Uganda Develops AI-Powered Robot Tour Guide in African First
Ugandan technology foundation ZunoBotics has unveiled what is being described as Africa's first artificial intelligence-powered robot tour guide, named Okello. The innovation was presented earlier this week at the launch of Miss Tourism Uganda 2026 and was developed entirely by a team of Ugandan engineers and innovators. Okello – also referred to as the Gold Pearl Guide – is designed to interact with tourists in multiple languages, currently supporting English, French, and five Ugandan local languages, with the ability to automatically detect and switch to a visitor's language in real time.
Beyond conversation, Okello is being programmed with comprehensive information about Uganda's tourism offering, including its wildlife, culture, and attractions – such as the country's more than 1,000 bird species, one of Africa's richest for birdwatching. ZunoBotics founder Jonathan Ssemakula said the project demonstrates how AI can be practically applied to strengthen the tourism sector, and the team is actively seeking partnerships and funding to expand the robot's capabilities. If successful, Okello could eventually be deployed across museums, tourism centres, and major attractions throughout Uganda.
Source: Pulse Uganda
