Arua Hosts South Sudanese Refugees in Tourism Showcase

(ARUA CITY) – South Sudanese urban refugees living in Uganda were among the key exhibitors at the 2025 World Tourism Day celebrations held in Arua City on 27 September.

The colourful event themed “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation” brought together communities, government agencies and cultural groups to promote tourism and sustainability in the West Nile region.

The celebrations began with a lively procession through Arua City, drawing participants from schools, institutions, and local communities.

The event held at the heart of the city reflected the growing recognition of tourism as a driver of social and cultural development in Uganda’s northern corridor, which shares deep cultural links with South Sudan.

One of the most notable exhibits came from the Community Development Centre (CDC), a refugee led organisation working in Uganda’s refugee settlements. The CDC showcased its project titled “Storytelling as Safeguarding: Protecting South Sudanese Women’s Cultural Heritage in Refugee Settings in Uganda and Kenya.”

The initiative was implemented with Likikiri Collective, a South Sudanese organisation based in Juba, and is supported by the British Council’s Cultural Protection Fund.

The project seeks to protect and promote the cultural heritage of South Sudanese refugee women through storytelling and traditional songs. So far, over 400 songs have been documented by young refugee women, including 100 traditional songs from the Kakwa, Avokaya, Dinka, and Nuer communities.

These songs cover key life stages such as child naming, initiation, work, marriage and mourning, preserving vital knowledge that might otherwise disappear due to displacement.

Speaking to Access Radio 88.8 FM, CDC Development Programmes Manager Mabe Anthony said the initiative highlights the creativity and resilience of refugees:

“Through storytelling and song documentation, we are preserving the cultural heritage of refugee women. We are also showing that refugees are creators of knowledge, beauty, and tradition. These songs carry our history and our resilience.”

Other refugee exhibitors, including Sina Loketa and several women’s groups, presented handmade crafts, soaps, baskets, beadwork, juices, and clothing. Their products attracted large crowds, not only for their creativity but also for the inspiring stories behind each creation.

The Prime Minister of Uganda, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, officiated at the ceremony and toured the exhibition booths, commending the refugee women and South Sudanese led organisations for their innovation and contribution to local tourism. Visitors purchased several products from the refugee booths, helping to boost income for the exhibitors.

Hosting the national event in Arua was intended to draw attention to the West Nile region’s natural and cultural attractions that link Uganda and South Sudan. These include Mount Wati, the Ajai Wildlife Reserve, and the River Nile, which flows north into South Sudan. The area is also known for its rich heritage sites of the Lugbara, Madi, Alur, and Kakwa peoples, traditional cuisines, and colourful festivals that make it a rising destination for cultural and eco-tourism.

The participation of refugees in such national celebrations reflects Uganda’s inclusive refugee policy, which promotes self-reliance and integration. It also demonstrates how displaced communities contribute to the host nation’s social, economic, and cultural life.

World Tourism Day is marked globally every 27 September to raise awareness about the role of tourism in promoting cultural understanding, economic growth, and sustainable development.

Refugees Bring Cultural Heritage to Arua Celebrations