By Patience Namuddu
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has hailed the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) led by Dr James Musinguzi, for expanding conservation and tourism activities to the eastern region, saying such initiatives are critical to protecting Uganda’s natural heritage while creating economic opportunities for future generations.
Museveni made the remarks on Sunday during the national celebrations to mark World Tourism Day 2026 at Mbale Secondary School, where he used Uganda’s tourism and agriculture potential to explain the importance of moving the country towards higher-value economic activities.
This year’s World Tourism Day celebrations have been held in Mbale under the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.” The celebrations are part of a wider programme aimed at showcasing the tourism potential of the Elgon region and decentralising tourism activities beyond Uganda’s traditional destinations. tourismuganda
The President particularly highlighted the importance of investing in conservation facilities such as the Mbale Zoo, describing such initiatives as part of the broader effort to bring wildlife conservation, tourism education and economic activity closer to Ugandans.
The establishment of a regional wildlife conservation facility in Mbale is in line with government’s long-standing strategy of expanding wildlife education and conservation awareness beyond the country’s traditional tourism centres.
Museveni linked conservation to Uganda’s wider economic transformation agenda, arguing that the country must progressively move people from subsistence agriculture into commercial agriculture, manufacturing, agro-processing and other productive sectors.
He noted that economies that have developed have a relatively smaller proportion of their population depending directly on agriculture, while more people participate in manufacturing and other sectors.
The President also used the occasion to emphasise the potential of modern commercial agriculture, including fish farming, as an avenue through which Ugandans can generate higher incomes from limited land.
He cited an example of intensive fish farming where, after deducting management costs, an operator could make significant returns from a relatively small piece of land.
Museveni said such modern production systems can help Uganda pursue economic transformation while reducing pressure on the environment.
“That is the solution for preserving our environment while also enabling people to engage in agriculture,” he said.
The President’s remarks come at a time when government and tourism agencies are deliberately expanding tourism opportunities across different parts of the country.
Ahead of the Mbale celebrations, UWA opened selected national parks and wildlife reserves to Ugandans for free entry from September 25 to 27 as part of the Open Park Days initiative. The participating destinations include Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo and Kidepo Valley national parks, as well as Ajai, Katonga, Toro-Semliki and Pian Upe wildlife reserves. Monitor
The initiative was intended to encourage Ugandans to experience their country’s wildlife and natural heritage first-hand while strengthening the connection between conservation, tourism and community livelihoods.
Tourism officials have also identified Mbale and the wider Elgon region as having considerable untapped tourism potential, including Mount Elgon, Sipi Falls, cultural attractions and the zoo. Monitor
Museveni’s address consequently placed renewed attention on the role of UWA in ensuring that Uganda does not merely possess wildlife and natural attractions, but develops them responsibly, protects them and turns them into sustainable economic opportunities for present and future generations.