9 Baffalos and more hippos die from Anthrax in Queen Elizabeth Park
An anthrax outbreak in Queen Elizabeth National Park has killed 82 hippos and nine buffaloes since June 2010.
The chairman of the National Anthrax Task Force Dr Nicholas Kauta told journalists on Thursday that the most affected areas are those surrounding Kazinga Channel and lakes Edward and George.
As a national response, he said, the task force is implementing a multi-pronged response which includes undertaking a base line study to determine the extent of the outbreak and affected species through carrying out carcass management, marine and terrestrial patrols and sample analysis.
He warned people around the area not to graze animals in the park, report all sicknesses and deaths in wild and domestic animals to authorities and not to consume meat from sick and dead animals.
He said there will be a ring vaccination of livestock in the national park and all health centres have been put on high alert.
Anthrax is caused by bacteria (bacillus anthracis) in the atmosphere. Animals mainly herbivores get it through contaminated grass, soil and water.
Humans can acquire it through eating contaminated meat and animal products from infected animals.
The park has often experienced attacks in 1954 and in 1994 and 2004. In 2004, about 300 hippos died.
The Uganda Wild Life Authority says there is no cause of alarm that all animals in the park might die because the beasts have natural immunity to the disease.
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Jackie
Marsha Conn to give an helping hand to Batwa pygmies
The Batwa of Uganda, a group of short people normally referred to Pygmies, live in western part of the county and their resource base has either been destroyed or denied to them, through deforestation, through the control exerted over them by neighboring farmers, or more recently through conservation projects restricting or denying their access to the forest.
These people of south west Uganda have been reduced to virtual serfdom and poverty. Both the infrastructure for logging concessions and other agents of deforestation in the western part of the Congo Basin, and the financial backing for conservation projects throughout the Congo Basin, have often been funded or supported by the World Bank (for example through the Global Environment Facility) and other international agencies.
The good news, Marsha Conn plans to help Batwa pygmies make art for profit.
“The Batwa need the income because their old ways of making a living have been denied them. Worse, they have to reshape their culture to fit a new existence.” Said Conn a retired Teacher from Seattle.
In the early 1990s they were moved out of their homes so that gorillas could have the mountain forests they once shared.
A few Batwa people are still staying in Mt. Muhavura in Mgahinga National Park and these pygmies are other Toursist attractions in that park.
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Jackie
Lake Victoria Serena Resort Hotels Opens
The Serena Group has opened another hotel in the country.
The Lake Victoria Serena Resort, which is part of the Aga Khan economic empire, lies on an expansive piece of land measuring 275 acres on the shores of Lake Victoria.
The Uganda President Yoweri Museveni, presided over the official opening.
He, however, left shortly after unveiling the plaque on the hotel for the launch of the country’s five-year development plan.
Museveni delegated the trade and tourism minister, Kahinda Otafiire, to represent him.
The resort has 124 rooms and conference facilities. But work is going on to build 54 houses and 90 apartments. Also under construction are a golf course and a marina.
The launch was attended by Cabinet ministers, diplomats, visiting Kenyan government officials, including tourism minister Najib Balala, and members of the Ugandan business community.
Otafiire said Uganda had also resolved to open up Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo and Murchison Falls National Parks for investment.
He said the country has had a shortage of hotels and tourism facilities due to lack of peace.
He also commended the Aga Khan for the investment, saying Ugandan should take advantage of the large East African market to make money.
Otafiire called on members of the East African Community to promote tourism in each other’s countries.
Balala said he and several of his colleagues in the Kenyan cabinet visit tourism sites in the other member countries.
Serena Hotels managing director Mahmud Janmohamed commended the Government for enabling the group to carry out investments in Uganda.
The Aga Khan has investments in banking, insurance, pharmaceutical companies, education institutions, media, housing, and a significant stake in power generation both at the Bujagali and Nyagak power dams.
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Jackie
Friend a gorilla film wins award
One of Ugandan documentary on mountain gorillas used in the “Friend A Gorilla” Campaign last year, has won second place in the prestigious Tour Film International Tourism Film Festival in Brazil.
The Uganda’s film “Friends of the Gorilla”, is a short film starring Jason Biggs and Simon Curtis, that depicted a wildlife adventure in Uganda tracking mountain gorillas.
The film was directed and produced by Rachel McDonald, and shot during the launch of the www.friendagorilla.org campaign in 2009.
Out of the 780 mountain gorillas in the whole world, half of them are found in Uganda about 380 and the rest are found in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo
Tour Film Brazil is the Brazil International Tourism Film Festival, devoted exclusively to tourism films.
The Tour Film Brazil initiative is supported by the Brazilian Government and is part of the international circuit of the International Committee of Tourism Film Festivals (CIFFT), based in Vienna, Austria. The festival took place in Florianopolis in Brazil.
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Jackie
Karuma electric plant to preserve Tourists activities
Uganda to get another hydro-electric plant, at Karuma Falls of the Nile River in the western part of the country.
According to sources in the ministry of energy, set for construction start by July of this year, the electric plant will be constructed just before the river enters Murchison Falls National Park near Karuma wild reserve.
The good news is that a tunnel version is being used in this hydro-electric plant, the environmental and social impact is considered much lower compared to a power plant using a dam, as recently described for the Bujagali venture. There fore much of the spectacular rapids will be visible for tourists.
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Jackie
Chartis Uganda extends Travelers Policies due to bad Weather
Chartis Uganda is extending travelers’ policies to cover extra travel time associated with flight delays due to the recent volcanic ash clouds over Europe.
Usually, policyholders have to pay for an extension should their Safari be delayed.
But considering the circumstances, we are stepping in to ensure our clients are covered for the period mentioned above.
“We believe that this shall go a long way in easing the various inconveniences,” said Alex Wanjohi, the managing director.
In a statement to all holders of travel insurance, Wajohi explained that all policyholders, whose policies were purchased before April 13, when airspace was shutdown in Europe, and who have been or will be affected by the disruption of flights, will be entitled to some remedy.
“Those that are already on their journey or those that have changed their tour dates because of the interruptions shall be entitled to an automatic extension on their policy.
“Those that have cancelled the trip altogether and have no claim to make, shall have their policy cancelled and a full refund of premium,” he said.
Wanjohi advised all the affected policyholders to contact the airline to check that the flight has been cancelled and confirm alternative arrangements or contact their travel agent or airline and/or accommodation providers to see what costs they will meet or amendment concessions or refunds they are prepared to provide before approaching Chartis for redress.
In a separate interview, Wanjohi underscored the role of travel insurance and urged all travelers to consider taking cover whenever they are traveling.
Travel insurance among other risks covers, emergency medical services, dental, optical and follow-up, death or permanent disability, cancellation and curtailment costs, baggage or cash loss, hijack costs and personal liability.
He advised intending travelers to evaluate their trips.
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Jackie