The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) – under the Tourism Act 2008 – is mandated to regulate and license all accommodation facilities, including hotels, guesthouses and lodges.

Licensing requirements often vary but are not limited to location, structure and compliance with industry standards.

As stated in the Tourism Act 2008 Part III – Licensing 13(1) “A person shall not operate any accommodation or other tourist establishment designated for the purpose of payment by tourists unless the accommodation or facility has been granted a license by the council.”

Recently, UTB announced the closure of all unlicensed accommodation establishments in an attempt to enforce compliance and maintain the quality of services in the hospitality sector.

This move aims to save the integrity of the tourism industry while ensuring visitors receive the highest standards of accommodation.

This week, the board held a training session with the Ugandan police on how enforcement will be carried out.

UTB Deputy Director General Bradford Ochieng highlighted collaborative efforts between UTB and the Tourism Police to improve standards in Uganda’s hospitality sector.

“To ensure that standards are met, our team normally travels to inspect these facilities and ultimately issues the license to those that meet the minimum standards,” he said.

Mr Ochieng also stressed that the partnership with the police is focused on ensuring that all tourism facilities meet the quality benchmarks set out in the Tourism Act 2008, particularly in terms of compliance with licensing regulations. This joint initiative aims to raise service delivery and improve overall standards.

According to CP Patrick Lawot, Deputy Director of Police Anti-Terrorism, the Uganda Police Force is fully committed to supporting UTB in regulating the hospitality industry. He stated that the police are providing full assistance to UTB in their enforcement efforts to ensure compliance with industry standards.

“This collaboration is intended to benefit the entire tourism sector by promoting safety, security and adherence to regulatory frameworks, which are essential to drive growth and maintain high service standards in Uganda’s hospitality industry.

When we improve the quality of our services, we will attract more tourists. So, we will benefit as business owners and as a country,” he said.

The third phase of the enforcement exercise is scheduled to begin in the Kampala metropolitan area, focusing on identifying and addressing non-compliant tourism facilities.

This initiative prioritizes accommodation properties in the region, ensuring that all establishments meet the necessary licensing requirements.

The law requires that all tourism facilities, including hotels, guesthouses and lodges, must obtain and maintain valid licenses to operate legally.

This implementation aims to uphold quality standards, promote sustainable tourism and ensure compliance with regulatory frameworks to improve Uganda’s tourism sector.

“We will focus on 19 police divisions in one area of ​​Kampala metropolis. And here we look at Kampala – Kawempe, Rubaga, Wandegeya, Nansana and a number of other areas. So, any property we find without an operating license will be closed and will be required to formally register and apply for a license after meeting the minimum requirements under the regulation,” added Samora Semakula, Quality Assurance Manager at UTB .

The activity starts between November 18 and 28.

The state of the accommodation facilities

Currently, out of approximately 4,000 facilities across the country, less than 200 are licensed by UTB, highlighting a significant gap in compliance.

According to Mr Ochieng, this situation is largely attributed to ignorance and non-compliance among establishment owners, many of whom are either unaware of the licensing requirements or take them for granted.

Facilities must have fully registered with UTB through their quality assurance body at a cost of Shs 200,000 and renewed annually at Shs 100,000.

To address this issue, UTB emphasizes that failure to comply with the regulations can lead to serious legal consequences.

Facility owners who do not obtain the necessary licenses risk facing penalties, which can include fines equivalent to 20 currency points or imprisonment of up to two years.

For those looking to comply with regulations, UTB offers an online registration platform through its quality assurance system, facilitating a smoother licensing process.

Prioritizing compliance and quality assurance, UTB is committed to raising Uganda’s status as a competitive tourism destination.