Uganda Tourist Board offices shift to Kololo
The Uganda Tourist Board (UTB) Offices, aka Tourism Uganda, have finally shifted to their new location in the upscale Kololo suburb on Acacia Avenue, near Protea Kampala Hotel and the Metropole Hotel, after years of hiding in a much criticized basement location.
For many years the supposed showcase for Uganda’s tourism industry was located on the lowest floor of the Impala House on Kimathi Avenue in the city center. The offices were often overlooked, and even when they were found, they gave a rather not too inviting impression to their visitors.
UTB also operates two "window shops" at the Entebbe International Airport’s arrival lounge and the Garden City shopping mall, making contact for arriving tourist visitors easy and simple.
The new premises are now fully operational and open for business – aimed to bring more tourists and commercial visitors to the "Pearl of Africa."
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Uganda Safari Manager challenges reports over gorilla rights
The Director of Uganda Safari, Ms Pamela Kertland Wright, has defended her company’s exclusive monopoly over the gorilla sites in western Uganda, saying it was part of the condition for their $2 million (about Shs4 billion) investment.
Ms Kertland told the probe committee instituted by the Minister of Trade, Tourism and Industry, Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, last week that Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Nkuringo community in Kisoro District, among others, entered a deal that allowed Uganda Safari - a company she runs with her husband - to have rights over the six sites that other tour operators say is the heartland of most gorillas in western Uganda.
“We are not monopolizing anything. We have an agreement signed between UWA and the community and that is what has enticed us to invest otherwise it would have been foolish to invest without guarantee,” Ms Kertland said.
She told the committee that the accusation of monopoly should not arise because there are now more 16 operational gorilla sites, adding that their massive investment is no ordinary feat, considering that they are in areas that lack even basic necessities like power and water.
Ms Kertland, in a separate interview said she will seek legal redress if the six permits are taken away from them and subjected to competition, arguing that they got the permits in a legal and transparent process. Uganda Safari will have priority over the six sites for 15 years. Ms Kertland said in the last two years, the affected communities have been given $60,000 as part of her company’s contribution to them.
He added health centers are being erected and more money is being channeled back to the community more than ever before. After months of investigations, following complaints by some local tour operators, acting Inspector General of Government Raphael Baku on April 28, wrote to State Minister for Tourism Serapio Rukundo ordering the cancellation of the lucrative gorilla-tracking deal on the fringes of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Mr Baku, in the report addressed to Mr Rukundo, said Mr James Bakeine, a tour operator, complained to his office of “discrimination, irregularities and illegalities” in the management and issuance of gorilla-tracking permits by UWA to just a few companies, resulting in monopoly. In addition to the monopoly that the IGG documented in his report, he also directed that the Nkuringo Foundation be wound up because it does not serve the interests of the Nkuringo community. Mr Baku, in an April 28 report, said UWA, by granting The Uganda Safari Company (TUSC) exclusive rights to issue permits to tourists, deprives Kisoro District residents’ opportunities and revenue. Three top UWA managers, led by acting Executive Director Eunice Duli, in an interview with this newspaper on Tuesday, said the Ombudsman’s report lacks merit and is “inaccurate and misleading.”
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East Africa Community (EAC) parks to be graded
National parks in the East African Community Countries are to be graded, an official from the Association of Uganda Tour Operators has revealed.
Mr Bonifance Byamukama the chairman Tour Operators Association said the exercise will be carried out depending on the products available in the parks and under this arrangement parks will be given different stars depending on product availability.
The 10 national parks in Uganda are already graded with Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Rwenzori and Bwindi Impenetrable national parks belonging to grade A because of the variety of products they offer.
However this time the grading will be done at a regional level. Kenya has about 10 national parks, Burundi has about three, and Tanzania has over 15 parks.
This comes after the five countries in East Africa agreed to issue a single tourist visa for travel throughout the region and are discussing a protocol to create and market the region as a single tourist destination.
The visa will allow tourists to move freely among the member countries of the East African Community.
The discussions include setting a common code of conduct for tour operators, establishing professional standards for travel agents, creating standardized hotel classifications and adopting common policies on wildlife management.
A collective policy for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wildlife and other tourist sites in the region is also in the pipeline.
