Mbale, Uganda: The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) has pledged full support towards the promotion of the Bamasaaba’s cultural heritage, including the iconic Imbalu circumcision festival, as a premier tourism attraction in Eastern Uganda.
The commitment was made during a courtesy meeting between top UTB leadership and the cultural leadership of the Bamasaaba, held Friday, August 1, at the Inzu Ya Masaaba headquarters in Mbale City.
The meeting was attended by UTB Chairperson Ms Pearl Kakooza, Chief Executive Officer Juliana Kagwa, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Tourism Mr Masaba Sanyi Stephen, and board members including Mr Vincent Operemo, Ms Ida Wadda, Mr Samora Semakula, Mr Bradford Ochieng, and Mr Kiyimba Rashid.
Representing Umukuka III Jude Mike Mudoma, the cultural spokesperson, Mr Steven Masiga reiterated the Kingdom’s resolve to elevate Bugisu into a first-class tourism destination.
He noted that the Bamasaaba cultural institution has officially written to UNESCO to have Imbalu registered as an intangible cultural heritage — a move that would place it among Uganda’s globally recognized cultural assets, alongside the Buganda royal tombs (Amasiro).
“The cultural institution has taken strides not only in advocating for recognition of Imbalu but also in safeguarding heritage sites like Mutoto. We’ve fenced the cultural site, embarked on bamboo planting along riverbanks, and are working to protect endangered animal species,” Masiga said.
He further invited UTB to become a permanent partner in the development and marketing of Masaabaland’s rich tourism assets.
Ms Juliana Kagwa, the UTB CEO, welcomed the idea and further proposed that Malewa — a traditional delicacy of the Bamasaaba — should also be nominated for UNESCO protection due to its cultural significance.
In her remarks, UTB Chairperson Ms Kakooza commended the cultural institution for taking initiative in promoting cultural tourism and pledged full support from the Board in turning Bugisu into a model tourism hub.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
