POATE 2026: The Complete Guide to Uganda's Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo
Uganda's tourism industry gathers for its most important professional moment of the year — and the world is paying attention. The Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo 2026 is not merely a trade fair. It is a declaration of ambition, a marketplace of connections, and the most concentrated opportunity available to encounter the full breadth of what Uganda offers the global travel industry. For operators, investors, media professionals, and buyers, it is the definitive East African tourism event of 2026.
By Wander and Wonder Tours | April 2026 | Kampala, Uganda | Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
What Is POATE?
The Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo — universally known by its acronym POATE — is Uganda's flagship annual tourism and travel trade show, organised by the Uganda Tourism Board. Now in its milestone tenth edition, POATE has developed into one of East Africa's most important tourism marketplace events, bringing together international buyers, Ugandan tour operators, airlines, hospitality groups, investors, media, and conservation stakeholders for three days of intensive business, knowledge exchange, and cultural encounter.
The 2026 edition was launched officially in November 2025 by the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Hon. Tom Butime, at a ceremony at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel. The event carries the theme Wanderlust — It Is Your Time to Thrive, a statement of Uganda's renewed confidence in its position within the global tourism landscape and its commitment to translating that confidence into concrete economic growth and sustainable visitor arrivals.
"Uganda's tourism enterprises are resilient, innovative, and fully prepared to re-engage global markets. POATE 2026 provides the environment, the connections, and the momentum the private sector needs to thrive."
Isa Kato, Vice President, Uganda Tourism Association — POATE 2026 Launch, November 2025Why POATE 2026 Matters
POATE is not a passive showcase. It is a functioning marketplace, designed to generate business outcomes that extend well beyond the three days of the event itself. International tour operators discover and vet new Uganda products. Airlines examine route viability. Conservation organisations negotiate private-sector partnerships. The international press forms impressions of Uganda that will shape the coverage — and therefore the visitor numbers — of the coming year. And deals struck in the meeting rooms and exhibition halls of Speke Resort generate bookings, investment, and visitor arrivals that drive Uganda's tourism economy for years afterward.
The 2026 edition is particularly significant as the tenth edition — a milestone that gives the organisers both the occasion and the mandate to reflect on a decade of growth, to consolidate POATE's position as one of Africa's premier tourism trade events, and to signal the directions in which Uganda's tourism industry will develop in the years ahead.
Who Attends POATE?
International Buyers and Tour Operators
Travel trade professionals from Europe, North America, Asia, the Gulf states, and Africa seeking new Uganda products, partners, and itinerary content.
Ugandan Tourism Operators
Safari companies, lodges, cultural tourism enterprises, adventure operators, airlines, and conservation organisations exhibiting Uganda's full tourism portfolio.
International Media and Content Creators
Travel journalists, documentary filmmakers, and digital content professionals shaping international perceptions of Uganda as a destination.
Investors and Development Finance
Finance and development sector principals exploring Uganda's tourism infrastructure investment pipeline — from lodge development to transportation and conservation financing.
Government and Policy
Uganda Tourism Board, the Ministry of Tourism, Uganda Wildlife Authority, regional tourism platform representatives, and diplomatic missions from key source markets.
MICE and Business Travel Specialists
Meetings, incentives, conferences, and events professionals evaluating Uganda — and particularly the Speke Resort Munyonyo venue itself — for international conference business.
What Happens at POATE 2026?
Three Days: Programme and Format
- B2B Meetings Platform: Pre-scheduled, structured one-on-one meetings between international buyers and Ugandan exhibitors, arranged through the official POATE matching and scheduling system.
- Exhibition Halls: Comprehensive showcase of Uganda's tourism sectors — mountain gorilla and chimpanzee wildlife, savannah safaris, adventure tourism, cultural heritage, community tourism, luxury lodges, and the MICE sector.
- Expert Panels and Seminars: Industry-leading discussions on sustainable tourism development, investment environments, digital destination marketing, human-wildlife coexistence, and Uganda's competitive positioning in the global tourism market.
