By Joseph muyingo
KAMPALA, UGANDA: Uganda’s ambition to become a leading destination for international conferences and business events has received a major boost following Speke Resort Munyonyo’s recognition as the World’s Best Luxury Convention Resort at the 2026 LUXE Global Awards.
The award places renewed attention on Uganda’s growing Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector, an industry increasingly viewed as an important source of foreign exchange, investment, employment and high-value tourism.
Unlike traditional leisure tourism, business travellers attending international conferences often stay for several days and spend across hotels, transport, restaurants, entertainment and other services, creating wider economic benefits for host destinations.
Speke Resort Munyonyo’s recognition comes after years of investment in infrastructure capable of handling major international gatherings.
The resort has 476 guestrooms and suites, more than 34 conference and meeting venues and over 10,000 square metres of flexible event space, allowing it to accommodate large conferences alongside accommodation and hospitality services.
Its track record includes hosting high-profile international gatherings such as the Non-Aligned Movement Summit, the G77+China Third South Summit, the Commonwealth Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers, the Uganda-European Union Business Forum and the African Airlines Association Annual General Assembly.
Such events have provided Uganda with an opportunity to demonstrate its capacity to host large and complex international meetings while exposing visiting delegates to the country’s tourism and investment opportunities.
The latest international recognition could therefore strengthen the country’s pitch when competing with other African destinations for global conferences, corporate meetings and diplomatic events.
For Uganda, the growing MICE market also presents an opportunity to reduce reliance on conventional holiday tourism by attracting visitors whose primary purpose is business but who can also extend their stays for leisure and exploration.
The recognition comes as Speke Resort Convention Centre continues to deepen its links with the international meetings industry, including its partnership with the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers.
The development of high-end convention infrastructure is also creating demand for skilled professionals in hospitality, event management, transport, catering and related services.
Tourism stakeholders are expected to use the latest recognition as part of efforts to market Uganda as a competitive destination for international conferences and exhibitions.
With global organisations increasingly searching for destinations that can combine modern conference facilities with accommodation, leisure and unique tourism experiences, Uganda’s ability to offer these services in one destination could become an important competitive advantage.
The Speke Resort accolade therefore goes beyond a single hospitality award, highlighting the growing economic potential of business tourism and Uganda’s efforts to position itself as a serious player in Africa’s international events industry.
