Nyakagyera Cave: Kabale’s historical site

The outside of Nyakagyera cave. The stony cave is the reason the district in which it lies was named Kabale.

Nyakagyera, the stone cave in Kabale, holds the history of the battles between Bakiga and the neighbouring tribes.

Nyakagyera cave and rock beneath Kabaraga (the highest point overlooking Kabale Town), is located at Omwibare in Nyakagyera Parish, Kyanamira Sub-county, Kabale District. The cave is located about 14 km north of Kabale Town.

One may either hire a taxi or take a boda boda to get to this forgotten yet significant historical site. The road to the cave is so poor that at some point you have to walk or drive through waterlogged areas. When you reach Kigezi College Butobere Secondary School, there will still be nine kilometres left to get to the rock.

Clay moulding, charcoal stove making, women digging and animals grazing are the common sites on the journey. At the bottom of Kabaraga Hill, the big cave stands, 10metres a way from the nearest homestead. The cave appears like a neglected mine field. It is as spacious as a three-bedroom house or bus garage. As you enter, bats and small birds fly out; It’s dull and threatening.

The threat of Marburg virus associated with bats, which claimed lives in Kabale recently may frighten one from entering the cave. It only takes a brave heart.

A hit on the floor produces a drum like sound. Shrubs have grown to cover its entrance and eucalyptus trees cover the hill it supports. Below it, lies a reclaimed wetland which hosts vegetables, Irish potatoes, fruits and root tubers gardens.

The village, where the cave lies, was named Omwibare (stone) after the stone cave. Very few people in Kabale know about the cave that has stood for generations.

Dinah Kajura, a resident of the area, says they don’t know much about its history and it is not of any big significance.

“What we know about the rock are stories that the early man used to stay there, every person who comes here, even Whites, ask us how it came to exist. For us, we do not know anything; we do not even need to know much,” she says.

She says very many people come to see the cave especially students, during their study times and some White tourists who are guided to the rock by local people.

According to Omugurusi Festo Karwemera, 87, the author of Kigezi Nabyamwo Kuruga omu gwa 1500 (the history of Kigezi from 1500) , it was inhabited by early man. Batwa people took over but were driven away to the forests by cattle keepers and finally the Bakiga took over.

Although the history of Kigezi before 1500 is not explicit because it was not written down, Karwemera says, there were several fights between emigrants for occupation of Kabale. The current day Kabale was first called Kangyenzi (land of lakes) and later Kigyezi (of a big lake). Because of the culture of fighting with stones, the place was later called Kabale. A Runyankole-Rukiga word for a place dominated by stones.

The earliest inhabitants of Kabale stayed in the current day Omukibare (of stone) in Muko Sub-county while others stayed near Lake Bunyonyi. From up the hills, they would throw stones at the animals in the lower places which they would kill and eat or gather fruits in the upper parts of the hill.

They would then move to Nyakagyera Cave where they would feast as they congratulated hunters. The cave later became a political centre for clan leaders and warriors resisting newcomers from Rwanda and other places.

“While we don’t have clear evidence on these facts, we believe that the stories our forefathers have told us that the first people here stayed in caves,” says Karwemera

“They were originally the Batwa (Pygimies) they were chased by Bahima (cattle keepers) who were later chased by the Bakiga that came with modern war technologies,” he adds.

Uganda attracts tourists but has it done enough marketing?

The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga and the Minister of Tourism Maria Mutagambwa at Uganda’s stand at the World Tourism Market exhibition

Uganda is endowed with many natural attractions that could boost its capacity for tourism. But it takes more than just these attributes to cash in on the market.

All eyes were on Uganda’s stand at the World Tourism Market (WTM) exhibition that ran from November 5 to 8 at the Excel Docklands in London, UK.

Major players in the travel and tourism industry in the world were in London for the biggest international tourism exhibition and the issue of Uganda being the number one tourism destination for 2012 tickled some into looking to see what our claim to fame is.
The Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Ms Maria Mutagamba, travelled with a large team of Ugandan exhibitors to the annual event and she said the response from tourists was overwhelming.

“Our exhibitors were constantly busy,” she said. “This was our chance to show the world that our honour as the number one tourist destination wasn’t a mistake, more so we are not ready to relinquish that top spot. And I am sure we did just that.”

The expo brought together both the public and private sector including Uganda Wildlife Authority, Uganda Tourism Board, The Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Conservation Trust, Civil Aviation Authority, Hoteliers and 20 private tour operators.

Good performance
To add the icing on the cake, the Speaker Rebecca Kadaga also visited the Uganda stand. “The speaker was amazing and her visit was so timely,” said Amos Wekesa of Great Lakes Safaris company. “It was generally a sucessful event for Uganda.”

Mutagamba echoed Wekesa’s words saying that this was probably best exhibition Uganda has had at WTM in its 16-year experience at the event. “We are yet to come out with an official asessment of the general performance but it is clear that this was far better than the previous ones in terms of response from tourists,” she added. “I think the results will start to show sooner than later but again we need to do our part down here in Uganda.”

