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On January 5, 2023, a team from the Uganda Tourist Board (UTB) led by Lilly Ajarova traveled to the historical Nyero Rock Paintings in Kumi district, Eastern Uganda, with Jackline Nyiracyiza, Ag. Commissioner Museums and Monuments at the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities. Together with communities near the Nyero rocks, the host team comprised Kumi district officials under the direction of Resident District Commissioner Ahmed Washaki. The purpose of the tour was to examine the location and raise awareness of the importance of the rocks. The Iteso of Eastern Uganda and Africa as a whole have benefited from the rocks’ distinctive prehistoric painting, which is preserved in the rocks. The paintings are a priceless treasure since they provide inspiration, decorative art, and inscription on solitary inselbergs in natural surroundings with lovely scenery for people to appreciate.

Lilly Ajarova, CEO of the Uganda Tourist Board, underlined the significance of highlighting the rocks to both local and foreign tourists as an important cultural treasure. She underlined the significance of educating local populations about the country’s rich history of ridge rock art in order to preserve it for future generations of Ugandans and the rest of the world.

Ms. Jackline Nyiracyiza, Ag. Commissioner Museums, observed during the inspection that there are 650 tourist attractions in Uganda, 56 of which are rock engravings, gongs, and paintings. The Nyero rocks are reputed to contain some of Uganda’s oldest and best-documented rock paintings.

Ahmed Washaki, the resident district commissioner for the Kumi District, was pleased with the inspection process.

According to him, the rocks are among the country’s top tourist attractions and should not be missed. It is our duty as Nyero’s local community to safeguard the rocks and maintain them for future generations, he continued. The RDC also recommended strategies for promoting the website, such as the necessity to make investments and earn money.

Joint discussions on promoting cultural heritage sites as lucrative investment opportunities resulted from the visit to the Nyero rock art. Along with other tourism-related organizations, UTB, the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities will endeavor to advance the sector by ensuring that all future decisions honor the significance of the site and draw on its intellectual legacy.