Uganda to host International Museum Day 2026 in Jinja, spotlighting unity and heritage
By our Reporter
KAMPALA, April 29, 2026 — Uganda will mark this year’s International Museum Day (IMD) with a series of nationwide activities culminating in the main celebrations in Jinja City on May 18, the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities (MTWA) has announced.
The announcement was made at the Uganda Media Centre by State Minister for Tourism, Martin Mugarra Bahinduka, during the official launch of IMD 2026.
Speaking to media, Acting Commissioner for Museums and Monuments, Jackline Nyirachiza, said this year’s celebrations will be held under the global theme “Museums: Uniting a Divided World” and the national theme “Museums as Bridges of Unity and Shared Heritage.”
She noted that the themes align with Uganda’s broader agenda of using culture to promote reconciliation, inclusion and sustainable development, while also contributing to global frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063.
Minister Mugarra said the ministry is leveraging international partnerships to strengthen conservation and repatriation of cultural property. Through collaborations with institutions in Europe and Africa, Uganda has in recent years secured the return of several cultural artefacts.
“Through these partnerships, Uganda has become one of the few countries that has returned many artifacts in a short period; from UK—Cambridge Museums of Archaeology and Anthropology, Kenya—Late John Wilson’s Karamojong Collection of the 1960s, and recently repatriated objects from the Netherlands that were owned by Mr. Cor Blok, who collected artefacts from 1965 to 1967 while working at Butabika Hospital as a psychiatrist, that we are also unveiling today to the public,” he said.
Some of these artefacts were unveiled during the launch and will be exhibited to the public during the Jinja celebrations, with further research planned to trace their communities of origin.
The ministry also underscored the role of museums as spaces for dialogue, learning, and cultural exchange, positioning them as tools for peace-building and social cohesion.
Key heritage sites such as Barlonyo Memorial Museum in Lira, the Kabalega–Mwanga site in Dokolo, and Fort Patiko in Gulu are being developed to promote unity and shared history among communities.
Tourism officials say the sector remains a key driver of Uganda’s economy. In 2024, tourism generated approximately $1.3 billion (about Shs5 trillion) which increased to about $1.7 billion in 2025 and supported over 800,000 jobs, reinforcing its role under Uganda’s Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan IV.
“As we celebrate IMD, we are highlighting the role of museums in driving innovation, promoting cultural tourism, and contributing to poverty reduction,” Nyirachiza said.
A series of pre-event activities has been lined up, including a national cultural heritage conference in Kampala on May 5, a heritage marathon on May 10, and schools’ heritage quiz competitions in Jinja on May 14 and 15. Community outreach programmes and exhibitions will follow on May 16 and 17, ahead of the main celebrations.
The climax on May 18 will feature a ceremonial march from the Uganda Railway Museum to Jinja Rugby Grounds, bringing together stakeholders in culture, tourism and heritage.
MTWA invited the public to participate in the activities and view the repatriated artefacts, some of which have been out of the country for over five decades.
