Tourists Shun Mount Elgon over Bududa Landslides

TOURISTS have shunned Mt. Elgon Forest National Park over the March 1 landslides that ravaged Bududa. The park indicated in a report that out of 410 tourists that visited Mt. Elgon from January to May, only 144 were registered in March.

Of the 144 visitors, 122 were local students. This was a drop from the 152 tourists that were registered during the same period last year.

The figure dipped further to only 40 tourists in April although it rose to 92 in May. But this was still lower than the 98 to 190 tourists who visited the park during the same period last year.

The report noted that most of the foreign tourists who comprise nearly 90% of the park’s visitors, kept away. Regular foreign tourists at the park include Britons, Germans, Americans, Dutch, Israelis and Canadians.

March and April each registered only 27 foreign tourists. However, the figure slightly rose to 37 in May. Save for the 13 German tourists, one Dutch and an American who visited the park in March, the Israelis, British, and Canadian visitors kept away during the tragic month.

Similarly, no tourists from the neighbouring Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania of Burundi, Tanzania and Kenya visited the park in March. “Heavy rains characterised with landslides were occurring on various parts of the mountain. The Bududa landslide scared away many tourists,” Stephen Nyadros, the Budadiri entry point information officer, said.

“About 15 foreign tourists expected to hike on Mt. Elgon through the Budadiri trail cancelled their bookings with us in March. “Fortunately, the trend is steadily picking up again,” Nyadros pointed out.

He disclosed that most of the cancelled bookings had been rescheduled for May to September. The park experiences peak periods from June to September, and December to March, statistics show.

Other prominent visitors to the park comprise scouts and students on holiday from Europe and North America. A total of 2,903 tourists visited the park in 2009, down from 3,844 the previous year.

The main tourist attractions for hikers on the mountain include the wildlife, hotsprings, caves, waterfalls and the Wagagai peak that stands at 4,321 metres above sea level. However, after the Bududa tragedy that claimed over 350 people at the Nametsi trading centre, the Government declared Mt. Elgon prone to more landslides and warned residents to evacuate to the temporal camp at Bulucheke.

To allay fears among tourists, a 16-member-team from The Uganda Tourism Board took a four-day hike on Mt. Elgon through the Budadiri trail in Sironko district from June 15 to 18. Molly Mpiriirwe, the board’s senior information officer, narrated that there was no imminent danger to tourists on the mountain.

“We had a thrilling experience on the mountain. “Throughout our journey, we neither saw cracks nor mini-landslides. “We call on more people to come and tour the park to explore its beauty,” Mpiriirwe said.

Tourism, agriculture and forestry are top on the list of the national primary growth areas of the newly-released National Development Plan. In 2008, tourism contributed 9.2% or $1.2b to the gross domestic product (GDP), while in Kenya, it brought in $3.5b or 10.8% to GDP according to the World tourism and Travel Council.

This variation maybe directly linked to the massive investment that Kenya puts into the sector. According to the draft corporate strategy plan 2009-2012, Kenya spends sh27b in marketing.

Tourism arrivals surged from 512,000 in 2004 to 844,000 in 2008; an increase of 65% boosted by the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2007.

IGG Cancels Gorilla Park Contracts

THE Inspector General of Government Raphael Baku has directed the Uganda Wildlife Authority to cancel all the illegal and irregular contracts it made with the Nkuringo Conservation and Development Foundation and Uganda Safari Company in Kisoro district.

The contracts were monopolizing gorilla tracking in Nkuringo on the Southern periphery of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

The IGG in a report “Monopoly of sale of gorilla trekking permits by Uganda Wildlife Authority to a private company,” directed UWA to comply with all the laws and policies that govern it in executing its mandate without taking advantage of the ignorance of the communities it works with.

“The illegal and irregular contracts, namely the agreement between Uganda Wildlife Authority and Nkuringo Conservation Development Foundation of 30/8/2004 and its addendums of 23/11/2006 and 29/11/2006 and the agreement between Nkuringo Conservation and Development Foundation and the Uganda Safari Company should be revoked,” the IGG said in the report.

Tourism stakeholders in 2007 complained to the IGG of discrimination, irregularities and illegalities in the management and issuance of gorilla tracking permits by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to a few companies.

They argued that this created unfair monopoly in the tourism business.
They were concerned that Uganda as a whole had lost tourism business including all benefits accruing from the sector to only one Kisoro Hotel operator, Uganda Safari Company, who had been given exclusive rights to sell gorilla tracking permits and allegedly attract tourists to an eco-lodge.

Investigations by the IGG office indicated that UWA encouraged individuals to form a private company with which they operated private businesses in respect to gorilla permit tourism, edging out others.

The IGG in the report recommended that UWA should draw up a well- thought out framework for the development of tourism opportunities for the whole region where Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located not for particular isolated areas.

“The sub-counties of Nyabwishenya and Kirundo where Rubuguri and Nteko parishes respectively fall, should, in consultation with the district takeover the Nkuringo tourism project and improve development for the benefit of their communities after other modalities have been addressed.

