Museums Play Critical Role in Driving Research & Innovation, Says Alupo

Museums and Monuments play critical roles in driving research and innovation, using history to inform and inspire the next generation, Vice President Jessica Alupo has said.

Alupo noted that museums are dynamic educational hubs for fostering curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking, a function that blends seamlessly with the new Uganda secondary school curriculum.

The curriculum emphasizes the role of museums as learning laboratories, that stimulate critical thinking and mindset change on values and culture in the broader process of societal transformation.

Alupo further noted that one of the core principles of the Museums and Monuments Act 2023 is to promote and guide public-private partnerships in the conservation of cultural and natural heritage resources of Uganda.

She made the remarks during the commemoration of the International Museums Day 2024, in Soroti city.

Alupo stressed that the government of Uganda is committed to partnering with the private sector to take advantage of the untapped tourism potential, based on iconic heritage sites within villages/parishes.

“I encourage the local communities to develop handcrafts unique to their clans or totems that can be sold at these heritage tourist sites…if people in the region produce handcraft products that are indigenous to their location for example integrating the Karamajong and Teso cultures,” she said.

On his part, the Minister for Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities, Tom Butiime said the ministry has embarked on the development of museums and heritage sites to create more tourism products and ensure that tourists stay longer.

He noted that the goal is to conserve cultural heritage resources for sustainable cultural tourism development in Uganda for present and future generations.

Permanent Secretary Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Doreen Katusiime said the ministry plans to have Regional Museums across the country.

“I would like to assure you that there will be a museum in each individual region by the end of NDP IV for the National Museum, the Uganda Museum, will also be renovated expanded and upgraded to international standards,” she said.

In her remarks, the Ag Commissioner of Museums and Monuments, Nyirackiza Jackline, said the government had secured some funds for the development of museums and cultural heritage sites in Uganda, which is in phase two.

However, she called for more funding, saying due to limited resources, construction of regional museums takes time like two years or above.