The Confederation of Uganda Tourism Associations (COUTA) has appointed a new 9-member board headed by Mrs Yewagnesh (Yogi) Biriggwa.
The board members were appointed at the association’s 7th Annual General meeting.
The other members are; Issa Kato (Vice President), who represents the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) – Leisure Tourism; Peter Mwanja (General Secretary), who represents the Association of Uganda Conferences and Incentive Industry (UACII) and Monalisa Aman (Treasurer), who represents The Uganda Association of Travel Agents (TUGATA).
The Board Members are Jacqueline Kemirembe, the Chairperson of the Association of Uganda Women in Tourism Trade (AUWOTT); Peter Kaggwa, the chairman, the Uganda Association of Conference and Incentive Industry (UACII); Azhar Jaffar – Board member, Uganda Hotel Owners Association (UHOA); Brian Tuhaise – General Secretary, The Uganda Safari Guides Association (USAGA) and Evans Serugwanya – Vice-chair, National Arts and Cultural Crafts Association of Uganda (NACCAU)
Present at the meeting were stakeholders from the Public sector including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities, Ms. Doreen Katusiime, Head of Legal at Uganda Tourism Board, Ms Idda Wada, PSFU, and Paul Ninsiima from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
The new Board will serve a term of two years and work has already started, with the aim of rejuvenating Uganda’s Tourism with a lot of emphasis on partnership and engagements with Public sector, Government and Development partners.
Ms Yogi Biriggwa holds a master’s degree in management amongst many other qualifications and brings over 25 years of experience in Tourism and Aviation.
She was South African Country manager for 15 years, United Airlines General Manager for 5 years, Consultant for African union in restructuring the travel department for 1 year, Owner of Natures Green Resort.
She also served on many boards; UWEC board member for 7 years, UHOA Board member currently, UTB Board member for 6 years and Chairperson Uganda Aviation Academy, among others.