“The sub-counties have the mandate and capacity to plan for their local communities, and can be held responsible for transparency, accountability and reporting because they have a planning and budgeting mandate for their parishes,” the report said.

Ugandan Parliament Approves New Tourism Law

The Ugandan Parliament approved a new tourism law, which is seen by the tourism industry observers as an important breakthrough following years of waiting for the to be passed.
The new law is hoped to overhaul the country’s tourism industry and promote the tourism sector’s security and standards among others. The Uganda Tourism Bill 2007 was passed by an undivided vote by Parliament on Tuesday February 19 after a short debate.

The state minister for tourism Mr. Sarapio Rukundo told the Parliament that when the law comes into power, it will help reform, consolidate and streamline the laws related to tourism and provide for licensing, regulating and control of the sector.

The new tourism act brought together three laws in a major reform aimed at boosting and developing the tourism industry in the country, says the minister. The previous laws amalgamated into the new Act include the hotels laws, the tourists’ agents licensing law, and the Uganda tourism board.These laws are geared towards improving Uganda’s hotel sector, tour operation businesses as well as the tourism industry itself which is gaining prominence from gorilla tourism.

According to the Parliament committee on tourism, trade and industry chairman, Mr. Pereza Ahabwe the major reforms in the new law includes the introduction of a tourism development tax and tourism development fund. He said the tax would be obligatory on both the visitors making trips to Uganda and operators while the development fund will be established by the ministry and other sources yet to be identified by the ministry of tourism to further develop the sector.
These two are going to boost the sector in form of promoting it, gazetting areas for tourism sites and undertake educational programmes. Ways of monitoring tourism standards, registration, licensing and classifying of tourist facilities and services in Uganda’s national parks as well as major tourism destinations, among others have all been streamlined in the new law.
The commissioner for tourism Ms. Grace Mbabazi Aulo said that the money got from the tourism development tax would be used for training, research and tourism promotion. She said that government is yet to make a master plan on how these funds would be well utilized in revamping the tourism industry.

The new law makes it an offense to operate an accommodation facility for tourists without a license. The major introduction in the law is because some unscrupulous agents were taking tourists to low standard indecent guest houses causing embarrassment to the country.

President Launches Tourism Documentary on Uganda

A documentary film titled “Uganda: The Presidential Tour” which is out to market Uganda’s tourism potential was today officially launched by President Yoweri Museveni.

The documentary was filmed in Uganda in July this year by the US based Discovery Channel Communications. It features President Museveni as the chief tour guide to US renowned journalist Forrest Sawyer. The 50-minute documentary depicts Uganda’s wildlife, flora and fauna traditional culture among other activities of some of the countrys population.

President Museveni told the audience at Cineplex City Garden in Kampala that the film that the fundamental requirement for Uganda’s tourism industry is ensuring security throughout the country. He expressed happiness that the donor community had accepted to contribute funds to the countrys security sector needs. He said the move had now increased tourism earnings for Uganda.

Ndere Dance Troupe : The Ndere Troupe perform traditional dance in Mbale. Founded in 1986, its goal is to conserve and promote the musical traditions of the country’s many cultures.

Mr. Museveni appealed to the United Nations to speed up the pacification of the Uganda-Democratic Republic of Congo border area. He said the pacification exercise will go a long way to enable Uganda exploit fully its resources such as Queen Elizabeth and Rwenzori National Parks as well as the oil deposits in the Lake Albert corridor in order to enhance further national economic development through tourism.

He commended the US based Discovery Communications for showing Uganda’s unique climate, scenery, people and soils to the rest of the world and agreed with Churchill’s description of the journey from the Indian Ocean as a grisly road to Uganda, the tropical garden of Africa. He called upon the rest of the world to come to Uganda and see the greatness of the country.

Vice President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, Cabinet Ministers, former US Trade Representative Ms. Rosa Whitaker, MPs, diplomats, business and tourism stakeholders in attended the show.

World Tourism Month Dedicated to Promoting Uganda Tourism

World Tourism Day is celebrated each year on 27th of September globally. On this day focus is made on the socio-Economic importance and contribution of Tourism to the World. This year’s theme is ‘Poverty Alleviation, Job Creation and Social Harmony’.

Being charged with the promotion of tourism in the country, the Uganda Tourist Board has continued to spearhead events in the month of September notably a biking race in the luxuriant Mabira forest and a fundraising raft race on the Nile River organized in September of 2002 that was devoted to the reintroduction of rhinos in Uganda. Both were first ever events attracting the participation corporate bodies in he country.

This year’s main event on 27th September will be hosted free of charge to the public by Uganda Wildlife Education Centre in Entebbe. The Centre represents Uganda’s diverse attractions teeming with rainforest, beaches, animal specie including two white Rhinos recently reintroduced in the country after being wiped out by poaching in the mid eighties, bird, plant insect and culture, not forgetting the Jane Goodal – Ngamba Island off Entebbe, which is sanctuary to, rescued chimpanzees.

