FHS Africa 2027 Officially Launched in Kampala Ahead of Historic Uganda Debut
Kampala, Uganda — The countdown to a historic moment for East Africa’s tourism sector officially began on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, as over 100 senior hospitality investors, hotel operators, and government representatives gathered at the Kampala Serena Hotel for the FHS Africa 2027 Launch Reception.
The high-profile event marks the formal start of preparations for the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Africa, which will be held in Uganda for the first time on February 2–3, 2027. Hosted by the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), the summit is set to take place at the Speke Resort Convention Centre in Munyonyo, bringing together the continent’s leading hospitality investment ecosystem.
“More Than a Conference”
Speaking at the reception, Roy Bannister, Head of Strategic Partnerships at FHS Africa, emphasized that the gathering is designed to translate dialogue into tangible development. “FHS Africa’s coming to Uganda reflects something much bigger than a conference. It is a platform where capital meets opportunity, investors meet developers and new relationships translate into new investments and new businesses,” Bannister said.
Juliana Kagwa, CEO of the Uganda Tourism Board, reinforced this sentiment, noting that the summit leverages Uganda’s unique geographic and natural assets. “Hospitality is about bringing people, ideas and opportunities together. FHS Africa creates a platform where investors, developers, operators and hospitality professionals can meet, exchange knowledge, build relationships and discover opportunities,” Kagwa stated.
Hon. Okot Boniface Henry, Chairperson of Parliament’s Trade and Tourism Committee, also attended the launch, welcoming the initiative and stressing the need for collective efforts to unlock the country’s full tourism potential.
From Announcement to Action
Earlier in the year, the UTB and Bench—the organizers of FHS Africa—announced the partnership that would bring the forum to Kampala. At the time, officials highlighted a clear national strategy to grow both leisure and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism.
That initial announcement was driven by strong recovery metrics: international visitor arrivals had rebounded to more than 1.6 million, while tourism earnings rose to between USD 1.6 billion and USD 1.7 billion. Since then, momentum has continued to build, with stakeholders identifying a critical undersupply of branded hotels in key destinations like Kampala, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Registration Now Open
Following the success of the launch reception, registration for the February 2027 summit is now live, with early bird rates currently available. Organizers are encouraging international brands and investors to secure their places as the market moves rapidly from planning to execution.
“We need accommodation, we need beds, we need products and experiences. Hosting FHS is about opening Uganda to the world. By the time delegates gather in February 2027, we want to be signing contracts,” Kagwa said during the initial announcement phase.
Industry analysts note that the summit arrives at a pivotal time for regional growth, supported by improving air connectivity—including recent route expansions by Uganda Airlines—and rising demand for upscale and midscale accommodation across the region.
