summit and Exhibition could tackle free trade movement challenges and turn tech ideas into tourism products.

Convened in Mombasa from October 26 to 27 by the Consulate General of the Republic of Uganda, and held annually since 2022, the summit brought together tourism stakeholders from both nations.

This year’s theme was “Unlocking Tourism Opportunities: Resolving Policy Bottlenecks through Technology, Youth and Seamless Mobility across East Africa,” with a greater focus on actionable decisions rather than mere awareness.

Rt. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, Uganda’s First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for East African Community Affairs, and Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers, said the East African Community has failed to read the signs lagging in delivering on promises to boost freedom of movement, work, and business across borders.

“Article 104 of the Treaty is that promise, and tourism is where its benefits are felt first,” Ms. Kadaga said in her keynote address. “Uganda and Kenya must lead by example, and this Summit must turn our good intentions into actions the rest of the Community can follow.”

Beatrice Askul Moe, Cabinet Secretary for East African Community, ASALs and Regional Development, Kenya, shares the same thoughts saying that regional integration is measured by how easily citizens, goods and services move across the region.

“Kenya is committed to removing the bottlenecks that remain: procedures applied differently at different points, citizens who do not know their rights, and paperwork that slows down travelers and businesses. Our partnership with Uganda shows what neighbours can achieve together, and we will carry the outcomes of this Summit to the wider East African Community,” Ms. Moe explains.

According to the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Kenyan visitors to Uganda rose from 466,902 in 2024 to 519,041 in 2025. Over the same period, Ugandan arrivals to Kenya grew from 201,623 to 234,556, making Uganda Kenya’s second-largest source market, according to the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB). More than 450 tourism stakeholders have taken part in the partnership’s familiarisation trips across the border.

“Kenyan visitors to Uganda keep growing every year, and we want many more of them to discover the Pearl of Africa,” said Susan Nakawuki Nsambu, Minister of State for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Uganda. “Our two countries complement each other. Uganda offers primates, lakes, mountains and culture, while the Kenya Coast offers its beaches and heritage. Our young people and new technology will help us package these experiences together, and easier movement will put them within reach of every East African. We must sell East Africa as a bloc.”

Key sessions of the summit

Article 104 in Practice- a ministerial panel reviewing how far the EAC Treaty’s free-movement provisions have been implemented, where they fall short, and what remedies Kenya and Uganda can lead on.

Young Innovators’ presentations- youth-led ventures from both countries showcasing digital tourism solutions on both days.

Tourism, Technology and Investment- how tech-enabled tourism, digital platforms and connectivity infrastructure create investable opportunities.

Smart Destinations- data-driven destination management and the future of the Uganda–Kenya Coast corridor.

Business-to-business sessions and business speed dating between tour operators, hoteliers, technology developers and investors.

Four Memoranda of Understanding were signed on the first day (Monday, October 26): between the Kenya Association of Travel Agents and the Uganda Association of Travel Agents; the Kenya Association of Tour Operators and the Association of Uganda Tour Operators; the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) and the Private Sector Foundation Uganda; and KNCCI and the Banana Industrial Research and Development Centre.

“Mombasa is proud to host our Ugandan brothers and sisters for the fifth year running. Tourism is the lifeblood of the Coast, and the business our operators, hoteliers and young people do with Uganda puts food on tables here,” said Mohamed Osman CECM Tourism, Culture and Trade, Mombasa County. “The County Government will continue to back this partnership, from the trade agreements signed today to the young innovators building the tools that will shape how the world experiences the Coast.”

“Four years ago we started this conversation as a conference. Today we return as a Summit because the partnership has earned the right to move from talk to commitments,” said Amb. Herbert Kiguli, Consul General of Uganda to Mombasa. “Kenyan arrivals to Uganda and Ugandan arrivals to Kenya are both growing, and our two countries are complementary destinations, not competitors. What we are expecting from Mombasa is a communiqué with practical steps that will make it easier for a young Ugandan or Kenyan to travel, to build a tourism business, and to sell across borders.”

The 2026 edition also marks ten years of the Uganda Consulate’s presence in Mombasa. The Summit closes on Tuesday, 27 October, with the reading of the outcome document, followed by a Gala Dinner hosted by the Governor of Mombasa.