- Cultural Showcase: Traditional dance, Ugandan cuisine, craft and artisan demonstrations, and heritage storytelling — giving international buyers direct experience of what their clients will encounter in Uganda.
- Investment Forum: Dedicated sessions connecting private and institutional investors with Uganda's most compelling tourism infrastructure opportunities.
- Gala Dinner and Industry Awards: Recognition of outstanding contributions to Uganda's tourism sector across categories covering innovation, sustainability, community impact, and growth.
- Post-Expo Familiarisation Trips: Multi-day guided visits to Uganda's national parks, cultural sites, and signature experiences — giving international buyers direct, first-hand knowledge of the products they will sell to their clients.
The Venue: Speke Resort Convention Centre, Munyonyo
Speke Resort Munyonyo is one of East Africa's most prestigious conference and events venues, situated on the shores of Lake Victoria approximately twelve kilometres from Kampala city centre. The complex gained considerable international profile as the venue for the Non-Aligned Movement summit and the G77+China summit — events that tested and validated its capacity to host complex, multi-day international gatherings at the highest level. The convention centre combines professional conference infrastructure with the lakeside setting and hospitality standards that befit an event of POATE's stature.
Registration for POATE 2026 is managed through the Uganda Tourism Board's official website at poate.co.ug and utb.go.ug/poate. International buyers wishing to apply for hosted buyer status — which includes curated B2B meetings, accommodation support, and access to post-expo familiarisation trips — should apply directly through the UTB portal. Exhibition space enquiries should be directed to the Uganda Tourism Board events team. Registration is open now. Wander and Wonder Tours participates as an exhibitor in POATE 2026 — find us at our stand for conversations about Uganda safari packages and trade partnership opportunities.
Wander and Wonder Tours at POATE 2026
Wander and Wonder Tours is a proud and active participant in Uganda's premier tourism expo. POATE represents the ideal environment for us to engage with international travel trade partners, present our bespoke Uganda safari and cultural itinerary portfolio, and develop the partnerships that allow us to connect more of the world with Uganda's extraordinary landscapes, wildlife, and communities.
If you are attending POATE 2026 as a buyer, media representative, or industry professional, we warmly invite you to visit the Wander and Wonder Tours exhibition stand. Our team will be present throughout all three days and is available for scheduled B2B meetings, detailed itinerary presentations, and partnership discussions. To schedule a meeting at POATE in advance, please contact us directly.
Post-POATE: The Opportunity to Experience Uganda
POATE 2026 closes on 23 May — a date that falls at precisely the point when Uganda's long dry season is beginning to establish itself. Visitors who extend their stay beyond the expo enter Uganda at an increasingly optimal time for gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, game viewing, and all the signature wildlife experiences that POATE's exhibitors are there to sell.
Wander and Wonder Tours designs bespoke post-POATE safari extensions for international buyers, media professionals, and industry guests. These itineraries serve a dual and mutually reinforcing purpose: the personal enrichment of directly experiencing Uganda's wildlife and landscapes, and the professional development of building first-hand knowledge of the products that inform what you sell and recommend to your clients. There is no substitute for having stood in Bwindi's forest, or watched elephants cross the Kazinga Channel, or heard the Nile roar through Murchison Falls.
Meet Wander and Wonder Tours in Kampala
Whether you are attending POATE 2026 as a buyer, media professional, or industry stakeholder — or planning to extend your Uganda visit into a bespoke safari or familiarisation trip — Wander and Wonder Tours is your expert ground partner. Schedule a meeting at the expo, or contact us today to design your post-POATE Uganda extension.
Frequently Asked Questions — POATE 2026
When and where is POATE 2026?
POATE 2026 takes place from 21 to 23 May 2026 at Speke Resort Convention Centre, Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda. This is the tenth edition of the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo, organised by the Uganda Tourism Board under the theme Wanderlust — It Is Your Time to Thrive.
How do I register for POATE 2026?
