By Caroline Nakire
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni commissions the newly renovated Mt. Elgon Hotel in Mbale City during the World Tourism Day 2026 celebrations on
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has highlighted tourism as a major avenue for household wealth creation, saying Uganda can generate greater economic value by connecting its natural and cultural attractions to the global tourism market.
Speaking on Sunday during the national celebrations for World Tourism Day at Mbale Secondary School Grounds in Mbale City, President Museveni said tourism has a broad multiplier effect because visitors spend on accommodation, transport, food, entertainment and cultural enterprises.
The celebrations were held under the theme, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.”This makes the sector relevant to households with limited land for commercial agriculture, which can participate through businesses and services linked to visitor activities.
President Museveni also identified commercial agriculture, manufacturing and artisanship, services, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as key sectors through which households can participate in wealth creation and improve their incomes.
As part of efforts to expand the region’s tourism offering, the President unveiled the Mbale Wildlife Conservation Education Centre, commonly known as Mbale Zoo.
Established by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the facility is intended to promote conservation education while giving residents and visitors another opportunity to learn about Uganda’s wildlife.
He also unveiled a Tourism Conservation Strategy for the Elgon Sub-region, placing forests and wetlands among the key natural resources requiring protection, environmental degradation directly affects tourism because forests, wetlands and wildlife habitats form the foundation of many of Uganda’s attractions. He said.
President Museveni described deforestation and wetland encroachment as threats to tourism development and stressed the importance of environmental protection amid changing weather patterns.
Uganda’s geographical advantages, including its latitude and altitude, should be utilised sustainably to support economic development without destroying ecosystems, he said.
The Government is also prioritising access to tourism destinations, with President Museveni highlighting plans to extend last-mile infrastructure to attractions in the Elgon Sub-region and other parts of the country.
He said roads, electricity, water and communication networks would make tourism sites more accessible and create opportunities for surrounding communities to supply goods and services to visitors.
Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Col. (Rtd) Tom Butime, said digital technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are increasingly becoming part of Uganda’s strategy to modernise tourism.Technologies can improve destination marketing and make information about attractions more readily available to visitors.
Butime cited digital booking platforms, smart park gates and AI-supported safari planning as examples of technologies that could improve efficiency and the visitor experience.
He described the Elgon Sub-region as rich in tourism products, including the Mount Elgon landscape, scenery, cuisine, cultural heritage and hospitality.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni poses for a group photo with ministers, local leaders and officials at Mt. Elgon Hotel in Mbale City
The Minister, however, identified limited investment and access to capital, as well as visa-related challenges, among the constraints that need to be addressed to unlock the region’s tourism potential.
The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Uganda, Angèle Samura, highlighted opportunities for stronger European investment in Uganda’s tourism industry, particularly in hospitality.
She identified skills development, sustainable hospitality practices and the use of digital technologies as areas with potential for collaboration.
Samura said European tourist arrivals to Uganda increased from 38,000 in 2024 to about 150,000 in 2025.
She said Uganda’s wildlife, natural environment, wellness experiences, culinary culture and diverse attractions give the country a broad tourism portfolio capable of attracting more visitors.
Mbale City Mayor Joyce Matuka Kidulu said digital technologies could increase the visibility of the city’s attractions and connect the wider Bugisu region to domestic and international markets.
She described Mbale as a potential tourism gateway to East Africa and highlighted planned developments, including a proposed Regional University of Science and Technology and a stadium, which could contribute to the region’s economic and tourism growth.
During the celebrations, President Museveni also proposed that the Bugisu Anthem could be considered for the proposed East African Federation, citing its strong lyrics and cultural significance.
The celebrations brought together Government officials, tourism-sector players, local leaders, development partners and other stakeholders to examine how conservation, investment and digital innovation can strengthen Uganda’s tourism industry and expand its benefits to communities.