Museums Day celebrated with call to preserve heritage

International Museums Day, celebrated every May 18, was observed in Kabale municipality, Kabale district, with a call to document heritage as a key way of preserving it for future generations.

Doreen Katusiime, the permanent secretary for the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, revealed that the Museums and Monuments Department is collaborating with the Uganda Council of Science and Technology to ensure education and research in museums and heritage sites are thoroughly conducted.

In her speech read by Geoffrey Sseremba, the undersecretary, Katusiime noted that 309 heritage sites have so far been documented and gazetted. Additionally, two regional museums – Soroti and Kabale – have been developed and equipped.

The Sunday celebrations also marked the official opening of the Kabale Regional Museum, following the Soroti Regional Museum, which was opened by Vice President Jessica Alupo in 2024.

The permanent secretary also stated that the ministry has titled 20 heritage sites, including Kibwetere site in Kanungu, Mugaba Palace in Mbarara, Nakayima site, Bigo Byamugenyi, Barlonyo, among others.

"Designs for Fort Portal Regional Museum, Arua Museum, Katoosa Martyrs' Shrine, Barlonyo Memorial Site and Napak Heritage Site have been developed and are only awaiting funding for the establishments to be realised," Katusiime said.

The Moroto Museum in Karamoja is reportedly 70% complete, while renovation works on the Uganda Museum in Kampala are expected to be finished by October this year.

Jackline Besigye Nyiracyiza, the acting commissioner for museums and monuments, said the Ministry of Tourism developed a Museums and Monuments Strategy (2023/2024–2029/2030) aimed at laying a foundation for the sustainable development of the cultural heritage sector to contribute to Uganda’s socio-economic development.

"Therefore, celebrating International Museums Day is one of the principal avenues towards promoting the role of museums in society," Nyiracyiza emphasised. The celebrations were themed "Preserving heritage, transforming communities," derived from the International Council of Museums (ICOM) theme, "The future of museums in rapidly changing communities."

Tourism State minister Martin Mugarra (centre) inspecting some of the cultural artefacts inside the newly opened Kabale regional museum during the celebration of International Museum Day on Sunday. (Credit: Julius Luwemba)

Samuel Kizaalwa, the ICOM Uganda president, expressed concerns that the ever-changing environment could result in damage and loss of museum collections if protective measures are not implemented.

"The fluctuating weather and climate in general are a big threat to museum artefacts. Threats to both intangible and tangible heritage are increasingly being experienced," Kizaalwa stated.

He further noted that traditional culture is slowly but steadily fading, pointing out folk stories, norms, beliefs and traditional music among others, which he said are becoming forgotten, "yet the link from the past to the present is important."

Kizaalwa appealed for youth involvement in appreciating the importance of museums as well as introducing new innovative technologies such as multimedia and audio-visual tools.

Martin Mugarra, the tourism state minister who presided over the celebrations, said the government is committed to developing museums and heritage sites to create more tourism products and encourage longer tourist stays.

Mugarra assured that his ministry is ready to sustainably preserve heritage sites and museums for future generations despite the challenges posed by rapidly changing communities.

"The Museums and Monuments Act 2023 aims to consolidate and reform the law concerning conservation of natural and cultural heritage; strengthen the management of cultural and natural heritage, classify museums, preserve and develop museums and monuments, the tangible and intangible heritage, and also collect creative works of art," Mugarra explained, expressing a firm commitment to documentation and preservation of heritage.

Museum Day

Kedress Mutabazi, the deputy mayor for Kabale Municipality, praised the government for bringing the event to Kabale as the municipality prepares to become another tourism city.

The event began with a march through the streets of Kabale and featured exhibitions of artefacts, performances, and awards for schools excelling in competitions including quizzes, debates, and sports.

Uganda began celebrating Museums Day in 2012. However, the journey to establish museums in Uganda dates back to 1903 when Sir Henry Hesketh Bell instructed all commissioners to start collecting artefacts from communities.

"His mission was to preserve heritage since communities had started changing from their traditional beliefs to modernity," narrated Commissioner Nyiracyiza.

Meanwhile, International Museums Day has been observed annually on May 18 since 1977 and is coordinated by the International Council of Museums. The day recognises museums as key contributors to the well-being and sustainable development of communities.

Contribution

Museums are known to store ancient artefacts, fossils and ethnographic cultural history that tell traditional stories.

The Uganda Museum, located in the heart of Kampala, attracted 131,508 tourists in 2023—the highest number ever recorded. It is currently undergoing renovation, with visitor numbers expected to rise upon completion in October this year.

Uganda’s cultural heritage currently contributes to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through the tourism sector, creative industries, and other economic activities related to cultural expression.

Bradford Ochieng, the acting chief executive officer of the Uganda Tourism Board, noted that the tourism sector contributed Sh12.1 trillion, or 6.6% of Uganda's total GDP, in 2024. According to Ochieng, the culture and creative industries also contributed an estimated sh2.2 trillion to the national coffers.