The famous Jamaican dancehall artiste Grace Latoya Hamilton aka Spice paid a visit to Uganda in early May 2026. Her tour to Uganda was headlined by a massive concert at Lugogo Cricket Oval but was also a great opportunity to increase international awareness about the cultural heritage of the Buganda Kingdom. While on her visit to Uganda, she explored several tourism destinations, including the Buganda cultural heritage sites like the Palace and Kasubi Royal Tombs; religious sites like Namugongo Martyrs’ Shrine; Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary; and concluded with a maiden music concert at Lugogo Cricket Oval in Kampala.
Spice’s visit to Uganda was not just a musical appearance but acted as an example of how entertainment can be integrated in tourism to promote culture, heritage and conservation. Her visit to Uganda demonstrated the need for entertainment tourism in Uganda and how international celebrities can contribute positively towards the growth and creating awareness of the tourism resources of Uganda.
A visit to Bulange-Mengo headquarters.
Unlike the previous international celebrity visitors Uganda has been hosting, Spice immersed herself in Uganda’s cultural and historical attractions, where she paid a visit to Bulange-Mengo at Buganda headquarters escorted by the Uganda Tourism Board CEO, Juliana Kagwa. Spice was fully dressed in a blue gomesi, Buganda’s traditional wear, and she was officially welcomed by Katikkiro of Buganda Charles Peter Mayiga (prime minister), who named her a Luganda name, “Nangula”. Wearing a blue gomesi not only represented Spice’s signature colour (blue) but also gestured respect for Buganda’s culture.
Spice’s visit to Mengo Palace made a great statement for Buganda Kingdom because it symbolized Uganda’s willingness to showcase its cultural identity to international visitors. Spice’s cultural exchange while at Bulange made her tour more meaningful because she bridged a connection between her and the local dwellers who were not aware of her visit to Uganda. After the visit to Bulange, she was able to explore a number of other important historical and cultural sites in Buganda.
Spice explored the Lubiri Royal Palace in Mengo, which is the heart of the Buganda Kingdom, and the Kasubi Royal Tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which serves as a burial ground for the fallen Kings of the Buganda Kingdom. These tombs are one of the most treasured cultural heritage landmarks in Uganda because they represent heritage for centuries.
Spice’s tour to other tourism destinations in Uganda.
She went further and visited the Namugongo Martyrs Shrine in Namugongo, a religious destination which attracts thousands of pilgrims every year from different countries like Kenya, Congo, South Sudan, and Tanzania for the Martyrs Day celebrations held on 3rd June every year, hence making it the most visited religious landmark in East Africa. The visit to the shrine helped to showcase Uganda’s tourism diversity beyond the wildlife and safari experiences.
Spice also paid a visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola, where she donated USD 10,000 for naming a baby Rhino after her name (Nangula) given by the Katikkiro of Buganda. This contribution shows how international celebrities can contribute towards the conservation efforts of wildlife and sustainable tourism growth in Uganda through financial support. This tour highlights wildlife as Uganda’s major tourism resource comprising both the flora and fauna.
According to the Uganda Tourism Board, CEO Juliana Kagwa said: “Spice became the first international artist to genuinely explore Uganda’s tourism attractions alongside her entertainment commitments”. She added that her visit was not limited to attending concerts but instead took her time to understand Uganda’s culture, history, religion and wildlife.
The impact of Spice’s visit to Uganda.
Uganda, a tourism destination, benefited very much from Spice’s visit. As an iconic star, she has a lot of international following. Below are some of the impacts of Spice’s visit to Uganda.
Global visibility
Spice’s visit to Uganda did not leave the country the same because it increased awareness about the cultural heritage of Uganda as a country since she deeply explored and immersed herself in the Buganda cultural heritage.
Conservation support
The tour also demonstrated the impact of international celebrities on Uganda’s tourism industry, including the financial support for conservation of wildlife, where she donated USD 10,000 for naming the Rhino.
Setting a new benchmark
Spice’s visit to Uganda also established a new benchmark for entertainment tourism in Uganda, where artistes serve as cultural ambassadors who influence global perceptions due to the huge numbers of followers from other countries.
In conclusion, Spice’s tour to Uganda was a valuable lesson for all the tourism stakeholders in Uganda to attract more international public figures and influencers as a way of integrating the entertainment sector with cultural heritage and wildlife conservation, in order to showcase the very best of the Pearl of Africa.