Ankole palace to be turned into a tourism hub after renovation

The Government, through the tourism ministry, is in the final stages of completing the upgrade of Ankole kingdom palace, known as Mugaba, at Kamukuzi in Mbarara city.

 

The first phase of renovation was completed and this involved the construction of the perimeter wall and a modern gate at a cost of sh1.7b. The renovation of the palace is expected to cost sh10b.

 

The second phase began in November 2019 at a cost of sh2.9b and involved upgrade of the main Mugabe House that was dilapidated.

 

On Tuesday (June 1, 2021), a team from the tourism ministry, led by Doreen Katusiime, the permanent secretary, made a site visit to assess the progress.

 

Katusiime said the move to renovate the palace was a directive from President Yoweri Museveni to turn the palace into a tourism hub for south-western Uganda.

 

Katusiime said the major purpose is to promote cultural tourism to attract people who would wish to learn about Ankole culture.

 

“If you want to see lions, you can go to national parks, but you cannot find ‘Mugaba’ anywhere. Just imagine how many school children would want to come here and learn about the culture of Ankole,” Katusiime said.

 

She added that the major objective is to diversify the tourism products to include culture rather than depending on wildlife only.

 

“Most of our revenue is from wildlife, but we have realised that people can learn about Ankole culture, that is the unique thing we have that can raise more revenue for our country,” Katusiime explained.

 

“We want to find out should whether we should make a museum or a hotel? In the long run, we shall need a public-private partnership for private people to manage this place and collect revenue on behalf of Government,” she added.

 

Katusiime said as a ministry, they would have liked to restore all the cultural sites for diversification of tourism products, but sometimes the budget does not allow.

 

She said they have so far documented over 600 cultural sites that need to be restored and upgraded.

 

“In most cultural sites, you find land was grabbed and is being run by individuals. It becomes hard for the Government to come in,” Katusiime explained.

 

Rose Mwanja, the commissioner museums, assured residents that royal regalia, such as Bagyendanwa (royal drum), have been well preserved.

 

George William Katatumba, the prime minister of Ankole, commended the work that is being done to restore the palace.

 

Katatumba said the kingdom’s land had been targeted by land grabbers since the palace looked abandoned.

 

“People had started to encroach on the land,” he said.

 

Katatumba hopes that after completion, the palace will be able to generate revenue.

 

He also asked the Government to consider the restoration of Ankole Kingdom as was done for other kingdoms.

 

In 1967, the then late President of Uganda, Milton Obote, abolished all kingdoms in Uganda until the National Resistance Movement government, led by Museveni, came to power and restored them.