President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has asked the Private Sector players to invest in the development of untapped tourism resources in Northern Uganda especially Fort Patiko and other historical sites.
Other sites include Wodelai, Dufile, Lututulu, Palabek, Rock Art sites in Eastern Uganda to mention but a few.
He made the call in a speech read for him by Vice President Jessica Alupo during celebrations to the mark the International Museum Day 2023 in Gulu city organized under the theme, “Museums our Heritage”
Museveni equally urged the private sector to put in place educational recreation services in all museums located in the entire region adding that the move shall make our country attractive not only to international tourists but also to domestic tourists.
He further said that the improvement of connectivity through the development of tourism roads, the revival of the national carrier, Uganda Airlines, the conservation of our heritage as well as the promotion and showcasing of the potential of museums will diversify Uganda’s tourism offering, thus accelerating the national socio-economic growth.
He reiterated that the development of museums is a firm foundation for the dissemination of skills, knowledge, and information inherited from our great-grandparents in the advancement of civilization and technological innovation such as herbal medicine, architecture, and creative and performing arts which were used to solve societal problems, promote cultural tourism and empowerment of citizens to live in harmony.
He also implored new cities like Gulu, Lira, Arua, Soroti, and Fort Portal among others, to develop leisure and sports facilities that accommodate infrastructural developments of museums, to enable tourists to explore the country and equally helps in showcasing the cultures of this country.
He stressed that Uganda stands alone as a beautiful country endowed with diverse natural and cultural heritage.
The Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Col. Tom Butime explained that the Tourism Programme is alive to the 2021-2026 NRM manifesto which recognizes tourism as an important source of growth with great potential for employment creation and foreign exchange earnings.
Butime explained that the aim of the Museums and Monuments Act 2023 passed by Parliament this year, will consolidate and reform the law concerning the conservation of natural and cultural heritage; strengthen the management of cultural and natural heritage, classify museums, preserve and develop museums and monuments, the tangible and intangible heritage and also collect creative works of art.
Doreen S. Katusiime the Permanent Secretary in the Tourism Ministry made special focus on the Soroti Museum with four (4) acres for tourism concessions.
“The most important factor to note; is that the Soroti Museum sits on prime land in the heart of the Soroti urban centre”, Katusime said.
Other high value land for tourism concessions for Rock Art Sites are in Nyero (Kumi District), Mukongoro (Kumi District), Kakoro (Pallisa District), Komuge (Bukedea District), Kapir (Ngora District).