While on a safari in Uganda, Japanese MPs Mr Asahiko Mihara and Mr Daishiro Yamagiwa promised to promote Uganda as a tourism and investment destination but asked the Ugandan government to work on the country’s image which has been stained by the two-decade northern Uganda insurrection.
This was quoted during by the ministry of Trade during a press statement saying they were amazed by the potential and opportunities Uganda has as a safari destination.

The two state minister agreed that Uganda’s potential lies in tourism and agribusiness, specifically in value addition with both the sectors. According to the Japanese delegation, such potential, particularly tourism has been highly affected by the LRA rebellion in northern Uganda and also recently complicated by the Al Shabaab terrorist attacks in the near by region. He continued: “When you talk about Uganda in Japan, most people think of the LRA insurrection in northern Uganda and majority think the country is still unstable in the area of security.”

Uganda Tourism Board deputy executive director John Sempebwa said about Shs6billion has been set aside for marketing Uganda’s tourism potential in UK, US and Germany for this year. The tourism sector is estimated to provide direct employment of approximately 21,000 and up to more than 240,000 jobs if informal employment is considered.
Uganda’s tourism earnings crossed the $1 billion (about Shs2.6 trillion) mark in 2012, re-emphasising its potential and position as one of the country’s major foreign exchange earners.