A new Tourism Conservation Strategy for the Elgon Sub-region has been unveiled alongside the commissioning of Mbale Zoo, as the Government steps up efforts to protect the region’s natural resources and promote tourism as a source of household income.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni unveiled the strategy and commissioned the zoo on Sunday while presiding over the national celebrations to mark World Tourism Day 2026 at Mbale Secondary School Grounds in Mbale City. The strategy focuses on protecting forests, wetlands, wildlife habitats and other ecosystems from encroachment and degradation, which the Government says threaten the region’s tourism potential.
Museveni warned that environmental destruction could undermine Uganda’s tourism industry because the country’s forests, wetlands, wildlife and other ecosystems form the foundation of many tourism attractions. “The environmental destruction threatens Uganda’s tourism industry because forests, wetlands, wildlife habitats and other ecosystems form the foundation of many of the country’s tourism attractions,” he said.
He also called for stronger conservation measures in the Elgon region, citing changes in weather and temperatures as evidence of the need to protect the environment. “The temperatures in the region have changed significantly compared to conditions experienced in the 1960s,” he said. The President also urged residents of the Elgon Sub-region to embrace tourism and other productive sectors as alternative sources of household income, particularly for families with limited land for commercial agriculture.
He said tourism is one of the lucrative service industries and supports businesses such as accommodation, transport, food, entertainment, tour guiding and cultural enterprises. The President commissioned Mbale Zoo, a facility established by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to promote wildlife conservation education and tourism in the Elgon Sub-region.
Museveni commended UWA for establishing the facility, saying it would increase awareness about wildlife conservation while providing another tourism attraction for residents and visitors. He urged residents to utilise what he described as Uganda’s four broad wealth-creation sectors—commercial agriculture, manufacturing and artisanship, services, and Information and Communication Technology—to improve household incomes.
The celebrations were held under the theme, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.” Col. (Rtd) Tom Butime, the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, said the Government is increasingly embracing digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence to promote domestic and international tourism.
Butime said AI and other smart technologies can transform the way Uganda markets its tourism destinations and provides information to visitors. 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. “Mbale and the wider Elgon Sub-region have distinctive tourism products, including the Mount Elgon landscape, scenery, cuisine, cultural heritage and hospitality that need digital marketing,” he said.
However, Butime identified limited investment and access to capital for tourism facilities and services, as well as visa-related challenges affecting some international visitors, among the constraints facing the sector. He called for increased investment, improved infrastructure and better accessibility to unlock the region’s tourism potential.
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.
“Tourist arrivals from Europe increased from about 38,000 in 2024 to approximately 150,000 in 2025,” she noted. According to Samura, Uganda’s natural environment, wildlife, wellness experiences, food and culinary culture, and diverse cultural attractions provide opportunities for attracting more international visitors.Meanwhile, Mbale City Mayor Joyce Matuka Kidulu said digital tourism is helping position Mbale as a strategic tourism destination and a gateway to East Africa. “Digital technologies are increasing the visibility of tourism attractions and improving access to information for domestic and international visitors,” she said.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 and discuss the role of technology, investment, and innovation in growing the sector-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
