By Uganda Convention Bureau
Kampala is the capital and largest city of Uganda; a dynamic metropolis of over 3.6 million people dramatically built across seven hills on the northern shores of Lake Victoria - the world's second-largest freshwater lake. Administered by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), the city is Uganda's political, economic, and cultural heartbeat: home to the Parliament of Uganda, State House, all government ministries, and the country's leading universities, hospitals, and businesses. Far from a mere administrative centre, Kampala is recognised as a regional hub of association conferences, as ranked 4th by ICCA in 2025 for hosting the most association meetings in Africa.
Kampala's seven original hills each carry their own historical and spiritual identity - Kasubi Hill holds the royal tombs of Buganda kings, Mengo Hill the Kabaka's Palace and Buganda Parliament, Namirembe Hill Uganda's oldest Anglican cathedral, and Old Kampala Hill the Uganda National Mosque, one of the largest mosques in Sub-Saharan Africa - meaning the city's entire cultural landscape is literally visible from almost any point in it. Kampala is home to the only Bahá'í Temple on the African continent: completed in 1961 atop Kikaya Hill in the city's Kyebando suburb, it is one of only eight such temples worldwide, set within a tranquil 50-acre garden. And every 3 June, over two million pilgrims from across the world converge on the Namugongo Martyrs' Shrine in Kampala's eastern suburbs - making it one of the largest annual Catholic pilgrimage events on Earth, drawing three sitting Popes to date, including Pope Francis in 2015.
The Uganda Convention Bureau (UCB), a division of the Uganda Tourism Board established in 2018, offers comprehensive, no-charge support to international associations considering Kampala - from competitive bid preparation and government support letters to site inspections, delegate-boosting, and full on-site event coordination. UCB is a member of the UIA, ICCA, and SITE, and works alongside the Uganda Association of Conference Incentive Industry (UACII), which brings together accredited hotels, venues, Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs), and Destination Management Companies (DMCs) under internationally benchmarked service standards. Simply put, from the moment an association first enquires to the final day of its congress in Kampala, UCB and its partners are with you every step of the way.
Across Kampala, there are over 68 conference venues within the city alone - including hotel venues, university facilities, and a dedicated convention centre - covering everything from intimate boardrooms to large-scale plenary halls. All major properties within the city centre offer full conference support services - Wi-Fi, audiovisual equipment, catering, and multilingual assistance. Below is a summary of capacity of conference venues in Kampala.
|
Capacity of largest room in a facility (number of delegates-theatre set up) |
Kampala |
|
1000 to 1999 |
5 |
|
150 to 249 |
15 |
|
2000 to 2999 |
3 |
|
250 to 499 |
18 |
|
3000 to 3999 |
2 |
|
50 to 149 |
13 |
|
500 to 999 |
8 |
|
less than 50 |
4 |
|
Grand Total |
68 |
Some of the key conference venues are:
|
Name of facility |
Conference capacity of largest room – Theater setup |
|
Speke resort convention centre |
3200 |
|
Kampala serena hotel |
1500 |
|
Hotel Africana ltd |
1500 |
|
Nican resort hotel |
1000 |
|
Mestil hotel and residences |
500 |
|
Sheraton kampala |
500 |
Kampala offers a wide array of accommodation facilities to suit your budget. Some include:
|
Name of facility |
Star rating |
Number of rooms |
|
Speke resort Munyonyo |
5 Star |
477 |
|
Kampala Serena Hotel |
5 Star |
186 |
|
Sheraton Hotel Kampala |
5 Star |
236 |
|
Golden Tulip Canaan Kampala |
4 Star |
124 |
|
Mestil Hotels |
4 star |
98 |
|
Kabira country club |
4 star |
87 |
|
Protea Hotel Kampala Skyz |
4 star |
141 |
|
Protea Mariott Kampala |
4 star |
70 |
|
Speke Apartments |
3 star |
144 |
|
Casa Solada Hotel |
3 star |
40 |
|
Fairway Hotel |
3 star |
100 |
Entebbe International Airport (EBB) - located 40 km from Kampala city centre - is served by 15 international airlines offering direct or single-stop access from Europe (KLM direct to Amsterdam, Brussels Airlines direct to Brussels, Turkish Airlines direct to Istanbul), the Middle East (Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad, FlyDubai), and across Africa (Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, EgyptAir, RwandAir, and others). Uganda Airlines operates its own network connecting Entebbe to 18 destinations, including London Gatwick, Dubai, and Mumbai, alongside East and Central African cities. Citizens of 38 countries are visa-exempt; all others may obtain an e-visa or visa on arrival, and the East Africa Tourist Visa offers multi-country access covering Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda.
Do not leave Kampala without walking the Royal Mile - the straight ceremonial road connecting the Buganda Parliament (Bulange) at Mengo to the Kabaka's Palace (Lubiri), lined with clan sculptures and steeped in living Buganda royal history. On a Sunday evening, head to the Ndere Centre in Ntinda: the resident Ndere Troupe performs authentic music, dance, and drama from over 50 Ugandan tribes in an open-air amphitheatre - a soul-stirring experience consistently praised by international visitors as the highlight of their Kampala stay. For food, join the locals at Nakasero Market for the city's freshest tropical fruit, or try a Rolex - Kampala's iconic street food of chapatti wrapped with eggs, tomatoes, and cabbage - available at any roadside stall and beloved by everyone from diplomats to students. Not forgetting the ever-buzzing nightlife, a well-known sought-after experience by guests from southern, eastern and western Africa.
Senior Marketing Officer UCB
Mellon Tukiekiriza
Uganda Tourism Board
Lugogo House
6th Floor of Block C,
Plot 42
Lugogo Bypass,
Kampala - Uganda
Issue #24 – June 2026