By Mulengera Reporters
It has become tradition for distinguished sons and daughters of Uganda whose hard work and outstanding contribution to Uganda’s nation building to be recognized with Notional Honours and Awards as part of the country’s Labor Day Celebrations. During the 2025 Labor Day celebrations held in Nakapiripirit district, the Ministry of Tourism’s Permanent Secretary Mrs. Doreen Katusiime was awarded the prestigious Medal of the “Distinguished Order of the Nile – Grand Commander” by President Museveni in recognition of her exceptional contributions to Uganda’s nation-building.
Unique Recognition: While other medal categories had more than one recipients, Mrs. Katusiime was the only recipient of this particular medal at the event, highlighting her exceptional contributions to Uganda’s development. She was accompanied to the podium by her husband Mr. Frank Katusiime, a private sector player offering ICT consultancy services. The President greeted and took photos with them as the crowds cheered.
Rigorous Selection Process: Her nomination went through a thorough vetting by the Presidential Awards Committee. In addition, when a high profile civil servant of her stature gets nominated to receive such a Presidential Award, the Head of Public Service (currently Lucy Nakyobe) who supervises all the PSs is consulted. Without her consent, such an award cannot be given. Either Nakyobe or Hajji Yunnus Kakande, the Secretary to the Presidency may object if they feel the officer who has been nominated is unworthy. In Katusiime’s case, they both gave their nod of approval confirming the high-level recognition the Medal giver (the President) has for the contribution Mrs. Katusiime has made to the socio-economic transformation and development agenda of our country Uganda.
Barely two weeks earlier, Mrs. Katusiime had been ranked next to First Lady Janet Museveni in a list of Uganda’s most admirable and influential female leaders by a national newspaper as part of their National Women’s Day celebrations for “her ethical leadership and commitment to transparency.” It was noted that under her leadership, the Ministry of Tourism has been ranked as the least corrupt in Uganda.
Tourism Sector Achievements: As part of her citation, the announcer at the Medal Ceremony articulated the many reasons why such a prestigious once in a lifetime Medal was awarded to her. The gathering was reminded that during her nine-year tenure as Permanent Secretary she has transformed Uganda’s tourism sector, making it the country’s leading foreign exchange earner, even surpassing coffee exports and remittances in 2018. The announcer proclaimed thus: “She has been instrumental in local and international tourism marketing, positioning Uganda as the best tourist destination in Africa.”
Global contribution: She rendered technical oversight that led to the development and implementation of Uganda’s tourism brand positioning “Explore Uganda,” which was launched by President Museveni in 2021. The resultant brand video titled “Explore Uganda, the Pearl of Africa” has won six international awards since it’s launching.
It was announced at the Nakapiripirit event that under Mrs. Katusiime’s stewardship as the PS Ministry of Tourism, Uganda was ranked 4th best tourism destination on earth by Bradt Guides, which is an international tourism agency, in 2024. And a year earlier, in 2023, CNN ranked Uganda to be among the world’s best destinations to visit. A year earlier in 2022, National Geographical Channel had named Uganda among the top travel destinations.
Conservation Efforts: To amplify conservation efforts, as the sector technical leader, Katusiime was celebrated to have spearheaded the construction of Uganda’s first ever elephant electric fence at Queen Elizabeth National Park in 2019. The infrastructure is aimed at mitigating human-wildlife conflicts which have historically cost the surrounding communities life and property.
She has also exhibited excellent resource mobilization credentials by attracting to the tourism sector financial contributions from both the GoU and development partners including the World Bank. These resources have been used to develop the tourism sector in a multiplicity of ways but primarily through infrastructure development.
Institutional Growth: During her tenure as PS, the Uganda Wildlife Education Center Zoo in Entebbe has been revamped and refurbished to the extent that it currently receives more than 1m visitors annually. Yet that isn’t all. A new four-star hotel has been constructed at the Uganda Hotel Tourism Training Institute in Jinja. A Center of Excellence For Wildlife Research & Training has also been established/built at the Uganda Wildlife Research & Training Institute in Kasese. Mrs. Katusiime is also currently overseeing the refurbishment of the Uganda Museum in Kamwokya to give it a new look as one of Uganda’s most significant historical cultural centers.
Distinguished Career: Katusiime’s Public Service career spans over three decades. She started out as an Administrative Officer at the Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives & Marketing (1991-1995) before moving to the Ministry of Natural Resources as the Principal Administrative Officer (1995-1999).
Between 1999 and 2005, she served at the Education Ministry as the Principal Assistant Secretary before being promoted to become the Under Secretary, a position she served in both at the Ministry of Education and later on at the Ministry of East African Affairs.
In 2014, Ms. Doreen Katusiime was elevated and appointed Permanent Secretary by the President before subsequently getting deployed to the MTWA in 2016 where she continues to render effective service up to this day. Her team work and team building skills have been unanimously recognized by stakeholders from both public and private spheres who fondly christened her “Mama Tourism.”
It was proclaimed to the guests at the Labor day event in Nakapiripirit that Ms. Doreen Katusiime’s exceptional career as an Administrator, Accounting Officer and leader in Tourism development and conservation has tremendously contributed to the shaping and growth of the tourism sector in Uganda over the years.
Presidential Recognition: It was on the account of the above that the President, as mandated under Section 3(1) of the National Honours & Awards Act 2001 (as amended), conferred upon Ms. Doreen Katusiime the honour of the Medal Grand Commander of The Distinguished Order of the Nile in recognition for “her outstanding service, dedication and contribution to the development of Uganda.” (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