Registration is available through the Uganda Tourism Board's official POATE portal at poate.co.ug and utb.go.ug/poate. Both exhibitor applications and hosted buyer applications are processed through the online system. Registration is currently open. Wander and Wonder Tours can advise international buyers on the registration process — contact us for guidance specific to your organisation type.
What does hosted buyer status at POATE provide?
Hosted buyers accepted through the official Uganda Tourism Board application process typically receive curated, pre-scheduled B2B meetings with Ugandan exhibitors, access to expert panel sessions and the cultural programme, and the opportunity to participate in post-expo familiarisation trips to Uganda's national parks and tourism attractions. Specific hosted buyer benefits are confirmed by UTB on acceptance of applications. Wander and Wonder Tours can provide context and guidance on the programme based on our experience as repeat POATE exhibitors.
Can I combine POATE attendance with a Uganda wildlife safari?
Yes — and we strongly encourage it. Arriving before 21 May or extending your stay beyond 23 May gives POATE visitors the opportunity to experience the wildlife, landscapes, and cultural richness that Uganda's exhibitors are presenting. Wander and Wonder Tours designs post-POATE safari extensions as a standard service for international buyers and media. Itineraries can range from a two-day Kibale chimpanzee trek to a comprehensive ten-day programme covering Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, and Murchison Falls.
What is the theme of POATE 2026 and what does it represent?
The theme of POATE 2026 is Wanderlust — It Is Your Time to Thrive. The theme reflects Uganda's optimism about the trajectory of its tourism sector and its invitation to global partners — operators, buyers, investors, and media — to participate in a new phase of growth. The word wanderlust connects the theme to the human impulse that underlies all travel; the phrase It Is Your Time to Thrive addresses both the individual traveller and the tourism businesses whose prosperity depends on sustained visitor confidence in Uganda as a safe, rewarding, and exceptional destination.
Uganda is ready to thrive. Come and be part of the conversation that shapes its next chapter.
Contact Wander and Wonder ToursPOATE 2026: The Complete Guide to Uganda's Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo
Uganda's tourism industry gathers for its most important professional moment of the year — and the world is paying attention. The Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo 2026 is not merely a trade fair. It is a declaration of ambition, a marketplace of connections, and the most concentrated opportunity available to encounter the full breadth of what Uganda offers the global travel industry. For operators, investors, media professionals, and buyers, it is the definitive East African tourism event of 2026.
By Wander and Wonder Tours | April 2026 | Kampala, Uganda | Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
What Is POATE?
The Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo — universally known by its acronym POATE — is Uganda's flagship annual tourism and travel trade show, organised by the Uganda Tourism Board. Now in its milestone tenth edition, POATE has developed into one of East Africa's most important tourism marketplace events, bringing together international buyers, Ugandan tour operators, airlines, hospitality groups, investors, media, and conservation stakeholders for three days of intensive business, knowledge exchange, and cultural encounter.
The 2026 edition was launched officially in November 2025 by the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Hon. Tom Butime, at a ceremony at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel. The event carries the theme Wanderlust — It Is Your Time to Thrive, a statement of Uganda's renewed confidence in its position within the global tourism landscape and its commitment to translating that confidence into concrete economic growth and sustainable visitor arrivals.
"Uganda's tourism enterprises are resilient, innovative, and fully prepared to re-engage global markets. POATE 2026 provides the environment, the connections, and the momentum the private sector needs to thrive."
Isa Kato, Vice President, Uganda Tourism Association — POATE 2026 Launch, November 2025Why POATE 2026 Matters
POATE is not a passive showcase. It is a functioning marketplace, designed to generate business outcomes that extend well beyond the three days of the event itself. International tour operators discover and vet new Uganda products. Airlines examine route viability. Conservation organisations negotiate private-sector partnerships. The international press forms impressions of Uganda that will shape the coverage — and therefore the visitor numbers — of the coming year. And deals struck in the meeting rooms and exhibition halls of Speke Resort generate bookings, investment, and visitor arrivals that drive Uganda's tourism economy for years afterward.
