________________

Plans to renovate and restore the defunct Ankole Kingdom palace into a centre for cultural tourism are in high gear with the official opening of the palace expected by the end of the year.

The acting commissioner for museums and monuments, Jackline Nyiracyiza, said the government envisions a state-of-the-art palace whose location is likely to yield much revenue.

“Its location is strategic, tourists coming from Kampala to Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and Lake Mburo National Park can make a stopover. We are looking at this palace as a cultural tourism hub,” Nyiracyiza said.

Nyiracyiza said that if the site is well advertised it is projected to yield about sh1bn as annual revenue compared to sh400 million currently collected through the national museum.

She was on Thursday briefing MPs on the Committee of Tourism, Trade and Industry, led by the chairperson, Mwine Mpaka. The committee visited the site on February 8, 2024, where they applauded the ongoing works to realise the desired state-of-the-art cultural tourism centre.

“I am impressed and wondering when it will be open to the public, when will you be able to fit in the remaining aspects to show it to the public?” asked MP Sylvia Nayebale (NRM, Gomba District Woman Representative). 

Lower Madi County MP, Ronald Afidra said such tourism centres need to be replicated in other sub-regions to revive the forgotten cultural aspects such as the royal regalia expected at Ankole Palace, now renamed Mugaba Palace. 

“This is a thought of going back into history while thinking of the future, our children will be able to see what our ancestors had, this is good,” Afidra said adding, “This should not be done only here, there are many other kingdoms in need, others will say if sh10 billion was spent here, it is also required elsewhere,” Afidra said. 

MPs observed that some of the aspects of the palace have been redesigned according to modern architectural designs and asked that the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities consult widely with local leaders to bring out aspects almost similar to how the palace appeared in the past.  

“I believe some of the elders who understand how the Ankole kingdom operated are still alive, look for them, you need to sit with them and they tell you for instance how the bed of the king looked like,” said James Olobo (NRM, Kioga North County). 

Mpaka observed that the palace lacked the traditional look and asked the ministry to compare the restored Kasubi tombs under the Buganda Kingdom. 

“When Kasubi tombs were burnt, they were restored to their original state, this palace is beautiful but in a modern way, if you look at the drum it doesn’t represent well the way drums appeared in the past, the symbols should be refined well to capture the Ankole culture,” Mpaka said. 

Igara County West, County MP, Gaffa Mbwatekamwa, asked that key cultural aspects such as shrines for worship, wells, and traditional fencing should be in place.

Some MPs however complained that they did not see the value of sh10 billion that the government has invested since 2018, which Mwine Mpaka said will be further interrogated by the committee.