Tourism ministry targets youths for Museum Day Celebrations

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Among other activities, museums store ancient artefacts, fossils and ethnographic cultural history that tell traditional stories. Whereas the Uganda museum, located in the heart of Kampala, attracted 131,508 tourists in the year 2023, the biggest number ever recorded, however, reports by the Ministry of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities (MTWA) indicate that very few youths appreciate or understand the importance of museums in Uganda.

While launching the celebration of International Museum Day on Tuesday at the media centre in Kampala, the tourism state minister, Martin Mugarra, said the celebrations, to be climaxed in Kabale municipality on May 18, will be fused with a campaign to explore the entire Kigezi region and appreciate its offerings in terms of tourism.

Mugarra noted that this year's theme resonates with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goal 8, by supporting local economies, creating employment opportunities and offering educational programs that empower communities. "Museums also contribute to sustainable urban development by acting as cultural hubs that promote inclusion, resilience and heritage preservation," Muaggara pointed out.

Jackline Besigye Nyiracyiza, the Ag. Commissioner for Museums and Monuments said this year's museum day will be celebrated under a theme: "Preserving Heritage, Transforming Communities." "Since 1997, all museums in the world have participated in this day to promote the role of museums by organising enjoyable and free activities around the year's theme," Nyiracyiza expressed.

An array of activities lined up to attract youths for the museum day include, training on basic cultural heritage in Kigezi region, national heritage conference at hotel Africana, Museums fair at Emin Pasha hotel, schools heritage quiz and competition in Kabale district, sports gala, bull roasting and camp fire in Kabale municipality before the main concert at Kabale stadium on May 18.

Kick-boxer Moses Golola and singer Shafik Walukagga, commonly known as Fik Fameica, have been coated to attract young Ugandans in the Kigezi campaign.

L-R: Moses Golola, the kick boxer and social media influencer, Jackline Besigye Nyiracyiza, the acting Commissioner for Museums and Monuments and Eunice Tworekirwe, the principal public relations officer of the tourism ministry. (Credit: Julius Luwemba)

Others expected to drum up for World Museum Day are gospel singers Gabi Ntaate and Herbet Twinamatsiko. The latter noted that many youths have been made to believe that God does not believe in cultural norms. "We are happy to join this campaign to show that God is not against culture and tradition. We therefore want to show the importance of museums in preserving and conserving our cultural artefacts and stories," stated Twinamatsiko.

There are over 30 museums in Uganda. These range from community museums, institutional and private museums. As the national museum undergoes renovation and upgrade since July 2024, there remain other institutional museums situated at the Bank of Uganda, Parliament, Police, Uganda Revenue Authority, Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation (UPPC), Uganda Revenue Authority, Namugongo Museum, Geological Museum and Railway Museum.



Some of the community museums include Kigulu Cultural Museum in Busiga, Madi Community museum, the Cultural Assets Centre museum (Empako naming ceremony among the Banyoro), Koogere Community museum and Uganda Martyrs University museum (the Skill of Bark cloth making among the Baganda) among others. Private museums include Igongo Cultural Centre, Ssemagulu Museum and BRIMS Heritage Resource Centre among others.

Nyiracyiza revealed that the renovation and upgrade works on the national museum in Kampala stand at 65% and are expected to be complete before 2025 ends. "We have a target of unlocking our tourism potential and increasing the revenue tenfold. We therefore must diversify our tourism products as we continue drumming up for tourism," the acting commissioner expressed.

Stephen Masaba, a senior manager for tourism development under the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) emphasised the need to complement efforts in tourism promotion as well as diversification of the tourism products. "Therefore, as we market wildlife among other natural endowments as viable tourism products, we should remain cognisant of the fact that many tourists are also interested in our natural heritage," he noted.

Masaba also pointed out some of the wildlife areas that have cultural significance, such as the Rwenzori National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Mt Elgon National Park, among others.