Kenyan Ambassador Flags Off Hundreds of Ugandan Pupils to Mombasa, Reinforcing Regional Tourism Ties
NAIROBI, Kenya – In a vibrant display of East African cooperation, Kenya’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Ambassador Joash Maangi, on Sunday flagged off a group of 697 Ugandan pupils and 23 staff members on an educational trip to Mombasa, underscoring a shared commitment to boost regional tourism and people-to-people ties.
The students from Hillside Nursery and Primary School in Naalya were officially seen off at the Kenya High Commission in Kampala before embarking on their journey to Kenya’s coastal region. The trip, a tradition the school has upheld for over 15 years, will see the Primary Seven finalists travel via the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and visit iconic sites including Fort Jesus and the Marine Park.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Maangi commended the school for its long-standing tradition and highlighted the symbiotic tourism relationship between the two neighboring nations.
“Kenya and Uganda are each other’s most important sources of tourism,” Maangi stated. “Kenya provides Uganda with the highest number of tourists from any country in the world, and Uganda gives Kenya the second largest number of tourists, only after the United States.”
The High Commissioner revealed that Kenya is targeting 300,000 visitors from Uganda by the end of 2025, up from 270,000 the previous year. He described the Hillside school trip as a significant contribution towards this goal.
“This group alone adds nearly 700 visitors to our total. We are pleased and optimistic that such exchanges will help us meet our target,” he added. “It is a good experience for the young ones to grow up knowing that Kenya is their home, just as young Kenyans view Uganda as theirs.”
Mr. Fredrick Batulabudde, the Deputy Head Teacher of Hillside, emphasized the educational value of the excursion. “A lot of what our learners study in social studies will now come alive during this trip,” he said. “They will visit historical and geographical sites, which will deepen their understanding and inspire them.”
Uganda remains Kenya’s leading African source market for tourism and the second globally after the United States. The flow of visitors is supported by open borders, where Ugandans need only a national ID to travel to Kenya, and a young demographic that fuels cross-border travel.
Enhanced connectivity, including direct flights to Mombasa by Uganda Airlines, and targeted marketing campaigns like #TugendeKenya by the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), further bolster these ties.
Ambassador Maangi concluded by stressing the deeper significance of such exchanges: “We are not just building numbers; we are building relationships. These young learners are the future of East Africa’s unity.”
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