Uganda’s tourism authorities have warmly welcomed the announcement by the Government of the United Kingdom to finally lifting of its previous advice against all but essential travel to Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The updated guidance, published on the UK Government’s Foreign Travel Advice portal, once again signals how Uganda is a safe, stable and rewarding destination for international travellers.
The advisory was put in place UK’s by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office following an incident in the National Park in October 2023.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the most famous in Uganda and welcomed more than 95 000 tourists in 2022, equating to 26% of visitors to all of Uganda’s national parks.
Dr. Gessa Simplicious, Spokesperson of the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), hailed the decision as an important moment for the country’s tourism rebound and global competitiveness.
“UTB welcomes the United Kingdom’s decision to lift travel restrictions on Uganda,” he said. “This positive development reaffirms the confidence of one of our key international partners in Uganda’s safety, stability, and commitment to high quality tourism experiences. The UK remains a significant source market for destination Uganda. The move therefore paves way for increased travel, stronger business linkages, and renewed visitor confidence.
“We encourage British travellers to take full advantage of this opportunity to explore the Pearl of Africa with incredible wildlife, landscapes and cultural heritage. As UTB, we will continue working with sector players, international partners, and government agencies to ensure that every visitor enjoys a safe, seamless, and memorable stay. Uganda is open, welcoming, and ready to host more travellers from the UK and around the world.”
The UK’s updated guidance aligns with feedback from tour operators, aviation partners and visitor experience data indicating that Uganda offers world-class tourism experiences with strong safety and hospitality standards.
With the announcement now public, travel agents, airlines, tour operators, and digital travel platforms are encouraged to update their Uganda travel recommendations, relist paused products, and promote destination packages for 2025 and beyond.
The country’s signature attractions – from mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to the wildlife plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park and the cultural vibrancy of Kampala – remain fully accessible and ready to welcome travellers.
The United Kingdom remains one of Uganda’s most important long-haul tourism markets, consistently ranking among the top sources of visitors drawn by the country’s wildlife, national parks, adventure offerings, and rich cultural heritage.
The lifting of these restrictions is expected to further boost arrivals in the coming months and positively impact Uganda’s hospitality, conservation and creative tourism sectors.
