By Ouni Jaspher
February 7th, 2025 Dokolo – The Minister of State for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Hon. Bahinduka Mugarra Martin has on Friday officially launched the site handover for the construction of the Dokolo Heritage Center, in memory of the two great leaders, Kabaka Mwanga and Omukama Kabalega, who were captured by British in Kangai Dokolo in 1899.
He urges the people to take ownership of the project and ensure its success as it will directly benefit them.
During the launch, the Minister also took a moment to remember and acknowledge the late Hon. Cecilia Atim Ogwal’s contributions towards the development of this project.
He said Hon. Ogwal was a passionate advocate for our country’s beauty and culture, and this project was very dear to her heart.
“It is also worth noting that the Dokolo heritage center project was a passion project for the late MP Cecilia Atim Ogwal, who was a fierce advocate for promoting our country’s beauty and culture” he said
Mugarra acknowledged her efforts in pushing for the development of Dokolo heritage center and her legacy will live on through this project.
Hon. Bahinduka also expressed gratitude to the people of Dokolo and Lango for their support in preserving their history.
He also mentioned that the Ministry, under the Museum department, has a law that gazettes 309 sites, but less than 10% of them have been developed.
Mugarra went on to assure the locals that the construction of Dokolo Heritage Center will have a positive impact on the community.
One of the exciting developments is that the Dokolo-Amolatar Road will be declared a tourism road following Minister Tom Butime’s request to the ministry of work.
The launch of the construction of the Dokolo heritage center was a momentous occasion with project duration of only one year at a Coast of 15 billion in two phases.
Bazil Ajer, the Director at the ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities who represented the Permanent Secretary in the launch emphasized the importance of empowering local workers and ensuring they make the best use of this opportunity.
This was in response to Dokolo South MP Felix Okot’s advocacy for giving local workers a chance to work on the project.
Responding on the issue of road Ajer noted that in a letter dated June 2024, Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Hon. Tom Butime had requested the Ministry of Works to declare the Dokolo-Amolatar road as a tourism road which will be worked on.
”This shows the government’s efforts to improve infrastructure in order to attract more tourists to the region” he said.
However, Dokolo district is facing a challenge as it currently does not have a designated tourism officer, Ajer said in the F/Y 2024/5, the Ministry of Tourism has set aside 1.6 billion to support all districts in Uganda, but for each district to benefit from, they should first have a tourism officer tasking Office of the CAO to make sure officer is recruited.
According to Ajer, this highlights the ministry’s focus on having qualified personnel to oversee tourism development in the country.
Felix Okot Ogong, MP for Dokolo South, expressed his gratitude towards the Lango and Dokolo communities for their unwavering passion and dedication in keeping the memory of these two leaders alive.
Okot noted that in doing so, they have shown that Lango is not a tribalistic society but one that values its rich heritage.
He also took the opportunity to thank the NRM government for providing the necessary resources for the construction of the Dokolo Heritage Center.
Not only that, but Okot also commended the government for awarding the contract to a local constructor rather than the UPDF.
He believes that the role of the UPDF is to protect our borders and not to take on construction projects.
The Dokolo District Chairperson, James Otoo Apili, expressed his gratitude for the government’s support in this project.
However, he also requested that the government consider compensating those who had invested in the land where the Heritage Center is being built.
Peter Omiat, the general Pour man at Rhoi Service a company awarded to construct Dokolo heritage center in the period of one year, shared that among the key buildings in the heritage center are accommodation facilities and a resident during the first phase of the 8 billion shilling.
He also mentioned that the company has engaged with local leaders to ensure the employment of local workers, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in such projects.
Jackline Nyiracyiza Besigye, the Commissioner at the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, shared that in the last two years, the ministry has returned 39 artifacts from Europe.
She also mentioned that in the early 1900s, missionaries were taking artifacts out of Africa, weakening the power of African kings.
Besigye noted that this highlights the importance of preserving our cultural artifacts and showcasing them in a museum, as they hold a significant part of our history.
The launch of the Dokolo Heritage Center is a major milestone for the community, and it is heartening to see the government’s commitment to preserving our culture and history.
According to local leaders of Kangai town council, this project will not only honor the memory of our great leaders but also bring economic opportunities for the local community.
