Mugaba Cultural Heritage: Museveni summons Ankole Cultural leaders, Political Leaders to discuss Ankole Cultural issues

By Evans Najuna 

Mbarara– President Museveni has summoned Ankole Cultural leaders, LC5 Chairperson and MPs to discuss Ankole cultural issues. This was contained in his letter dated 5th September 2022 to Makerere University Prof. Dr. Mwambutsya Ndebesa and the founder of Banyankole Cultural Foundation to also be among the stakeholders in the discussion.

The letter copied to; Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Principal Private Secretary to the President Representatives of Banyankore Cultural Foundation Representatives of the late of Mzee Kahigiriza, the President directed his Principal Private Secretary and the Minister of Tourism to arrange a meeting with him at Rwakitura.

According to the leaked letter seen by this publication, the President  received a letter on 12th August, 2022, regarding the care of Mugaba Palace which has now been rehabilitated by the government.

He thanked the developments for interest and for drawing to his he attention  the issue. “By copy of this letter, I direct my Principal Private Secretary and the Minister of Tourism to arrange a meeting for me at Rwakitura, some time in November, 2022 to discuss this,” the President wrote.

It further clarified the attendance to be accompanied in the meeting including; all Members of Parliament from Ankole, and all the LC Chairpersons from Ankole.

Also to attend as observers should be the Members of Parliament from Kigezi, Lyantonde and Ssembabule as well as LC-5 Chairpersons from those areas. Why? It is because historically and culturally those areas or some of them were and are inhabited by the Banyankore Bahororo.

In the letter, the President directed that Dr. Ndebesa and his Foundation attend as observers. “Also to attend as observers should be your Foundation and that of the late Mzee Kahigiriza,” the letter reads in part.

In 2020, the government of Uganda through the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities launched the re-innovation of the defunct Ankole Kingdom palace at a tune of Ugx2.9b.

This was after the request by the Prime Minister of the Kingdom William Katatumba. The move is aimed at increasing tourism sites in the newly created Mbarara City in addition to Biharwe eclipse monument nestled on Biharwe hill, Igongo Cultural Center among others.

The structures that were renovated include; Kahaya Mugaba palace, Drum House, Milk house and the main building that used to host the King’s office, the throne room and construction of a public toilets.