Uganda is seeking to attract international event planners and position itself as a destination for weddings, celebrations and conferences through the inaugural Africa Destination Celebration Conference and Expo (ADCCE 2026).
Jacqueline Nanteza, chief executive officer of Stress-Free Planner and Wild Celebrations Africa Limited, and founder and president of ADCCE, said the initiative seeks to attract event planners from across Africa and around the world to discover, experience and promote destinations, beginning with Uganda.
The two-day conference, held on October 12–13 at Speke Resort Convention Centre in Munyonyo, Kampala, brought together event planners, wedding specialists, tourism stakeholders and international delegates under the theme “Africa Unveils Events in the Wild”.
The initiative seeks to showcase Uganda’s capacity to host high-value events by connecting international planners with local venues, hospitality businesses, tourism operators and event service providers. The event brought together delegates and professionals from France, Spain, Nigeria and the United Kingdom, who attended the conference to exchange knowledge, explore business opportunities and discuss ways of strengthening Africa’s position in the global events industry.
Nanteza acknowledged the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, the Uganda Tourism Board and private-sector partners in establishing the conference, which featured exhibitions showcasing Uganda’s events, tourism, travel and hospitality sectors, as well as keynote presentations and panel discussions on customer care, industry standards, service excellence and strategies for attracting international clients.
Frank Murangwa, regional director of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and a keynote speaker, welcomed the initiative, describing it as an important platform for bringing industry players together to promote Africa and the Caribbean internationally. Murangwa highlighted the importance of international collaboration in strengthening Africa’s position in the global meetings and events market.
Mannot Estelle Maeva, a France-based wedding planning professional who organises weddings in France, Italy, Spain and Morocco, said she was excited to visit Uganda for the first time and explore its wedding venues, service providers and destination celebration opportunities.
Maeva said Africa had attractive venues and capable professionals who could deliver world-class wedding experiences, adding that greater awareness among European planners and clients could create new business opportunities for the continent. She pointed out the importance of proper budgeting in wedding planning, advising couples to identify their priorities, including guest comfort and the overall experience they want to create.
Dr Ifeoma Okoye, a Nigerian events educator and academy founder, expressed optimism that the Africa Destination Celebration Conference and Expo would generate learning opportunities, business partnerships and professional connections, as the gathering provided an opportunity for industry professionals to exchange knowledge, learn from different cultures and discover African destinations through familiarisation trips planned for delegates.
Christine Ogbeh, popularly known as Mama Guru of The Wedding Guru, also from Nigeria, described ADCCE as a platform for event planners to network, share experiences and explore new business opportunities. On her third visit to Uganda, Ogbeh expressed enthusiasm about discovering more of the country, including through planned visits to Murchison Falls National Park and other tourism destinations.
Beyond the conference sessions and exhibitions, delegates were expected to participate in familiarisation trips to selected destinations, including national parks and other tourism sites, to experience Uganda’s potential for hosting celebrations in both urban and natural settings. The trips are intended to expose international planners to the country’s diverse venues and demonstrate how weddings and other events can be combined with tourism experiences.
ADCCE comes as Uganda seeks to broaden its international tourism profile beyond wildlife, landscapes and cultural attractions to include weddings, conferences, celebrations and other high-value events. By linking international planners to local businesses and service providers, the initiative could open opportunities for partnerships, investment and increased business for Uganda’s hospitality and events sectors.
