Tourism ministry Permanent Secretary Doreen Katusiime says Africa must turn heritage reporting into practical conservation measures, strengthen regional cooperation and mobilise local expertise to reduce dependence on external support.
Uganda has urged African countries to take a leading role in shaping global heritage conservation priorities, calling for practical action plans that strengthen conservation, regional cooperation and sustainable development.
The call was made by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Doreen S. Katusiime, on Monday during the launch of the Fourth Cycle of Periodic Reporting in Africa for National Focal Points in Kampala.
The workshop, running from October 26 to 31, 2026, has brought together national focal points, heritage experts and partners to strengthen implementation of the World Heritage Convention and identify shared priorities for managing Africa’s cultural and natural heritage.
“Africa should not simply participate in the World Heritage system. Africa should help shape it,” Katusiime said.
She said the Fourth Cycle offered African countries an opportunity to build on lessons from the previous reporting cycle and develop a Regional Action Plan that responds to the continent’s conservation challenges and development priorities.
Katusiime cautioned against producing a plan that remains on paper without implementation, saying the process should result in practical commitments that countries can collectively deliver.
“The Regional Action Plan that will emerge from this cycle must become part of our collective legacy. It should not be an Action Plan prepared at the end of the exercise and placed on a shelf,” she said.
She called for a realistic plan grounded in the circumstances of individual countries and World Heritage properties, backed by a clear commitment to implementation.
PS Katusiime said cultural heritage was increasingly important to Uganda’s development ambitions, particularly through tourism, which the government has identified as one of the sectors expected to contribute to its tenfold economic growth target by 2040.
She said Uganda recognises cultural heritage as a way of diversifying its tourism products and encouraging visitors to spend more time in the country.
Katusiime also urged African countries to strengthen cooperation by sharing expertise, research, institutional capacity and practical conservation solutions rather than relying excessively on external support.
She said Africa already has experienced site managers, heritage professionals, universities, training institutions and regional networks that could help countries address common conservation challenges.
“International cooperation and partnerships remain essential, and we deeply value them. But African leadership also means recognising and mobilising the knowledge, expertise and capacities that already exist on our continent,” she said.
Katusiime cited the Nairobi Outcome on Heritage and Authenticity as an example of African perspectives contributing to international discussions on conservation, including the importance of cultural contexts, living traditions, knowledge systems and communities.
She said these perspectives should influence heritage management practices, national policies and engagement with communities living around World Heritage properties.
Periodic Reporting is a monitoring mechanism under the 1972 World Heritage Convention through which countries assess implementation of the Convention and report on the management and conservation of properties on the World Heritage List.
The process also helps identify shared challenges and inform regional cooperation and action plans.
The Fourth Cycle covers the period 2026–2030, with African countries undertaking their reporting in 2026–2027. UNESCO’s schedule provides for the African Regional Report to be examined in 2028.
According to the workshop brief, African World Heritage properties face growing pressures from climate change, rapid urbanisation, development demands, limited management resources and the need to strengthen community participation in conservation.
The latest cycle follows a reflection period intended to improve the reporting methodology, streamline the questionnaire and strengthen the digital reporting platform.
National Focal Points are expected to coordinate reporting in their respective countries by consulting site managers, heritage institutions, government ministries and other stakeholders.
Katusiime urged participants to use the exercise to identify shared priorities, strengthen professional networks and agree on practical ways African countries can support one another.
She also called on African heritage professionals to contribute to the African World Heritage Fund’s endowment fund to strengthen the institution’s financial sustainability and reduce dependence on foreign donations and grants.
“As a board member of the African World Heritage Fund, I cannot leave this podium without urging African experts here to subscribe to AWHF and grow our continent. To stop overreliance on foreign donations and grants, we must build our empire by contributing to the endowment fund,” she said.
Katusiime also invited participants to take part in a colloquium beginning on October 29, which will reflect on African heritage since 2006 and consider its future direction towards 2035.
She recognised Professor Webber Ndoro for his contribution to the development of heritage institutions and expertise in Africa, including his mentorship of heritage professionals across the continent.
Dr Jackline Nyiracyiza Besigye, Uganda’s National Focal Point and host of the workshop, welcomed delegates and emphasised the importance of national consultations and cooperation in ensuring the success of the reporting process.
She said the workshop provided an opportunity for dialogue, mutual learning and stronger professional networks among African heritage practitioners.
Hosted by the Government of Uganda in cooperation with UNESCO and the African World Heritage Fund, the workshop is expected to familiarise National Focal Points with the revised reporting questionnaire, digital platform, implementation timelines and stakeholders’ responsibilities.
The discussions are also expected to identify priorities for the Regional Action Plan, focusing on stronger national coordination, improved heritage governance and responses to emerging challenges, including climate change and sustainable tourism.
Katusiime urged participants to share their experiences and challenges openly, saying the success of the Fourth Cycle should ultimately be measured by the practical improvements it delivers for heritage conservation and sustainable development across Africa.