The introduction of the visa has, however, delayed. "In November we shall be going to the World Travel Market in the UK but each country has its own stall and will be marketing separately. There is need for one body to market the region because the countries have different products," said Byamukama.
“Uganda still faces a challenge in marketing her tourist attractions. Some of the roads like that leading to Bwindi Impenetrable and Queen Elizabeth national parks are impassible among others," noted Byamukama.
He said the tour operators are still facing a problem in accessing the new markets. "We cannot depend only on the traditional markets of the US and the UK. There are new markets emerging such as China and Asia which we need to tap in with the help of the government.
Byamukama added that tour operators face many challenges in marketing which they cannot address. "The tradition worldwide is that the government takes the initiative to penetrate markets by buying stalls and the service providers get onboard to showcase what they can offer," he argued.
Byamukama said matters have not been helped with the under funding of Uganda Tourism Board which would be doing the marketing.
He also said they are facing challenges in accessing financing since most banks do not look at tourism as a viable business.
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Jackie
Can Eco-Tourism Save endangered Mountain Gorillas
In the world, there are just 700 of the mountain gorillas left on the planet, all of them living in the volcanic mountains spanning Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Decades of conflict in the region, along with poaching and human encroachment on their habitat have threatened their survival.
But money from 'gorilla tourism' has helped Rwanda reverse the trend of the shrinking population, with a small increase in mountain gorillas over the past five years.
The money is funding work to protect their forest habitat and anti-poaching patrols.
"We need the visitors because it is their money that helps to save the gorillas," said gorilla guide Kwizera Diogene.
One of the many women employed to make souvenirs for gorilla tourists
Rwanda is successfully conducting a delicate balancing act - restricting the number of visitors to ensure the gorillas are not disturbed but letting enough in to fund their protection.
Each group of gorillas is visited for just one hour a day by a maximum of eight tourists. Trips cost £300.
The gorillas are very curious and don't seem to mind visitors
“Deep in the forest we found a group of 20 silverbacks, with one huge male lounging on his side with a young gorilla clambering over him. He glanced at us, grunted, and then went back to munching a piece of tree bark.” Said Emma Hurd.
Coming face to face with the gorillas is a remarkable experience.
In their eyes you sense some kind of recognition, and some of the young males were so curious they wandered over to get a close look at us, brushing past our legs, Sky's Emma Hurd added.
"It was amazing to get so close," said American tourist Carol Hart. "It cost a lot of money but it was worth it."
Gorilla tourism is worth £3m a year to Rwanda and has created thousands of jobs.
Even former poachers like Anastase Gasaga now recognise the animals are worth more alive than dead.
"I make money helping the foreigners see the gorillas, so I don't need to poach anymore,"
He said.
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Jackie
Uganda Removes Limits to Tourism
Uganda Government has decided to remove exclusive zones in her national parks to boost park tourism following the construction of new accommodation facilities.
Twenty years ago, the Uganda Government gave exclusive rights to a few hoteliers to build accommodation facilities in the country's three major national parks.
While the rights were aimed at boosting a dormant sector then, the move constrained the growth of the sector as visits to the parks have been constrained by limited accommodation there.
But the lifting of the exclusive rights is boosting the sector as investors take on ventures in the wildlife conservation areas.
The government had given the early proprietors a 25-kilometre exclusive zone for 30 years. That meant no other investor was allowed to erect a similar facility within a radius of 25 kilometres.
The stakeholders in the industry have welcomed Government's decision saying it is working to boost to the sector.
Mr Ben Rwabutara, the Managing Director Palace Motel Ltd in Uganda's Western town of Fort Portal says while security in the once insecure parks and mountainous area is good, inadequate accommodation remains a big challenge.
“Exclusive zones around the parks had affected the tourist arrivals since no investor was allowed to set up any infrastructure within a radius of 25 km”.He added
Rwabutura is currently setting up 20 self contained cottages on the periphery of Katwe Town council bordering Queen Elizabeth National Game Park. The cottages are like those in Kidepo National Game Park. Rwabutara are urging Government to aid the tourism sector if it is to be more competitive.
"Lack of Government input in helping people who are interested in developing the industry is a big problem.
