Cultural heritage, identity, and politics in the history of tourism in Toro: a case study of selected heritage sites (1954-2020)

Abstract

This study focuses on the impact of tourism on the social, cultural, and political development of Toro: A Case Study of Selected Heritage Sites, 1954 to 2020. The study was guided by three specific objectives: to examine the historical evolution of tourism heritage sites, to investigate the political environment that motivated post-independence travel, and to analyse the reemergence of cultural tourism in Toro since the restoration of the Kingdom in 1993. This study leans on the critical heritage studies which examine how heritage is created, contested, and mobilized in relation to power, identity and social justice. A historical research design employing qualitative methods was used. Data were collected from archival documents related to tours and visits in Toro, such as correspondences from the District Commissioner, county and sub-county officials. Additionally, in-depth interviews were conducted with Kabarole District and Fort Portal city leaders, Toro Kingdom officials, tour operators, tour guides, and members of the local community. The findings indicate that tourism in Toro functioned not only as a cultural activity but also as a mechanism through which racial and political ideologies were reinforced, particularly during the colonial period and the immediate post-independence years. Tourism practices often perpetuated racial stereotypes, with colonial actors staging and presenting local cultures, especially pygmies, as primitive. Many European and American visitors were primarily interested in experiencing wild nature and viewing local populations as part of the landscape, often imagining the African environment as timeless and untouched by human civilisation. These attitudes dehumanised indigenous communities and reduced them to mere spectacles. Politically, tourism served as a strategic tool for Britain as it sought to manage its withdrawal from Uganda while retaining influence. Through royal visits and engagement with respected cultural institutions such as the Toro Kingdom, British authorities aimed to counter rising nationalist sentiments and project an image of ongoing partnership. These tours symbolised continuity and cooperation, even in the face of growing demands for self-governance. Therefore, tourism in Toro was deeply intertwined with colonial power dynamics, racial perceptions, and political agendas, but it also became a foundation for the re-emergence of cultural tourism and the shaping of local identity after the restoration of cultural institutions in 1993

Keywords: Cultural heritage, History of tourism