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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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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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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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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Buganda Totems become tool for Uganda wildlife preservation
The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) has adopted Buganda’s totem system to supplement the conservation effort, an official has said.
In his speech, UWEC Executive Director Andrew Seguya said that People have forgotten this but during the old times, the Baganda knew that it was a taboo to kill your totem or even to eat your totem. And If we re-invent this, it may be a useful tool in our conservation.
Dr Seguya was briefing the Vice President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, about UWEC’s activities during the Buganda Tourism Expo 2010 yesterday. Prof Bukenya officially opened the exhibition, now an annual event.
Traditionally, a totem was an animal that represented a clan or familial group in order to distinguish them from other clans and thus prevent inbreeding or incest, and help one to monitor the kinship.
Dr Seguya said the cultural attachment to some of the animals helped in their conservation as Baganda held those animals sacred.
Last month alone, Dr Seguya said, five lions had been poisoned by unknown people in Queen Elizabeth National Park and the wild cats are now an endangered species.
UWEC exhibited a lion, a crested crane, an ostrich, pythons, fishing eagles and parrots among others.
Prof. Bukenya promised to become an ambassador for the bird’s conservation efforts. He said he was interested in the crane, which is a national bird yet it is becoming extinct
“I am interested in getting a male and a female crane,” Prof. Bukenya requested. And this was considered since Uganda crested crane is getting extinct.
Prof. Bukenya urged people to take part in cultural tourism that is one of the ways to effect development and conservation of culture.
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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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UNESCO needs 1 mln dollars to reconstruct Uganda’s Kasubi Tombs
Located on a hill in Uganda's capital Kampala, Kasubi Tombs was a former palace of the Kings of Buganda, built in 1882 and converted into the royal burial ground in 1884.
Four royal tombs lay within the main building, which is circular and surmounted by a dome. It was made of wood, thatch, reed, wattle and daub.
The tombs were a tourist attraction as well as an important spiritual and political site for the Baganda, Uganda's largest ethnic group. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001, but was set ablaze by an identified fire
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) are seeking one million U.S. dollars for the rebuilding Uganda's world heritage site which was burnt down in March, an official said here on Friday.
Irina Bokova, UNESCO director general told delegates from 40 African countries that the organization has taken the responsibility of mobilizing funds for reconstructing Kasubi Tombs, a 126 year old burial site for ancient kings of one of Uganda's oldest kingdoms.
"We are committed to preserving culture. Culture is very important and significant for the economic growth and development of African continent," she said while closing the 12th conference of national commissions for UNESCO and director general consultations of Africa region.
Yesterday Bokova met President Yoweri Museveni at State House, Entebbe, 40km south of the capital, Kampala Uganda where by Museveni called upon UNESCO to support Uganda's efforts to preserve its oldest cultural sites.
"We welcome any support towards Kasubi. However, Kasubi is more recent in 1884. There are other sites that were as ancient as 1600AD. We should develop programs to ensure that we protect this rich history as living memory," the statement quoted Museveni as saying.
According to the release, Bokova said that UNESCO has already raised 50,000 dollars from various donors for the reconstruction of the tombs and hoped to jointly work with Ugandan government to restore it.
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Jackie