Ugandan innovators have unveiled what they describe as Africa’s first artificial intelligence-powered robot tour guide, signalling a shift in how technology is shaping the country’s tourism experience.
The innovation, developed by the ZunoBotics Foundation, was presented on Monday, March 16, during the launch of Miss Tourism Uganda 2026, placing it within a national platform that promotes Uganda’s cultural heritage and tourism potential. The choice of event reflects a deliberate attempt to link technological innovation with the country’s broader tourism branding efforts.
The Uganda AI robot, named Okello, has been designed as an interactive digital guide capable of communicating with visitors in multiple languages while delivering detailed, real-time information about Uganda’s attractions. From wildlife reserves and national parks to cultural landmarks and historical sites, the system is expected to provide structured, accessible insights to enhance tourists’ engagement with destinations.
Developers say the robot is built to go beyond static information delivery. It is designed to respond to visitor queries, guide movement within tourism spaces, and personalise interactions based on user input. This positions it as both an informational tool and a service innovation within the tourism value chain.
According to Jonathan Ssemakula, founder of the ZunoBotics Foundation, the Uganda AI robot project is rooted in a practical question about the role of emerging technologies in sectors central to Uganda’s economy.
“Artificial intelligence has been around for some time and is now being used in many sectors, including agriculture. The question for us has been how we can use it in tourism,” he said.
Ssemakula, a robotics engineer with a master’s degree in the field, emphasised that the robot was fully designed and built locally, underscoring the growing capacity of Ugandan engineers to develop advanced technological solutions. The work was carried out by a team operating under ZunoBotics Foundation, an open-source robotics and automation hub that supports students, developers, and innovators working on locally relevant applications.
The Uganda AI robot, also referred to as the Gold Pearl Guide, reflects a broader effort to integrate digital tools into tourism service delivery. As visitor expectations evolve, particularly among younger and tech-oriented travellers, destinations are increasingly under pressure to offer more interactive and personalised experiences.
For Uganda, where tourism remains a key contributor to foreign exchange earnings and employment, such innovations could help strengthen competitiveness. By embedding artificial intelligence into visitor engagement, stakeholders are exploring ways to improve information access, reduce dependency on manual guides in certain contexts, and standardise the quality of tourism interpretation across sites.
The unveiling of Okello also points to a wider trend across Africa, where local innovation ecosystems are beginning to move beyond basic digital solutions into more advanced technologies such as robotics and artificial intelligence. It highlights the role of institutions like ZunoBotics Foundation in nurturing technical skills and creating platforms where young engineers can experiment with solutions tailored to African realities.
While still in its early stages, the development of the Uganda AI robot tour guide suggests a gradual shift toward technology-driven tourism models. If successfully deployed and scaled, such systems could complement existing tourism services while opening new possibilities for how destinations are experienced, interpreted, and promoted in an increasingly digital global market.