The 2026 edition is particularly significant as the tenth edition — a milestone that gives the organisers both the occasion and the mandate to reflect on a decade of growth, to consolidate POATE's position as one of Africa's premier tourism trade events, and to signal the directions in which Uganda's tourism industry will develop in the years ahead.
Who Attends POATE?
International Buyers and Tour Operators
Travel trade professionals from Europe, North America, Asia, the Gulf states, and Africa seeking new Uganda products, partners, and itinerary content.
Ugandan Tourism Operators
Safari companies, lodges, cultural tourism enterprises, adventure operators, airlines, and conservation organisations exhibiting Uganda's full tourism portfolio.
International Media and Content Creators
Travel journalists, documentary filmmakers, and digital content professionals shaping international perceptions of Uganda as a destination.
Investors and Development Finance
Finance and development sector principals exploring Uganda's tourism infrastructure investment pipeline — from lodge development to transportation and conservation financing.
Government and Policy
Uganda Tourism Board, the Ministry of Tourism, Uganda Wildlife Authority, regional tourism platform representatives, and diplomatic missions from key source markets.
MICE and Business Travel Specialists
Meetings, incentives, conferences, and events professionals evaluating Uganda — and particularly the Speke Resort Munyonyo venue itself — for international conference business.
What Happens at POATE 2026?
Three Days: Programme and Format
- B2B Meetings Platform: Pre-scheduled, structured one-on-one meetings between international buyers and Ugandan exhibitors, arranged through the official POATE matching and scheduling system.
- Exhibition Halls: Comprehensive showcase of Uganda's tourism sectors — mountain gorilla and chimpanzee wildlife, savannah safaris, adventure tourism, cultural heritage, community tourism, luxury lodges, and the MICE sector.
- Expert Panels and Seminars: Industry-leading discussions on sustainable tourism development, investment environments, digital destination marketing, human-wildlife coexistence, and Uganda's competitive positioning in the global tourism market.
- Cultural Showcase: Traditional dance, Ugandan cuisine, craft and artisan demonstrations, and heritage storytelling — giving international buyers direct experience of what their clients will encounter in Uganda.
- Investment Forum: Dedicated sessions connecting private and institutional investors with Uganda's most compelling tourism infrastructure opportunities.
- Gala Dinner and Industry Awards: Recognition of outstanding contributions to Uganda's tourism sector across categories covering innovation, sustainability, community impact, and growth.
- Post-Expo Familiarisation Trips: Multi-day guided visits to Uganda's national parks, cultural sites, and signature experiences — giving international buyers direct, first-hand knowledge of the products they will sell to their clients.
The Venue: Speke Resort Convention Centre, Munyonyo
Speke Resort Munyonyo is one of East Africa's most prestigious conference and events venues, situated on the shores of Lake Victoria approximately twelve kilometres from Kampala city centre. The complex gained considerable international profile as the venue for the Non-Aligned Movement summit and the G77+China summit — events that tested and validated its capacity to host complex, multi-day international gatherings at the highest level. The convention centre combines professional conference infrastructure with the lakeside setting and hospitality standards that befit an event of POATE's stature.
Registration for POATE 2026 is managed through the Uganda Tourism Board's official website at poate.co.ug and utb.go.ug/poate. International buyers wishing to apply for hosted buyer status — which includes curated B2B meetings, accommodation support, and access to post-expo familiarisation trips — should apply directly through the UTB portal. Exhibition space enquiries should be directed to the Uganda Tourism Board events team. Registration is open now. Wander and Wonder Tours participates as an exhibitor in POATE 2026 — find us at our stand for conversations about Uganda safari packages and trade partnership opportunities.
Wander and Wonder Tours at POATE 2026
Wander and Wonder Tours is a proud and active participant in Uganda's premier tourism expo. POATE represents the ideal environment for us to engage with international travel trade partners, present our bespoke Uganda safari and cultural itinerary portfolio, and develop the partnerships that allow us to connect more of the world with Uganda's extraordinary landscapes, wildlife, and communities.
