The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), has pledged to collaborate more closely with the Buganda Kingdom in a renewed drive to promote cultural heritage sites as part of a broader strategy to enhance tourism and increase national revenue.
This commitment was announced by UTB’s Executive Director, Juliana Kagwa, during a cultural tour of key heritage sites within the Buganda Kingdom.
Kagwa emphasized that preserving Uganda’s cultural assets is vital to developing sustainable tourism and showcasing the country's unique identity to the world.
“We are here to support the Kingdom’s efforts in preserving these cultural treasures,” Kagwa said.
“They play a vital role in promoting tourism and showcasing our identity as Ugandans. UTB is committed to supporting the kingdom in elevating these sites to international standards.”
The cultural tour kicked off at the Kasubi Royal Tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the burial ground for Buganda’s kings, followed by a visit to the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga—the main building within the tombs complex.
Kagwa also visited Bulange Mengo, the seat of the Buganda Kingdom Parliament, where she met with Kingdom officials to discuss collaborative strategies for tourism development.
The tour continued to the Kabaka’s Lake in Ndeeba, Africa’s largest man-made lake, built under the reign of Kabaka Mwanga II, and concluded at the historic Lubiri (Royal Palace) in Mengo.
Here, Kagwa and her delegation were taken through the palace’s rich history, including a tour of the underground bunker once used by former President Idi Amin Dada during the 1970s.
In a display of Buganda’s vibrant culture, the guests were treated to a traditional culinary experience featuring "oluwombo"—a delicacy steamed in banana leaves that showcases the Kingdom’s rich gastronomy.
The CEO of the Buganda Heritage and Tourism Board (BHTB), Najib Nsubuga, welcomed the government’s support and commended UTB for recognizing the untapped potential of cultural tourism.
“These heritage sites are now receiving the attention they deserve,” Nsubuga stated.
“We believe this collaboration with UTB will attract more tourists and increase revenue for the country. The pandemic had significantly disrupted tourism activity, but with such partnerships, interest is gradually being restored.”
Nsubuga further emphasized the importance of safeguarding these cultural sites and encouraged Ugandans to reconnect with their heritage as part of the ongoing ‘Explore Uganda’ campaign.
The renewed partnership between UTB and the Buganda Kingdom signals a strategic shift towards heritage-centered tourism, with the potential to attract both domestic and international visitors while reinforcing cultural pride and identity among Ugandans.
As Uganda positions itself as a premier cultural tourism destination, stakeholders from both government and traditional institutions are expected to play a central role in developing and promoting heritage experiences that tell the authentic story of Uganda’s past and present.