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The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) has issued a stern warning to hotels and other tourist accommodation facilities in Kampala following a recent round of inspections aimed at ensuring compliance with licensing requirements.
The inspections were conducted across the Kampala Metropolitan Area, and facilities that did not meet the necessary criteria for a tourist operation license were given compliance notices and time to rectify their shortcomings.
Starting from May 6, 2025, UTB teams will revisit the non-compliant facilities to verify whether they have met the required standards.
Any facility found to still be non-compliant will face closure. This move highlights UTB's commitment to upholding high standards in Uganda's tourism sector, as the quality of service directly impacts the experience of tourists visiting the country.
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Licensing Requirements for Tourist Accommodation Facilities
In order to qualify for a tourism operating license, all accommodation facilities must submit the following documents to UTB:
Certificate of Incorporation
TIN Registration Certificate
Valid Operating Certificates
Approved Building Plan / Occupation Permit / Certificate of Suitability
Environmental Impact Assessment Report
Certificates of Trained First Aider(s)
Evidence of Sewage Management / Treatment
CVs of Management Staff
Electrical Safety Certificate
Evidence of Vermin Proofing
Staff Medical Examination Certificates
Hotel Insurance
These stringent requirements are designed to ensure that all tourist accommodation facilities meet the highest standards of safety and service.
Action Against Unlicensed Facilities
UTB's action against non-compliant facilities follows the Uganda Tourism Act of 2008, which mandates that all accommodation establishments must have a valid tourism operating license to operate legally.
The move is aimed at cleaning up the sector and ensuring that all facilities meet the required standards to protect the image of Uganda as a tourist destination.
Affected facilities include hotels, lodges, guesthouses, motels, inns, serviced apartments, cottages, villas, hostels, tented camps, and farmhouses. Any facility found operating without a valid license will be shut down, and the owners are urged to register their businesses with UTB to avoid disruptions.
With the compliance deadline set for November 18, 2024, facility owners are encouraged to complete the licensing process as soon as possible to avoid facing the penalties of non-compliance.