Latest news with #RobinahNabbanja
The Star
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Uganda holds annual tourism expo to boost arrivals
KAMPALA, May 21 (Xinhua) -- The annual Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo, Uganda's premium tourism show, opened here on Wednesday as the East African country strives to boost tourist arrivals. "The Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo is one of the most influential regional expos, drawing together tourism stakeholders, business leaders, media, and investors from all corners of the world," Ugandan Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, who represented President Yoweri Museveni, said while opening the three-day event. "It provides a vital platform for the formation of cross-border networks, trade synergies, and investment opportunities that will benefit all participating nations," Nabbanja added. Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Tom Butime said the expo, which is organized by the Uganda Tourism Board, a state agency responsible for tourism promotion, has attracted delegates from market sources in Africa, Britain, the United States, and Asia. "The expo is more than just an event as it connects businesses and promotes the country as a leading tourist destination," Butime said. The event, which has attracted 450 exhibitors from at least 50 countries, is held under the theme "Experience the Heart of Uganda: Lifestyle and Hospitality." The expo will also involve business-to-business sessions, knowledge exchanges, exhibitions, and familiarization trips. Uganda aims to raise annual tourism revenue to about 1.9 billion U.S. dollars and increase inbound tourism revenue per visitor from 1,052 dollars to 1,500 dollars, according to the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities. According to the ministry, the country's tourism revenue for the year ending 2023 rose to more than 1 billion dollars, up from about 687,200 million dollars in the year ending 2022. Tourism is one of Uganda's major foreign exchange earners, contributing about 5 percent to the country's gross domestic product, according to data from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
Zawya
07-03-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Government addressing funding gaps following United States (US) aid cuts - Prime Minister (PM)
The Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja has revealed that the Ministry of Health is preparing a Cabinet memorandum seeking guidance from the Executive on sourcing funds to bridge the gap occasioned by withdraw of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding. While addressing the House during the Prime Minister's Time on Thursday, 06 March 2025, Nabbanja said government is also engaging international and local stakeholders, to mobilise resources to ensure continuity of HIV/AIDS interventions. 'To address this crisis, an additional Shs480 billion is required to bridge the funding gap and sustain essential services,' Nabbanja said. She said this in response to concerns by Hon. Abdulhu Byakatonda (Indep., Workers Representative) who asked about government's plans to mitigate the impact of the US funding freeze and ensuring uninterrupted HIV treatment for. Byakatonda observed that the aid freeze has put the jobs of 12,551 community health workers in Uganda at risk. 'Uganda currently allocates only 6.5 per cent of the national budget to health. When will government fulfil its Abuja Declaration commitment to increase health funding to 15 per cent?' he asked. On 20 January 2025, the US issued a memo pausing potentially, trillions of dollars in federal aid that was being offered by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). In another development, the Prime Minister revealed that over Shs163 billion has been released to cater for capitation grants to government grant-aided schools for the first term of calendar year 2025. This followed concerns by Kalungu West MP, Hon. Joseph Ssewungu on delays by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic in releasing the funds needed to procure instructional materials. The Prime Minister clarified that funds are only released during quarter one, quarter three and quarter four every financial year. 'The total approved budget for the capitation grant for financial year 2024/2025 is Shs490.2 billion. During quarter one, the Ministry of Finance released Shs163.4 to local governments to cater for term three in 2024,' said Nabbanja. She noted that the Ministry of Education and Sports initially requested local governments to halt the transfer of the funds to institutions until they validated their enrollments, which she said had been done and authority to transfer the funds to schools granted. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
