As the cogs of the tourism sector slowly but steadily begin to turn, stakeholders from the Uganda tourism sector desperate to return to pre-pandemic days have taken pragmatic steps in a bid to revive the sector.

A joint venture between Uganda’s Rwenzori Salt Industries and Chinese company Shining Star Group is seeking to invest Ush. 2.7 trillion (US$736.5 million) to revive the Lake Katwe Salt Project in Kasese District.

The Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE 2021) is the first-ever virtual tourism expo in Uganda with a focus on the recovery, rebuilding, reconnecting, and rebooting of the Ugandan Tourism sector.

Uganda bar owners and owners of entertainment places in the country have asked government to allow them to reopen with strict adherence to the COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as prescribed by the Ministry of Health.

Radisson Hotel Group is keenly eyeing the Ugandan market as it ramps up expansion across the African continent. Ramsay Rankoussi, Radisson Hotel Group’s Vice President in charge of development (Africa and Turkey) told The Independent in an email on July 21 that the East African nation is one of the markets that is of interest to the Group.

China National Offshore Oil Company has opted against exercising its pre-emption rights in a deal that sees partners Tullow and Total transfer assets in Uganda, leaving the latter with the majority stake in the Lake Albert oil projects.

East African press outlets are reporting that Uganda is to begin manufacturing its first smartphones. The manufacturing partner will be Chinese brand SIMI.

Stanbic Bank Board of Directors has appointed Anne Juuko as Stanbic Bank Uganda’s new Chief Executive effective 1st March 2020.

Uganda said on Tuesday it would borrow up to 108.5 million euros ($118.42 million) from a Chinese lender to fund construction of three roads that are key to plans to begin oil production in the east African country.

Three major players in Uganda’s banking industry — Uganda Bankers Association, Bank of Uganda (BoU) and Financial Sector Deepening Uganda (FSDU) — have partnered on a digital identity verification platform to reduce the process and time it takes for loan approvals and to open a bank account.