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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The government through the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities is set to carry out a feasibility study on the Ankole Kingdom palace to determine its operations after renovations.
The Ministry of Tourism Permanent Secretary Doreen Katusiime disclosed this during a supervisory tour of the renovation works at the palace.
She disclosed that the feasibility study will be done in tandem with phase three of the physical works of the kingdom palace renovations so as to decide how best to utilize it.
According to Katusiime, the study will determine whether to run the palace through a private-public partnership.
She says that the government is interested in marketing the palace as a tourism product with intentions of preserving and conserving the Ankole culture.
William Katatumba, the Prime Minister of the defunct Ankole Kingdom expressed excitement for the works completed so far, saying that they had lost hope because the palace was on the verge of collapse.
Prof Joshua Mulumba appreciated the renovations that have restored the architectural look of the palace. He says the original plan was borrowed from South Africa in 1954.
Isaac Rujumba from the Construction Management Executive Block Technical services committed to complete the works in August despite an increase in the prices of construction materials due to frustrations resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The government launched the Shillings 2.9 billion renovations of the Ankole kingdom palace in March 2020. President Yoweri Museveni agreed to renovate the palace following a request by the prime minister of the defunct Ankole Kingdom William Katatumba.
The structures under renovation include Kahaya’s Mugaba, Drum House, Milk House and the main building that used to host the King’s office, the throne room and construction of a public toilet. The renovation stands at 74.5 percent and is expected to be completed in August this year.
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