Ottawa, Canada: June 1, 2026 — The Uganda High Commission in Ottawa has officially launched the Destination Uganda branded tourism bus in Ottawa, marking a major step in Uganda’s ongoing efforts to promote Explore Uganda, The Pearl of Africa to Canadian and North American audiences.
The launch, held on June 1, 2026, at the Infinity Convention Centre in Ottawa, brought together representatives from Global Affairs Canada, tourism stakeholders, media professionals, partners, members of the Ugandan diaspora community, and friends of Uganda to celebrate a vibrant new public-facing campaign designed to increase awareness of Uganda as a world-class travel destination.
The branded double-decker bus, showcased in the official Destination Uganda branded bus launch gallery, carries bold destination imagery highlighting Uganda’s wildlife, landscapes, cultural heritage, adventure tourism, and unique visitor experiences. As it moves through Ottawa, the bus will serve as a mobile tourism platform, placing Uganda’s beauty and hospitality directly before residents, visitors, policymakers, business leaders, and potential travellers.
The campaign forms part of Uganda’s broader tourism diplomacy and destination marketing strategy, led through collaboration among the High Commission, the Uganda Tourism Board, the Uganda Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, and the Uganda Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It also aligns with Uganda’s refreshed national tourism identity, Explore Uganda, The Pearl of Africa, which presents the country as a destination for adventure, culture, wildlife, nature, investment, and authentic human connection.
The programme featured remarks from Uganda’s diplomatic representatives, tourism stakeholders, partners, and members of the wider tourism promotion community. Among the publicly identified speakers, Uganda’s Charge d’Affaires in Ottawa, Allan Kajik, described the bus as more than a means of transportation, emphasizing its role as a moving platform carrying the story, beauty, and experience of Destination Uganda.
The bus campaign is expected to operate across Ottawa from June to October 2026, travelling through some of the city’s most visible and high-traffic areas, including Parliament Hill, ByWard Market, the National Gallery of Canada, and major hotel districts. Through this visibility, the initiative is expected to generate significant awareness for Uganda among Canadian residents, international visitors, travel professionals, and tourism decision-makers.
Uganda continues to position itself as one of Africa’s most diverse and compelling travel destinations. From the endangered mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to the Source of the Nile in Jinja, the powerful beauty of Murchison Falls, the wildlife landscapes of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Victoria, the Rwenzori Mountains, cultural kingdoms, culinary traditions, and community-based tourism experiences, Uganda offers travellers a rich blend of nature, adventure, heritage, and hospitality.
The launch also builds on recent tourism promotion efforts between Uganda and Canada, including the Uganda High Commission’s Canadian tourism familiarisation mission, which brought Canadian tour operators, travel agents, media influencers, and tourism stakeholders to Uganda in April 2026. The mission, also supported by Uganda’s tourism sector, was designed to strengthen market access, build travel partnerships, and position Uganda more competitively within the Canadian outbound travel market.
According to tourism-sector reports, Canadian tourist arrivals to Uganda increased from 7,542 visitors in 2022 to 9,688 in 2024, with Uganda targeting more than 20,000 Canadian visitors annually by 2028. The branded bus campaign is therefore not only a visibility initiative; it is part of a larger effort to convert awareness into travel, partnerships, investment, and deeper people-to-people relations between Uganda and Canada.
For the Ugandan diaspora in Canada, the launch represents a proud moment of national visibility. It presents Uganda not only as a destination of wildlife and landscapes, but as a country of people, culture, resilience, opportunity, and unforgettable experiences. By bringing Uganda’s tourism identity into the daily movement of Ottawa, the campaign turns public transportation into a powerful storytelling tool.
The Uganda High Commission extends its appreciation to all partners, tourism stakeholders, community members, cultural performers, media representatives, and guests who contributed to the successful launch of the Destination Uganda branded tourism bus. The Mission remains committed to strengthening Uganda’s visibility in Canada and advancing bilateral cooperation through tourism, trade, culture, investment, education, and diaspora engagement.
As the bus travels through Ottawa from summer into autumn, it carries a clear invitation to Canadians and global travellers: discover Uganda, experience its beauty, and explore the Pearl of Africa.
About the Uganda High Commission in Ottawa
The Uganda High Commission in Ottawa represents the Government of the Republic of Uganda in Canada and works to strengthen diplomatic, economic, cultural, tourism, and people-to-people relations between Uganda and Canada. Through public diplomacy, consular services, trade promotion, investment facilitation, and tourism advocacy, the Mission continues to advance Uganda’s national interests and deepen cooperation with Canadian institutions, communities, and partners.
Media Contact
Uganda High Commission
Ottawa, Canada
Website: Uganda High Commission in Ottawa
Related Links
Explore Uganda, The Pearl of Africa
Uganda Tourism Board
Uganda’s official tourism experiences
Destination Uganda branded bus launch gallery
