President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has commissioned Mbale Zoo, established by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to promote wildlife conservation education and tourism in the Elgon Sub-region. The commissioning took place during the national celebrations to mark World Tourism Day 2026 at Mbale Secondary School Grounds in Mbale City. The celebrations were held under the theme, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.” Museveni emphasized that tourism is a lucrative service industry, particularly for households with limited land for commercial agriculture.
Museveni highlighted the benefits of tourism, stating that it supports a wide range of businesses, including accommodation, transport, food, entertainment, tour guiding, and cultural enterprises. He commended UWA for establishing the facility, saying it would increase awareness about wildlife conservation while providing another tourism attraction for residents and visitors. The President also urged residents of the Elgon Sub-region to utilize Uganda’s four broad wealth-creation sectors to improve household incomes.
The President unveiled the Tourism Conservation Strategy for the Elgon Sub-region, focusing on protecting forests and wetlands from encroachment and degradation. He warned that environmental destruction threatens Uganda’s tourism industry, as forests, wetlands, wildlife habitats, and other ecosystems form the foundation of many of the country’s tourism attractions. Museveni called for stronger conservation measures in the Elgon region, noting that changes in weather and temperatures demonstrate the importance of protecting the environment.
Col. (Rtd) Tom Butime, the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, stated that the Government is increasingly embracing digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence to promote domestic and international tourism. He cited digital booking platforms, smart park gates, and AI-supported safari planning as some of the technologies that could improve efficiency and the tourist experience. Butime identified limited investment and access to capital for tourism facilities and services as constraints facing the sector.
Butime called for increased investment, improved infrastructure, and better accessibility to unlock the region’s tourism potential. He highlighted the need for digital marketing, noting that Mbale and the wider Elgon Sub-region have distinctive tourism products, including the Mount Elgon landscape, scenery, cuisine, cultural heritage, and hospitality. The Minister emphasized the importance of addressing visa-related challenges affecting some international visitors.
The Netherlands Ambassador to Uganda, Angèle Samura, highlighted opportunities for increased tourism investment and cooperation between Uganda and European partners. She identified human-capital development, skills training, sustainable hospitality practices, and the use of Artificial Intelligence and other digital technologies as areas for possible cooperation. Samura noted that tourist arrivals from Europe increased from about 38,000 in 2024 to approximately 150,000 in 2025.
Mbale City Mayor Joyce Matuka Kidulu stated that digital tourism is helping position Mbale as a strategic tourism destination and a gateway to East Africa. She emphasized that digital technologies are increasing the visibility of tourism attractions and improving access to information for domestic and international visitors. The World Tourism Day celebrations brought together Government officials, tourism sector players, local leaders, cultural leaders, development partners, and other stakeholders to showcase Uganda’s tourism potential.
Key points
- President Museveni commissions Mbale Zoo to promote wildlife conservation and tourism in the Elgon Sub-region.
- The Government unveils a Tourism Conservation Strategy to protect forests and wetlands in the Elgon Sub-region.
- Stakeholders emphasize the need for digital technologies, investment, and innovation to grow Uganda’s tourism sector.
