By Our Staff Reporter

Mbale, Uganda | September 27, 2026
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on Ugandans to embrace tourism as a major avenue for household income, employment and business growth, saying the sector presents opportunities across communities with limited land for commercial agriculture.

Museveni made the call on Sunday, September 27, 2026, while presiding over Uganda’s national World Tourism Day celebrations at Mbale Secondary School Grounds in Mbale City. The celebrations were held under the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.”

The President said tourism has a broad economic value chain involving accommodation, transport, food, entertainment, tour guiding, cultural enterprises and other services, making it an important alternative for Ugandans seeking to diversify household incomes.

He encouraged residents of the Elgon Sub-region and other parts of the country to participate in the four broad areas of wealth creation identified by Government: commercial agriculture, manufacturing and artisanship, services, and Information and Communication Technology.

Museveni commissions Mbale Zoo

During the celebrations, President Museveni commissioned the Mbale Wildlife Conservation Education Centre, popularly known as Mbale Zoo, a facility established by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to promote wildlife conservation education, research and tourism in Eastern Uganda.

The Ministry of Tourism says the facility is intended to strengthen wildlife education and community engagement while adding another tourism attraction to the Elgon region.

The zoo, located along the Mbale-Tororo Highway, provides an opportunity for residents, students and visitors to learn about wildlife and conservation. Among the animals reported at the facility are lions, monkeys, leopards, zebra, waterbuck, ostrich and peacocks.

Museveni commended UWA for establishing the facility and said such investments could help expose young people to wildlife conservation while supporting tourism development in the region.

Conservation placed at centre of Elgon tourism

The President also unveiled a Tourism Conservation Strategy for the Elgon Sub-region, placing emphasis on the protection of forests, wetlands and other ecosystems that support tourism.

He warned that environmental degradation could undermine Uganda’s tourism potential because the country’s forests, wetlands, mountains, wildlife and other natural resources form the foundation of many tourism products.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority has similarly emphasised that natural resources are important economic assets whose protection is essential for a sustainable tourism industry.

Museveni called for stronger conservation efforts in the Elgon region and urged communities to utilise Uganda’s geographical advantages, including its location and mountainous terrain, while protecting the ecosystems that support them.

He also reaffirmed Government’s commitment to improving infrastructure connecting tourism attractions, including roads, electricity, water and communication networks.

Government pushes digital tourism

Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Col. (Rtd) Tom Butime, said Uganda is increasingly looking to digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence to transform the tourism industry.

Butime said technologies such as digital booking platforms, smart park gates and AI-supported safari planning could improve access to information, increase efficiency and make tourism experiences more convenient for visitors.

The Ministry has already identified AI-powered wildlife monitoring, digital content hubs and predictive analytics as some of the technologies that could support Uganda’s tourism transformation.

The minister also highlighted the tourism potential of Mbale and the wider Elgon region, citing Mount Elgon, scenic landscapes, cultural heritage, cuisine and the hospitality of local communities.

However, he noted that limited investment, access to capital and some visa-related challenges remain among the issues affecting the growth of tourism.

Netherlands highlights investment opportunities

The Ambassador of the Netherlands to Uganda, H.E. Angèle Samura, highlighted opportunities for stronger cooperation between Uganda and European partners in tourism.

She pointed to hospitality, human-capital development, skills training, sustainable tourism practices and digital technologies as areas where Uganda and European partners could collaborate.

Ambassador Samura also said Uganda’s growing appeal to European visitors presents opportunities for increased investment and partnerships across the tourism value chain.

Mbale seeks better connectivity

Mbale City Mayor Joyce Matuka Kidulu said digital tourism could help position Mbale as a strategic tourism destination and gateway to the wider East African region.

She called for improved infrastructure to tourism sites, including better roads, and highlighted proposed developments such as a regional university of science and technology and a stadium as projects that could contribute to the region’s economic growth.

The World Tourism Day celebrations brought together Government officials, tourism businesses, cultural leaders, local authorities, development partners and other stakeholders to discuss investment, technology, conservation and innovation in Uganda’s tourism sector.

With the commissioning of Mbale Zoo and the launch of the Elgon Tourism Conservation Strategy, the celebrations placed the region’s natural and cultural resources at the centre of Uganda’s efforts to expand tourism and increase its contribution to local economies.