Rwabutara said the government should help in identifying investors who are interested in constructing lodges.
Mweya Safari Lodge in Queen Elizabeth Park has a capacity of about 50 rooms and it is fully booked year-round.
State Minister for Tourism Serapio Rukundo, says the Ministry in conjunction with Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) have identified areas suitable to tourism investors.
"The exclusive rights given to Madhvani are no longer there.” We discussed with Madhvani about the proposed sites for development," Mr Rukundo said.
Queen Elizabeth Park in western Uganda covers 2,000 square miles, Murchison Falls, which lies in Gulu and Masindi, covers 3,840 square kilometres, while Kidepo in Karamoja is 1442 square kilometres wide. The Madhvani Group is the biggest concessionaire with a hotel in Queen Elizabeth National Park and two in Murchison Falls, among others.
Despite having unique tourist attractions, Uganda's tourism sector remains the poorest in the East African region.
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Jackie
Uganda Tour Operators urge Government to construct Roads
The Uganda Tour Operators have asked the Government to construct roads leading to major tourist destinations to ease the transportation of tourists.
The president of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators, Boniface Byamukama noted that bad roads had been a major hindrance in the transportation of tourists to national parks.
“When it rains, it’s almost impossible to take any tourist to these destinations,” said Byamukama who was speaking at the official opening of the association’s new offices in Kololo, last week.
Byamukama pointed out the Kagadi-Wima road, Kihihi-Kitunguru road in Kanungu district, Kabale-Kisoro-Bwindi road and Rukungiri-Bwindi road as the worst roads that hinder the Business.
Julius Onen, the permanent secretary at the tourism and trade ministry, urged tour firms to keep the dynamism to take tourism ahead.
He said construction of the roads would soon be done by the Uganda Wildlife Road Network Company.
Onen was also happy that the Tourism sector was slowly recovering from the effects of the recent Kampala bomb attacks that had got Tourists worried for their lives.
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Jackie
Uganda to inject cash in Faith Tourism
The Uganda Tourism Industry is positioning itself to aggressively market its faith-based Tourism as it looks to diversify its products.
The initiative is backed by the increased arrivals for the annual Martyrs’ Day celebrations held at the Uganda Martyrs Shrines at Namugongo.
It is believed that around 997 Tanzanians came for the national Martyrs’ Day celebrations, over 200 from Kenya, while 32 came from Arizona, USA for the single-day event as disclosed by the state minister for tourism, Serapio Rukundo.
“There is a future for faith-based Tourism. Like we used to go to Rome, Israel and Mecca, I think people will be coming here more,” said Rukundo while briefing an Austrian investment firm, A-TEC Industries, recently.
Thirty-one Christian prisoners were burnt in the holocaust at Namugongo on June 3, 1886. Every year 3 June is honored as a public holiday in Uganda. It is also marked worldwide on the church calendar in honor of the Uganda Martyrs.
But what has made this an emerging hot tourism event on the annual calendar is that outside the main celebrations, the village of Namugongo, about 12 kilometers from Kampala city, explodes in a carnivore atmosphere.
Traders and transporters using the opportunity make a kill by selling all kinds of merchandise from souvenirs, refreshments and “simply celebrating life.”
It is this that Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), wants to act as a stepping stone since the martyrs trail was fast catching on in prominence and interest.
Meanwhile, A-TEC is looking at venturing into Uganda’s tourism sector, mining and energy markets.
Bernhard Rippel, A-TEC Industries director of corporate affairs says the firm will consider building a tourism school on the model of a public-private partnership.
Rippel said A-ITEC operates similar models in Oman and Kabul where the company funds the development of the curriculum, training and implementation, while the government pays tuition for the students.
He promised that the dean of the tourism school in Oman will visit Uganda at a yet unconfirmed date to explore on what basis a tourism school will be established.
Serapio outlined Uganda’s attractive tourism diversity of 10 national parks, 12 wildlife reserves and home to more than half of the surviving mountain gorillas, saying the sector still has room for new investments.
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Jackie
Uganda Tourism news
Uganda Kampala still safe for Tourists
Ugandan officials are urging foreigners not to cancel their travel plans.
