Sudhir Elevates Uganda’s Brand As Speke Resort Captivates IBTM Delegates

By Frank Kamuntu

Uganda has once again stamped her authority on the global Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) map after a high-profile delegation jetted into Barcelona, Spain, to showcase the country’s fast-growing business-tourism potential at the prestigious IBTM World 2025.

The Ugandan team—comprising government representatives and 10 top private-sector MICE companies—took centre stage as they marketed the Pearl of Africa’s complete value chain in the global events industry. From high-end convention centres and luxury hotels to destination management companies, professional conference organisers, safari lodges, and incentive-travel designers, Uganda’s pitch was clear: the country is ready to compete with the best in the world.

But the star attraction at the Ugandan booth was Sudhir Ruparelia’s Speke Resort Convention Centre, Munyonyo, the newest and most modern convention centre in East and Central Africa. The property, which recently hosted several international summits, represented Uganda’s most powerful selling point—world-class infrastructure backed by unmatched hospitality.

Delegates who visited the Uganda stand were taken through the facility’s impressive features, including its expansive meeting halls, state-of-the-art audio-visual technology, lakeside ambience, and accommodation options under the Speke Group of Hotels.

The Ugandan hospitality sector was further strengthened by the presence of the Uganda Hotel Owners Association (UHOA), whose members highlighted the country’s readiness to host large-scale international events, high-value business travellers, and corporate delegations.

Industry experts at the fair applauded Uganda for presenting a unified front, government bodies working hand-in-hand with the private sector in an effort to position the country as Africa’s next MICE powerhouse.

IBTM World, one of the largest global exhibitions for the meetings and events industry, attracts thousands of exhibitors and buyers every year from over 100 countries. Uganda’s participation ensures the country remains visible, competitive, and attractive to event planners across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the rest of Africa.

With players like Speke Resort Convention Centre setting new benchmarks in conferencing excellence, Uganda’s MICE industry is not only gaining momentum but is steadily becoming a major contributor to tourism revenues and national development.

As the global spotlight shifts increasingly towards Africa for business travel and investment, Uganda is clearly determined to seize the moment—boldly embodying the IBTM theme: Meet the Moment.