To strengthen cultural heritage and well-being of the People of Busoga, President Museveni officially unveiled the Shs135b Busoga Kingdom Headquarters plan on Friday, November 21.
The project is one of the government’s most significant investments in the region and is expected to transform the Kingdom’s cultural and administrative landscape.
Ms Yudaya Babirye, Minister in Charge of Kyabazinga Affairs in Busoga Kingdom, said the new complex fulfills a request made to the President by Kyabazinga William Nadiope Gabula IV and Queen Inhebantu Jovia Mutesi during their visit to State House Entebbe on May 3, 2024.
‘Kyabazinga Gabula IV made this request to ensure that the Kingdom’s administration and cultural institutions have modern infrastructure to match their growing needs,’ Ms Babirye explained.
Busoga Kingdom had long relied on aging buildings constructed decades ago, which no longer met the demands of the expanding administrative and cultural functions.
‘The building has been designed not only as a symbol of cultural pride but also as a major income-generating asset for the Kingdom. It reflects the President’s broader commitment to strengthening cultural institutions as custodians of identity, unity, and community well-being,’ Ms Babirye said.
The headquarters will house the official Busoga Kingdom offices, the Busoga Lukiiko, the Inhebantu Foundation Tower, a 1,000-seater conference centre, a commercial block, landscaped gardens, and ceremonial grounds.
The National Housing and Construction Corporation (NHCC), Uganda’s leading government real-estate development agency, is slated to execute the project starting in early 2026.
‘It is a big milestone for the ever-growing Busoga pride, progress, and restored cultural glory being driven by the monarch,’ Ms Babirye added.
During a brief ceremony lasting under an hour, President Museveni and the Kyabazinga held private discussions to agree on project timelines and commitments to other developmental priorities in Busoga.
The event was attended by Busoga royal chiefs, princesses, Katuukiro and his deputies, ministers, clan heads, and the Speaker of the Busoga Lukiiko. Top central government leaders from Busoga included First Deputy Prime Minister Ms Rebecca Kadaga, Third Deputy Prime Minister Ms Lukia Naisanga Nakadama, and Ms Justine Kasule Lumumba, among others.
The unveiling of the new headquarters follows the recent handover of the renovated Shs12 billion Igenge Palace in 2022, the official residence of the Kyabazinga.
Built in 1963, the palace was ransacked by soldiers during Idi Amin’s regime in the 1970s and later used as military quarters before being abandoned for decades.