"Kampala is safe," said Cuthbert Baguma, executive director of the Uganda Tourism Board, in a statement.
Baguma said that security agencies are on "full alert" and the situation is under control.
"There is no need to cancel or change itineraries because there is no indication of a re-occurrence of any sort."
Uganda is emerging as an attractive ecotourism destination. Primate safaris, bird watching and village tours are popular activities in this East African nation.
Uganda has attracted an increasing number of tourists looking to get close to gorillas, chimpanzees and other wildlife. American and British travelers interviewed reported having positive experiences in Uganda and did not feel unsafe.
The Ugandan government is committed to the safety of foreign tourists, who are an important source of revenue.
"Bwindi national park and other popular tourist destinations are safe and remain open to tourists," said Tourism Board director Cuthnert Baguma after Sunday's attacks.
"The bombing was intended to scare and discourage visitors. Uganda Tourism Board reassures visitors that Uganda is safe and that the government is committed to maintaining Uganda as an attractive and secure tourist destination."
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton released a statement strongly condemning the attacks at Kampala's Ethiopian Village restaurant and Kyadondo Rugby Club.
"At this tragic moment, the United States stands with Uganda," said Clinton.
"We have a long-standing, close friendship with the people and Government of Uganda and will work with them to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice."
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America gives Shs12b to Uganda Tourism
Uganda has announced plans to introduce “marine tourism” to its list of core sightseeing marvels after the US government offered $6 million (Shs12b) to support the thriving sector over the next five years.
Mr Muzahura Edwin, Uganda Tourism Board’s public relations officer, said that they intend to start with purpose-tailored marketing of tourism treasures on Lake Victoria - the world’s second largest freshwater body.
“We have rapid waterfalls and sites for water-rafting. That’s why we want to introduce marine tourism which the Americans suggested and are willing to support,” he said after a meeting on Thursday with US Ambassador Jerry Lanier.
The meeting was at Mweya Safari Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park to launch United States Agency for International Development’s Shs12 billion domestic tourism campaigns, the US Mission in Kampala announced.
The campaign will raise awareness among Ugandans about the importance of their nation’s natural heritage and the need to improve conservation efforts.
It will also encourage tour operators, hotel owners, and others in the tourism value chain to promote reasonably priced facilities to tourists in Uganda as a means to ensure long-term economic growth in Uganda’s tourism industry.
From the Tourism Industry, last year Uganda got $746m (Shs1.5 trillion) from 842, 000 tourists, most of them foreigners, and the sector is the fastest growing at 8 per cent this year.
The USAID programmer will focus on the Albertine region and promote conservation and increase shared profits with rural Ugandans who shoulder conservation costs, the embassy said. “Sharing these benefits is the best way to build a local constituency to support wildlife conservation, which is the tourism resource base for Uganda’s future generations.”
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Jackie
You must take a Safari in Uganda
Uganda is a small, land-locked country in Eastern Africa. It borders Kenya, Sudan, DR Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania and is home to one of the most diverse landscapes in all of Africa. Within Uganda's borders lie lush mountains, vast lakes and dry grasslands that teem with all sorts of wildlife, making it a wonderful safari destination.
Of recent, Uganda was not as popular a tourist destination as it neighboring countries. This means that adventurous visitors here can enjoy a type of authentic African landscape and culture that is less available in the better trodden countries such as Kenya and Tanzania.
One of Uganda's most famous and unique aspects are its abundance of Endangered Mountain wild gorillas, many of which are accessible on Ugandan safaris that take visitors into the national parks where they live. It is only because of Uganda's uniquely lush environments that gorillas can be observed up close here.
Chimpanzees come second to Uganda's unusual wildlife staying in their natural habitat. Typical Ugandan safaris also incorporate a chimp element, in addition to gorilla treks.
The River Nile is a very different setting on a safari through Murchison Falls National Park. Here, the massive river plunges down 45 meters into an amazing waterfall and wild hippos and crocodiles roam the waters.
Despite the rocky reputations of several of its neighbors, Uganda is one of the safer countries for tourists to visit in the entire Eastern African region. The nation boasts a stable government and lacks the insurgents and war that characterize many African nations, making it the perfect place to experience an Excellent African safari.
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Jackie