Uganda’s tourism sector is among the four pillars of the ten-fold growth strategy aimed at growing the country’s economy to a whopping US$500 billion by the year 2040.
Launched in 2023, the strategy hinges this ambitious target on what has come to be known as ATMS – Agro-industrialization, Tourism, Mineral Development and Technology innovation. Tourism is expected to contribute 10 percent of this whole, at US$50 Billion.
The 2024 Tourism Performance Statistics Report released by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities (MTWA) in April 2025 indicates that International tourism receipts grew to UGX 4.8 trillion (approximately USD 1.28 billion), up from USD 1.025 billion in 2023, contributing 16% of Uganda’s total exports.
In her speech for the International Museum Day celebrations held in Kabale today, read by the Under Secretary Mr. Geoffrey Seremba, MTWA Permanent Secretary Ms. Doreen Katusiime stated that the Ministry has significantly improved the Museums and Monuments subsector, an initiative that began with the second National Development Plan (NDP II), as the gap was identified in the Uganda Tourism Master Plan (2014 – 2024).
The plan, she said, recommended diversification of tourism products and increasing the product range to
attract more tourists and increase the tourist’s average stay from 7 to 14 days.
“It is during NDPII that the Ministry started focusing on widening the product range by developing museums and heritage sites and conserving them. We have achieved quite a lot in this regard and we think that with more funding, indeed, we shall achieve our target of $50bn in the next 15years,” Kansiime said.
According to the Acting Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) CEO Mr. Bradford Ochieng, the development and operationalization of museums across the country is among the critical initiatives through which the sector can expand the range of its offerings to generate more revenue.
“As Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), we take museums as a crucial tourism product. As we work towards growing the economy to US$500 Billion by 2040, museums are another product that we are incorporating in our traditional tourism offerings. Our new national marketing strategy is pivoted on drawing in high value visitors into the country and ensuring their longer stay. The museums offer tourists such experiential engagements,” Ochieng said while addressing the press at the Museum Day celebrations today.
Diversifying tourism offerings, Ochieng noted, will enable the various destinations to attract a broader range of tourists, increase market share and foster resilience of the sector.
As part of the day’s activities, various museums exhibited captivating art pieces, ornaments and electronics among other retro collections that visibly belong in the antique store, better yet, the museum.
Other events leading up to the celebrations included trivia quizzes and poetry competitions in schools, a heritage sports gala and a cultural night, all aimed at increasing g awareness on the role of museums in “preserving heritage and transforming communities” as was themed.
Public – private museum collaboration
Uganda is a host to scores of museums – government owned, private entities and community-based museums.
The Museums and monuments department under the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities is mandated to license and regulate operations of the private and community-based museums as stipulated in the Museums and Monuments Act 2023.
In the same vein, the department is also mandated to support these museums with training and skilling of gallery attendants and guides.
Speaking to the press during the celebrations, the Commissioner for Museums Ms. Jackline Nyiracyiza Besigye noted that there are strong links for collaboration between the public, private and community-based museums.
Nyiracyiza emphasized that while public museums concentrate on reflecting the heritage of Uganda as a whole, regional museums focus on particular cultures of the given communities while private entities handle private collections as per their interests.
“We are working with them (private and community-based museums) to make sure we curate the artifacts that speak both to national heritage and the regional histories. This way, we don’t compete because our focus is on different aspects that feed into one ideal – culture and heritage preservation,” she said.
She added, “We only come in to assess the authenticity of what they display and teach to make sure it is the true depiction of the cultures and communities they choose to represent.”
Changes in gallery attendant recruitment criteria
To drive efficiency in the museum operations, Nyiracyiza noted that after the Museums and Monuments Bill was enacted, stakeholders restructured the hiring criteria for museum guides and gallery attendants.
Previously, individuals who possessed O’level or A’level certificates were eligible to apply for these posts as a minimum requirement. This has since changed, zeroing down to those who are in the education career space.
According to the Commissioner, the main clientele in Museums are students and pupils so the guides need to be well-versed with pupil/student handling to streamline communications and on site operations.
“These are required to have either a certificate or diploma in teaching. We also do a lot of school and community outreaches so we need a person in the education sector because they speak to our awareness creation ideals,” she said.
The Department of Museums and Monuments is mandated to Protect, Promote and Present the cultural and natural Heritage of Uganda through Collection, Conservation, study and information dissemination for enjoyment and education.
This is done through among other things; researching about natural and cultural heritage, conserving and maintaining important physical cultural resources or heritage collections, providing professional knowledge and information regarding the archaeology and paleontology of Uganda, exhibiting and interpreting specimen for public study as well as publishing research findings.