The renovated palace now boasts four significant houses and a newly designed compound
The Ugandan government plans to invest UGX 7.5 billion (USD 2 million) to transform the Ankole Mugaba Palace in Mbarara City into a key tourist attraction.
In a press statement, the Ministry of Tourism of Uganda says that the palace, now managed by the Ministry of Tourism, is scheduled to officially open to tourists in December this year after undergoing refurbishment since 2018.
Currently, the palace welcomes individuals and educational institutions to visit free of charge, offering them an opportunity to learn about Ankole heritage, even though the historical artifacts have not yet been reinstalled.
While the government is still finalising the details regarding entrance fees, the palace remains open for free visits
The renovated palace now boasts four significant houses, a newly designed compound, and secure fencing, which have already begun to draw visitors, including university students looking for a scenic spot to take selfies.
Alex Mwesigye, a caretaker at the Mugaba Palace, explains that the palace is open to everyone, as long as visitors respect the property and leave it in the condition they found it.
“We allow people to come for prayers under the tree of faith and blessings, and we don’t charge them, provided they cause no harm,’’ says Mwesigye.
Jacklyn Nyirackyiza Besigye
Acting commissioner for Museums and Monuments in the Ministry of Tourism Jacklyn Nyirackyiza Besigye notes that the government started the refurbishment in the 2018/2019 financial year with an initial budget of UGX 1.7 billion.
“We spent a significant amount of time opening the palace officially due to limited funding, but we now plan to open in December,” Nyirackyiza says.
She adds that the government plans to enhance the palace’s appeal by reintroducing artifacts from Ankole that were originally collected between 1910 and 1920 by colonialists.
“We will bring back some of these historical items to enrich the visitor experience,” she says.
Nyirackyiza also highlights the government’s plan to introduce faith-based tourism, with discussions underway to determine whether such visitors should be charged an entrance fee.
“The government has invested a lot of money in this project, and we need to consider ways to recover some of these funds,” she states.
While the government is still finalising the details regarding entrance fees, the palace remains open for free visits, allowing people to explore and connect with Ankole heritage until its official reopening in December.
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