By Infora Media
MBALE — Members of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC) team in Bugisu publicly signalled support for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni continuing in leadership beyond 2031 during Uganda’s World Tourism Day celebrations in Mbale on Sunday.
The show of support came as President Museveni addressed the national celebrations at Mbale Secondary School Grounds under the theme, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.” The Ministry of Tourism confirmed Mbale as the host city for this year’s national event, which formed part of a month-long programme promoting tourism and the Elgon region.
Members of the ONC Bugisu team displayed banners expressing support for Museveni beyond 2031 as the President addressed the gathering.
Speaking about the gesture, Mr Chris Buyela, who represented the ONC Bugisu team and ONC Manager Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo, said the position was based on what the group described as the President’s contribution to development and programmes targeting young people.
Buyela said the group viewed continuity in leadership as important to the implementation of programmes they associate with Museveni’s administration.
The political display added a campaign-related dimension to an event primarily focused on tourism, conservation, digital innovation and economic development.
Sections of the crowd also chanted the name of Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo, with members of the ONC Bugisu team attributing the response to her mobilisation activities and engagement with young people through ONC programmes.
The team said its position followed engagements with youths in the Bugisu sub-region, whom it said had expressed support for Museveni’s continued leadership.
The claims about the views of youths in the region were presented by the ONC team and were not independently quantified during the event.
Museveni focuses on tourism and economic transformation
Away from the political display, President Museveni used his address to emphasise tourism’s contribution to Uganda’s economic transformation and the importance of protecting the country’s natural resources.
He commended conservation efforts in eastern Uganda and highlighted the potential of tourism products in the Elgon region.
Mbale was selected to host this year’s World Tourism Day as government seeks to promote tourism products outside the country’s traditional destinations. Daily Monitor reported ahead of the celebrations that tourism stakeholders were seeking to increase earnings from attractions in Bugisu, including Mount Elgon, Sipi Falls and cultural sites.
Museveni also spoke about the relationship between conservation and economic activity, arguing that Uganda should increase productivity in sectors such as commercial agriculture, manufacturing and agro-processing.
He cited modern agricultural practices, including intensive fish farming, as examples of activities that can generate higher returns from limited land while reducing pressure on the environment.
The President’s tourism message comes as Uganda places greater emphasis on digital technology and artificial intelligence in promoting destinations, improving visitor experiences and strengthening the competitiveness of the tourism sector. The Ministry has identified digital transformation as a central component of this year’s World Tourism Day programme.
Tourism takes centre stage in Bugisu
The World Tourism Day celebrations have placed renewed attention on the economic opportunities available through tourism in eastern Uganda.
The programme included exhibitions, cultural activities, sports and tourism-related engagements designed to showcase the region’s attractions.
The Ministry said the celebrations were intended to promote tourism as a contributor to economic development while encouraging greater investment and digital adoption across the sector.
The ONC Bugisu team’s public endorsement therefore occurred alongside broader discussions about development, tourism and economic transformation.
While the group has stated its preference for Museveni’s continued leadership beyond 2031, the endorsement represents the position expressed by the ONC Bugisu team and does not by itself establish the views of all residents or voters in the Bugisu sub-region.
The event concluded with attention divided between Uganda’s tourism ambitions and the political message from the ONC team, adding a political element to a national celebration centred on the future of the tourism sector.