Kingdom officials, religious leaders and tourism stakeholders say increased government funding and stronger protection of historic sites could help Bunyoro attract more visitors while preserving its cultural identity.
Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom leaders, religious figures and tourism stakeholders are calling on the government to increase funding for tourism, arguing that the sector’s allocation of 0.01% of the national budget is inadequate compared with its reported contribution of 4% to Uganda’s gross domestic product (GDP).
The call was made during the launch of The Chronicles of Hoima and Masindi, a book documenting the built and natural heritage of Hoima City and Masindi Municipality, published by the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda.
The launch took place at the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom diocesan convention in Hoima City, where speakers urged communities and local authorities to protect historic buildings and cultural sites that they said could attract tourists and preserve the region’s history.
Barbara Babwetera, the executive director of the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda, said the book seeks to highlight culturally significant buildings and sites that need protection for future generations.
She said some old buildings were being demolished or neglected despite their historical importance to the region.
Babwetera argued that cultural heritage offers a tourism attraction that cannot easily be replicated elsewhere, and called for greater investment in cultural tourism.
She noted that as tourism increasingly focuses on distinctive experiences, Uganda should take advantage of its cultural sites and historical landmarks to attract more visitors.
Moses Atuha, the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom tourism officer, said the government needed to allocate more money to the sector if it expected tourism to generate greater revenue.
He questioned how the country could fully exploit tourism’s potential when the sector receives only 0.01% of the national budget, according to the figures cited by stakeholders.
Atuha also urged leaders in Hoima City, Masindi and other parts of Bunyoro to enact ordinances requiring property owners and communities to preserve important cultural sites.
He said stronger local protection measures would help maintain the region’s heritage and encourage more tourists to visit the sites and learn about their history.
The church also pledged support for initiatives aimed at protecting cultural landmarks.
The Rev. Canon Francis Barongo, the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom diocesan secretary, said the church was willing to work with partners seeking to preserve historic sites and promote tourism.
He cited his father’s old house, which he said he continued to maintain using traditional mud construction because it reminded the family of its origins, despite the availability of modern housing.
Barongo said such buildings carried memories and cultural significance that should not be lost as communities modernised.
Veronica Mbahinzireki, the Hoima District tourism officer, said the district was making efforts to preserve key cultural and tourism sites.
She said Kibiro Hot Springs was expected to be considered for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List, which would raise its international profile if successful.
Mbahinzireki urged tour guides, hoteliers and other tourism-sector players to promote attractions in the region to increase visitor numbers.
David Kagoro Byaruhanga, the Hoima City community development officer, said the government had committed funds to improve some tourism sites in Hoima under budgets linked to preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
He said several sites would be identified for development, although he did not specify the projects or amounts involved.
Musa Kyamiza, who represented the Masindi Chief Administrative Officer, expressed concern that some people were abandoning local values in favour of foreign ones, weakening their cultural identity.
He recounted how his father had refused to demolish the family’s old house in Masindi when his children offered to build him a modern one after they became financially successful.
Instead, his father allowed them to construct another house on the family’s land while retaining the old one.
Kyamiza said he had since come to appreciate the house’s value, explaining that he sometimes returned to it to rest and regain his composure when facing difficulties at work or in his marriage.
The book documents several sites associated with Bunyoro’s history, including Mparo Tombs, where Omukama Kabalega was buried; Baligota Isansa in Masindi, associated with Kabalega’s escape from Sir Samuel Baker; Kabalega Caves; and Butikiro, a building intended to accommodate the kingdom’s prime minister.
The publication also documents old buildings and other landmarks that reflect Bunyoro’s cultural and historical heritage.
Stakeholders said protecting these sites, alongside increased government investment and stronger promotion, could help position the region as a destination for cultural tourism.