The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), in partnership with Uganda Police, has announced it will start closing accommodation facilities without tourism operating licences from November 18.

The Uganda Tourism Act requires all accommodation facilities to be licensed by UTB in order to operate. Accommodation facilities are categorised as hotels, lodges, guest houses, motels, inns, serviced apartments, cottages, villas, hostels, tented camps and farmhouses.

“It's essential that we uphold the highest standards to guarantee that tourists experience the best of Uganda's hospitality,” UTB stated in a letter to accommodation owners and managers.

The move comes in line with UTB’s emphasis on enhancing quality assurance through nationwide grading, classification and registration exercises.

Licence applications are available at www.qasystem.utb.go.ug.