Uganda, the pearl of Africa is missing out on marketing her tourism sector and presenting investment opportunities to over 57,000 participants from different nations who are gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan for the 29th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP29).
This also literally means that the Ministers and delegates from Uganda in Baku do not have a permanent address to meet guests interested in Uganda for investment opportunities.
Beyond climate negotiations, many countries and institutions at COP29 also use their designated pavilions to sell their indigenous products and market tourism and other investment opportunities in their countries.
Tanzania, Republic of Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, Senegal, and Rwanda are some of the African countries with delegation pavilions at COP29, which also serves as their country’s information centre.
Okidi Alfred, Permanent Secretary at Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment, attributed the absence of a Ugandan pavilion to the high cost of procuring and setting up one at the global climate summit. Mr Okidi who said that a pavilion costs about USD 150,000 equivalent to over UGX 550 million, assured of plans to have one at next year’s edition scheduled to be held in Brazil.
Shartsi Kutesa Musherure, the member of Parliament for Mawogola County North, Sembabule district told the Elephant that Uganda deserves to have a pavilion at COP due to its potentials for tourism and investment opportunities.
Audio File. Hon: Shartsi Kutesa Musherure talking about Uganda not having a pavilion.
Atukwasa Rita Mbarara, woman Member of Parliament noted that with early consultation and engagement with relevant stakeholders, there is hope for a Ugandan booth at COP30 in Brazil.
Audio File. Hon. Atukwasa Rita Musherure talking about Uganda not having a pavilion
Although the cost of securing a pavilion is not cheap, Patricia Melon from Chad Republic emphasized on its importance as a point of convergence for a country’s delegation. “Like if you have a visitor, you can sit there and discuss matters concerning your country and display your products,” she said.
At the Namibian pavilion, The Elephant spoke with Catherine Shipushu, who manages the country’s pavilion. Ms Shipushu noted that the pavilion had contributed to help with correcting some misconceptions about Africa that some participants had, adding that Namibia had received a boost in tourism and image with the level of interest in visiting and investing in the country. To address the high costs, she revealed a collaborative engagement with the Namibian private sector made the country’s pavilion at COP29 reality.
This is a lesson for Uganda, as the country could explore and replicate Namibia’s strategy of public-private collaboration to ensure that a Ugandan pavilion is secured for opportunities in climate change and other sectors that can contribute to development for Uganda.
Uganda currently reports over UGX 6.2 billion as annual revenue in the tourism sector rendering this kind of opportunity golden avenue for tripling such millstone.
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