If you are attending POATE 2026 as a buyer, media representative, or industry professional, we warmly invite you to visit the Wander and Wonder Tours exhibition stand. Our team will be present throughout all three days and is available for scheduled B2B meetings, detailed itinerary presentations, and partnership discussions. To schedule a meeting at POATE in advance, please contact us directly.
Post-POATE: The Opportunity to Experience Uganda
POATE 2026 closes on 23 May — a date that falls at precisely the point when Uganda's long dry season is beginning to establish itself. Visitors who extend their stay beyond the expo enter Uganda at an increasingly optimal time for gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, game viewing, and all the signature wildlife experiences that POATE's exhibitors are there to sell.
Wander and Wonder Tours designs bespoke post-POATE safari extensions for international buyers, media professionals, and industry guests. These itineraries serve a dual and mutually reinforcing purpose: the personal enrichment of directly experiencing Uganda's wildlife and landscapes, and the professional development of building first-hand knowledge of the products that inform what you sell and recommend to your clients. There is no substitute for having stood in Bwindi's forest, or watched elephants cross the Kazinga Channel, or heard the Nile roar through Murchison Falls.
Meet Wander and Wonder Tours in Kampala
Whether you are attending POATE 2026 as a buyer, media professional, or industry stakeholder — or planning to extend your Uganda visit into a bespoke safari or familiarisation trip — Wander and Wonder Tours is your expert ground partner. Schedule a meeting at the expo, or contact us today to design your post-POATE Uganda extension.
Frequently Asked Questions — POATE 2026
When and where is POATE 2026?
POATE 2026 takes place from 21 to 23 May 2026 at Speke Resort Convention Centre, Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda. This is the tenth edition of the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo, organised by the Uganda Tourism Board under the theme Wanderlust — It Is Your Time to Thrive.
How do I register for POATE 2026?
Registration is available through the Uganda Tourism Board's official POATE portal at poate.co.ug and utb.go.ug/poate. Both exhibitor applications and hosted buyer applications are processed through the online system. Registration is currently open. Wander and Wonder Tours can advise international buyers on the registration process — contact us for guidance specific to your organisation type.
What does hosted buyer status at POATE provide?
Hosted buyers accepted through the official Uganda Tourism Board application process typically receive curated, pre-scheduled B2B meetings with Ugandan exhibitors, access to expert panel sessions and the cultural programme, and the opportunity to participate in post-expo familiarisation trips to Uganda's national parks and tourism attractions. Specific hosted buyer benefits are confirmed by UTB on acceptance of applications. Wander and Wonder Tours can provide context and guidance on the programme based on our experience as repeat POATE exhibitors.
Can I combine POATE attendance with a Uganda wildlife safari?
Yes — and we strongly encourage it. Arriving before 21 May or extending your stay beyond 23 May gives POATE visitors the opportunity to experience the wildlife, landscapes, and cultural richness that Uganda's exhibitors are presenting. Wander and Wonder Tours designs post-POATE safari extensions as a standard service for international buyers and media. Itineraries can range from a two-day Kibale chimpanzee trek to a comprehensive ten-day programme covering Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, and Murchison Falls.
What is the theme of POATE 2026 and what does it represent?
The theme of POATE 2026 is Wanderlust — It Is Your Time to Thrive. The theme reflects Uganda's optimism about the trajectory of its tourism sector and its invitation to global partners — operators, buyers, investors, and media — to participate in a new phase of growth. The word wanderlust connects the theme to the human impulse that underlies all travel; the phrase It Is Your Time to Thrive addresses both the individual traveller and the tourism businesses whose prosperity depends on sustained visitor confidence in Uganda as a safe, rewarding, and exceptional destination.
Uganda is ready to thrive. Come and be part of the conversation that shapes its next chapter.
Contact Wander and Wonder Tours