Busoga King Calls for Stronger Tourism Partnership with Central Government

His Majesty the Kyabazinga of Busoga, William Gabula Nadiope IV, has emphasized the need for an official Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Tourism to strengthen collaboration in developing Uganda’s tourism sector, particularly in the Busoga sub-region.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by a high level delegation from the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, led by the Minister of State for Tourism, Bahinduka Martin Mugara, at his palace on Thursday, the Kyabazinga expressed gratitude for the existing partnership while calling for its formalization to enhance tourism development in the kingdom.

“We are grateful for the great initiatives and work you’re doing for us. Of course, we’ve partnered in a lot of initiatives before, but I’m glad we’ve already progressed in some of the tourism activities,” the Kyabazinga said.

He said “We shall look forward to working with you in strengthening our relationship through an official MOU moving forward.”

The Kyabazinga highlighted several significant tourism attractions in Busoga, including the Source of the Nile, which he hopes will receive UNESCO recognition.

He also mentioned the progress made on Dolwe Island in Namayingo, which has already been submitted to UNESCO for consideration.

“We have various tourism sites that we believe, if we work with you hand in hand, we shall be in position to develop them since we are strategically located in Uganda,” he noted.

The royal leader drew attention to lesser-known historical sites, particularly slave caves in Walumbe near Bukaleba Forest, which he believes have been overlooked in tourism promotion efforts.

“Uganda has slave caves. I don’t know whether you are aware of them. We feel you should go ahead and promote this tourism site. It has been left out,” he said.

The Monarch praised the Uganda Hotel Tourism Institute in Jinja headed by its Principal Richard Kawere, for its continued support of various cultural activities and events including the Kagulu Climbing challenge.

He noted that the institute has been a key partner, providing sponsorships and offering full-board bursaries to students from the kingdom.

“They have supported the railway activities, they have supported the Kagulu Climbing Challenge, they support a lot of cultural events that are held here,” he said, adding that the kingdom receives positive feedback about students who attend the institute.

Kyabazinga revealed his personal interest in tourism, noting that his father held the same ministerial position (Minister of State for Tourism) in the early 1990s under the same government.

Emphasizing the kingdom’s role in supporting government revenue collection, the Kyabazinga noted that many tourists visit Uganda and Busoga specifically, contributing significantly to the national economy. He stressed the kingdom’s focus on conservation and promotion of key sites.

“Our focus is on conservation and promotion of key sites, and we believe that if we work together, we shall be in position to bring a lot of prestige and showcase our culture, our heritage, and the various tourism sites within Uganda,” he concluded.

The Minister of State for Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities, Hon. Martin Mugarra Bahinduka, has revealed that Uganda’s tourism sector has achieved its highest performance in history, with annual revenues climbing to $1.7 billion by the end of 2025.

According to the Minister, the sector saw a sharp increase in international arrivals, growing from 1.3 million visitors in 2024 to 1.65 million in 2025. This surge in footfall directly boosted revenues from $1.28 billion to the current record of $1.7 billion.

Bahinduka said the Ministry of Tourism looks forward to an official MOU with Busoga Kingdom to ensure that culture and heritage are showcased globally for the benefit of Busoga sub region and Uganda as a whole.

Bahinduka was accompanied by the CEO Uganda Tourism Board Juliana Kagwa and her deputy; Dr. Basil Ajer the Director of Tourism in the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities and the Executive Director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) Dr. James Musinguzi, and UHTTI’s Principal Richard Kawere among others.

Present from the Busoga Kingdom included; Busoga Kingdom’s Permanent Secretary Sajjabi Godfrey Samanya, Kyabazinga Affairs Minister and Executive Director of Kyabazinga Initiatives (KI) Owek. Babirye Yudaya, KI’s Manager Growth Samuel Niiwo, KI’s Operations Manager Julius Kalugu and Princess Susan.