Kids and Snake

A match past through Entebbe municipality and its environs shall precede the main event after which a World food festival luncheon is to be hosted by Imperial Botanical Beach hotel Entebbe. Also in store shall be guest artistes and traditional dancers in camaraderie with tourism stake holders including the Mayor of Entebbe, Uganda Wildlife Authority, hotels, resorts, Civil Aviation Authority, all management and operational organizations at the airport including Immigrations, Entebbe Cargo Handing Services, Bond and clearing agents, Air Traffic control, airport maintenance and cleaning staff, Oil companies, Beverage companies, Duty free, souvenir and restaurant outlets, Airlines and charters, legislators, technocrats, Uganda Tourist Association, Association of Uganda tour Operators, The Uganda Travel Agents Association, Hotel Owners Association, Hotel Catering Association, Uganda Association of Tourism Training Institutions Dons from the Ivory Tower, Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, Uganda Tourist Board, and students from the Wildlife clubs in Uganda. Other highlights on the day are a mini exhibition organized by Entebbe Tourism Development Association at U.W.E.C and the launch of the ‘New Tourism Policy’ document and a cultural catwalk led by miss Tourism Uganda 2002 crowned by a jungle themed disco at Vogue discotheque-half price.

Cards for the food festival at imperial Botanical beach Hotel are on Sale at Uganda Tourist Board at Ushs 13,000.

PROGRAMME:

9:00AM. -Arrival of participants at Mayors Gardens Entebbe
9:30AM.- Flagging off of match past by chief walker
10:30AM.- Inauguration of medicinal plants at U.W.EC
11:00 AM. – Inspection of domestic tourism exhibits.
11:30AM.- Guests take seats at the beach
12:00 PM.- Welcome speech by U.W.E.C Director

Entertainment Interlude

1:00PM. – Mayor welcomes guests to Entebbe municipality.
1:15PM. – Minister invites the guest of honor to launch the Tourism Policy.
1:25PM.- Guest of honors address
1:35PM.-Vote of thanks from U.T.A president
1:45 PM.- Food Festival at Botanical Beach
4:00PM.-Boat race, Entertainment, Cultural catwalk by miss Tourism 2002 at
U.W.E.C beach front

Insecurity in Murchison Falls National Park and Kasese Area

STATEMENT FROM THE CHAIRMAN UGANDA TOURIST BOARD

In the past few days incidents of insecurity have been reported in NW and SE Uganda particularly the ambushing and killing of several students from the Jimmy Sekasi Hotel and Tourism Training Institute and its Director. This occurred in the Pakuba area of Murchison Falls Game Park, which is in the Northern tip of the park near the Albert Nile estuary.

Another attack took place in Kasese and quite recently on Hamurunga fishing village near Kasese. While the Uganda Tourist Board condemns these acts of insecurity in the strongest terms and warns Tourists to stay away from these areas and the enviros, it would like to bring to the attention of the public the following facts:-

The site of the Pakuba incident is in the northern tip of the park on the north bank of the river Nile. It has been a center of concentrated tourist activity. It is only recently that the park wardens had started taking tourists to this area. Most of the tourist traffic has been has been concentrated on the south bank.

The Kasese region is in SW Uganda which has been a center of rebel activity. No tourist traffic has been encouraged to go there. We are yet to clarify the security situation in the Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is several kilometers away from Kasese. But some areas of the park do stray into territory that is prone to ADF attacks.

The security forces have been deployed in these areas to push out the attackers and when they have done their work, tourism activities will resume in the areas in question. Therefore there is no cause for Alarm.

However, the Board wishes to assure you and especially the tourists that other than these areas which are in actual fact on the periphery of the country the rest of Uganda is safe and has still many tourist attractions to offer:

For example,

The Central area – this includes Kampala where you will find the Kasubi Tombs, Entebbe and Jinja where you will find Bujagali Falls and Source of the Nile, passing through Mabira Forest with many picnic sites on the way.

For those who have more time, the mountains of South-West Uganda extending from Bulema / Kanunga in the north to Rwanda Border in the South are a must because they include Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the Volcanic peaks of the Muhavura, Mgahinga and Sabinyo and lakes Bunyonyi and Mutanda

After the Rwenzoris it is scenically the most beautiful part of Uganda displaying an enormous variety of landscape feature in its wooded and cultivated Hills and mountains, gorges, valleys and their intervening lakes and rivers.

• Lake Mburo National Park IN SE Uganda
• Mount Elgon in the East, its Forest Reserves and foothills. In here you find the renowned Sipi Falls. It is readily accessible from Kampala on a good paved road.
• Kidepo Valley National Park, the Zulia Forest reserve and the Lipan and North Karamoja controlled hunting areas. Here you can go on game viewing trips currently the best in Uganda. But it is also important for bird – watching and trekking in the Zulia Forest.
• Ssese Islands – in Lake Victoria; This is a beautiful grouping of islands which is a paradise for the elusive sitatunga antelope. These islands are ideal for bird-watching, fishing, eco-tours and touring by boat.

For more information and updates below is our contact.

Uganda Tourist Board
Plot 13/15 Kimathi Avenue, Impala House
P.O. Box 7211 Kampala
Uganda

Tel: 256 – 41 – 342196 / 7
Fax: 256 – 41 – 342188

Email: utb@starcom.co.ug