A delegation from the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) has visited Kibiro Cultural Site in Bunyoro to assess progress towards its nomination for UNESCO World Heritage status.
The visit focused on verifying information submitted about the site, assessing the state of preservation of its cultural features and guiding the nomination process.
The delegation was received by Owek. Robert Rukahemura Akiiki, Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom’s Social Services and Culture Officer, who represented the Kingdom Prime Minister, Owek. Andrew Byakutaga Ateenyi.
Delivering the Prime Minister’s message, Rukahemura thanked the government, particularly the Ministry of Tourism, for supporting tourism development in Bunyoro and the Kingdom’s annual Empango cultural celebrations.
He welcomed the consideration of Kibiro for World Heritage status and reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to working with the ministry to preserve and promote its cultural heritage.
Rukahemura highlighted Kibiro’s historical and cultural significance, including its traditional management systems, clan structures, salt gardens, hot springs and other sites associated with the Kingdom.
He also called for improvements to the access road to Kibiro, saying better accessibility was important for the site, and commended the establishment of an information centre to support its documentation and promotion.
Dr Jackline Besigye, a commissioner at the Ministry of Tourism, introduced Alice Bianda, an ICOMOS expert from Cameroon, who joined the delegation to assess the site and provide technical guidance on the nomination.
Besigye said the information centre established at Kibiro would support documentation, record-keeping and information sharing as preparations for the nomination progress.
She reiterated the need to improve the access road and said the ministry was working with the Kingdom on plans to develop tourism activities, including zip-lining and birdwatching.
The ministry is also working with the Kingdom to improve Mparo Royal Tombs and other cultural sites to international standards, with the aim of attracting more visitors to Bunyoro.
Bianda thanked the Kingdom for preserving Kibiro’s cultural heritage and observed that the cultural features presented during the engagement remained intact.
She also explained the procedures and requirements involved in the nomination process leading to a final decision on whether the site qualifies for inscription on the World Heritage List.
Kibiro is among Bunyoro’s culturally significant sites, known for its traditional salt production and hot springs. Its proposed nomination highlights efforts by the government and the Kingdom to secure international recognition for the area’s heritage.
The assessment marks a step in the nomination process, but the visit does not itself confer UNESCO World Heritage status on Kibiro. A final decision will depend on the applicable evaluation and inscription procedures.
The government and Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom say their collaboration is aimed at safeguarding the site while developing its potential as a cultural and tourism destination.