Decentralising Tourism Business for Shared Value and Sustainable Development in Uganda

Peter Adoko Obicci — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Tourism in Uganda functions as a critical engine for economic growth, employment generation, and cultural preservation. However, benefits remain largely concentrated in flagship destinations, limiting regional participation and creating sustainability concerns. This study explores the potential of decentralised tourism as a strategy for fostering inclusivity, resilience, and socially responsible sector development. The research employs a qualitative conceptual approach, synthesising peer-reviewed literature, policy documents, and documented community-based tourism initiatives. Thematic analysis identifies patterns in economic concentration, stakeholder participation, and environmental management, while content analysis evaluates policy alignment, institutional support, and enterprise integration. Findings reveal that Uganda’s tourism largely operates as an enclave economy, where high-value activities cluster in national parks and urban hubs, marginalising peripheral districts and small and medium enterprises. Decentralised strategies demonstrate potential to empower local entrepreneurs, diversify destinations, conserve cultural heritage, enhance environmental stewardship, and generate shared economic and social value. Community-led initiatives emerge as pivotal actors in embedding benefits locally, improving resilience, and reducing vulnerability to economic or environmental shocks. Integrating historical ethical frameworks, including stewardship and moral economy, with contemporary governance and business practices provides a conceptual pathway to align profitability with equity and ecological responsibility. The study offers practical guidance for policymakers, investors, and destination managers aiming for equitable benefit distribution, reinforcing the scholarly discourse on decentralisation as a strategic tool for sustainable development. Coordinated policy support, participatory governance, and capacity-building emerge as essential mechanisms to realise inclusive tourism outcomes, underscoring the intersection of ethics, enterprise, and environmental stewardship in regional development.

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Decentralising Tourism Business for Shared Value and Sustainable Development in Uganda