Africa-Press – Uganda. The Kyagazinga William Gabula Nadiope IV has called for the formalization of cooperation between Busoga Kingdom and the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities through an official Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at accelerating tourism development in the sub-region.
The Kyabazinga made the appeal during a courtesy visit by a high-level delegation from the Ministry led by the State Minister for Tourism, Martin Mugarra Bahinduka, at Igenge Palace in Jinja City.
While expressing appreciation for the existing collaboration between the kingdom and the ministry, the monarch emphasized the need to institutionalize the partnership to unlock Busoga’s full tourism potential.
“We are grateful for the great initiatives and work you are doing for us. Of course, we have partnered in a lot of initiatives before, but I am glad we have already progressed in some of the tourism activities,” the Kyabazinga said.
“We look forward to strengthening our relationship through an official MOU moving forward.”
The Kyabazinga highlighted key tourism sites within the region, notably the iconic Source of the Nile in Jinja, which he hopes will attain UNESCO World Heritage recognition. He also pointed to progress on Dolwe Island in Namayingo District, which has already been submitted to UNESCO for consideration.
He stressed that Busoga’s strategic location and rich cultural heritage position it as a major contributor to Uganda’s tourism industry if given focused promotion and development support.
Among the lesser-known attractions, the monarch singled out the historic slave caves in Walumbe near Bukaleba Forest, noting that they remain under-promoted despite their historical significance.
“Uganda has slave caves. We feel you should go ahead and promote this tourism site. It has been left out,” he said, urging the ministry to broaden its tourism marketing scope.
The Kyabazinga also commended the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI) for its continued support to cultural and tourism initiatives within the kingdom.
He praised the institute’s principal, Richard Kawere, for backing events such as the Kagulu Climbing Challenge and railway heritage activities, as well as offering full-board bursaries to students from Busoga.
“They have supported the Kagulu Climbing Challenge and many cultural events held here. We continue to receive positive feedback about the students who attend the institute,” the Kyabazinga noted.
The monarch further revealed his personal connection to the tourism docket, recalling that his father previously served as Minister of State for Tourism in the early 1990s.
He reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to conservation and revenue generation, noting that Busoga receives a significant share of tourists visiting Uganda.
“Our focus is on conservation and promotion of key sites. If we work together, we shall bring prestige and showcase our culture, heritage and tourism sites within Uganda,” he concluded.
Speaking during the visit, Minister Mugarra revealed that Uganda’s tourism sector recorded its strongest performance in history by the end of 2025.
According to the minister, international arrivals increased from 1.3 million visitors in 2024 to 1.65 million in 2025, pushing tourism earnings from $1.28 billion to a record $1.7 billion.
He described tourism as one of Uganda’s leading foreign exchange earners and reaffirmed the ministry’s readiness to formalize cooperation with Busoga Kingdom.
“The Ministry looks forward to an official MOU with Busoga Kingdom to ensure that culture and heritage are showcased globally for the benefit of Busoga and Uganda as a whole,” Mugarra said.
The delegation included Juliana Kagwa, CEO of the Uganda Tourism Board; Dr. Basil Ajer, Director of Tourism at the Ministry; and Dr. James Musinguzi, Executive Director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, among others.
On the side of Busoga Kingdom, officials present included Permanent Secretary Sajjabi Godfrey Samanya, Kyabazinga Affairs Minister Babirye Yudaya, and other Kingdom representatives.
The proposed MOU is expected to provide a structured framework for joint marketing, heritage conservation, skills development and sustainable tourism growth in Busoga, further strengthening Uganda’s position as a premier destination in Africa.