While all Ugandan participants have come back with a buzz from the event, the reality is that they will have to contend with the weight of expectations while at the same time ensuring that Uganda expands its share of the world tourism market in the near future. That will take more actions than words.

Now in its 30th year of existence, WTM attracts around 26,700 key industry professionals from over 189 countries across the globe. This platform allows participants to meet, network and conduct business with leading travel institutions and to keep abreast with the latest developments in the travel industry.

The Ugandan team met with a big number of the industry players but some still think our presence out there is not enough. “I agree we have done well in London but I think we haven’t used this number one tag to our best advantage,” noted Wekesa. “It is not too late though because even with just over a month to go on 2012 we can still grab some attention.”

He says he was at the Asia International Tourism Expo in Singapore last month and he was shocked not to see any other Ugandan exhibitor at the expo. “There were exhibitors from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, all over Asia and Africa but Uganda was a new subject to them,” he said. “Some were even asking if Uganda was in South Africa. This should serve as a wake-up call showing us that much as Lonely Planet named us the best destination, we still need to help ourselves by making ourselves heard. Everyone is fighting to become number one and no one will be there to talk about Uganda if Ugandans don’t show up. And no individual operator can make things happen without government support.”

Uganda has missed a couple of other big tourism exhibitions this year including the Indaba of South Africa besides the glaring mistake that saw the Uganda stall at the London Olympics go unused throughout the duration of the games.

The major reason has been government not dedicating adequate funds to the sector, which is now the number one foreign exchange earner for the country’s service sector.
While Uganda has skipped most of these tourism events citing lack of funds, our close competition especially neighbouring Kenya and Tanzania have been heavily represented at almost every opportunity availed. However, the minister promised things will change soon.

Perhaps they have started changing from the WTM where even the country’s space at the expo was increased due to increased keen interest shown by both the private and public tourism stakeholders.

The marketing manager of UTB, Edwin Muzahura is optimistic, the signs are pointing to better days for the tourism sector. “The government has prioritised tourism in its development plan within its four primary sectors to transform the economy. The tourism private sector has grown and the publicity for the country has grown worldwide.” Muzahura adds that “By the government creating an independent tourism ministry, it means now more funding is on the way and tourism is set to become the number one forex earner for the country after remittances.”

Natural endowment
In fact even some government institutions went ahead and broke some barriers. The acting Executive Director, Uganda Wildlife Authority, Andrew Seguya has been hailed for providing over Shs300m towards preparations for the expo.

  By Bruce Amp

Thinking Chinese and being Ugandan

The team being introduced by a host at one of the parks just before their performance.

Dancing in china. After living for four years in China, the writer got over his cultural shock and started to live life both as a Ugandan and Chinese. He shares his experiences.

The character Su Lee from the classic Mind Your Language, and kungfu film stars I watched growing up (Jackie Chan, Chow Yun Fat, Bruce Lee, Sammo Hung, Donnie Yen, Jet Lee, Yuen Biao) influenced my primary impression of China as a nation of Chairman Mao zealots and fierce ambassadors of their heritage.

My stereotype thinking never evolved much until I first visited in 2009. But four years intermittently touring China while working as an African-cultures dancer, learning Mandarin Chinese, and experiencing the different Chinese ethnicities and cultures firsthand has stripped the romanticism from my previously uninformed views on China.
Though obviously not enough for me to claim expert knowledge of the culture aspects that constitute China’s 5000-year history, those years showed me eye-popping differences between China and Uganda, and oppositely gave sharper focus to curious similarities.

The Concept of “Face”.
Mandarin Chinese describes embarrassment as having lost face (diu lian le), and being shameless as not wanting face (bu yao lian), and giving or seeing face (gei /kan mianzi) is the one for honoring or respecting someone. Simple in theory, there are extremes like the boy who sold his kidney for 2000 pounds so he could buy an iPhone and iPad. 
I quizzed a Chinese friend who had travelled extensively in Africa regarding why face can be such a life-or-death issue. Her response? “Face’s isn’t copyrighted to China. I’ve heard introductions that go ‘This is Anita, she drives a Surf, works at a bank and her children are studying abroad’. Really, show me where the difference is”.

The little sip for business’ sake.
Regarding the face concept, a personal application for me was the obligatory drink-up at a lunch or supper organised specifically to talk business. An absolute teetotaler before China, I had to ganbei (bottoms up) whenever I was caught off-guard or plainly forgot to carry the bottle of pills I used to beg off from drinking down the tot which is a crucial part of the Chinese deal-making process.

In practice, you would be cajoled, coaxed, or “fined a shot” for some hastily made-up charge, anything went as long as you swallowed whatever amount of drink that is called sake, offered. What initially felt like selling out for monetary gain, my principle on consuming alcohol was again put in perspective by my Chinese friends. As they explained, if I was too self-centered to accept even one sip for the boss’s sake, would I really expect any consideration to come my way when I wanted to do business with the boss?

Of weddings and daytime fireworks
Fireworks at weddings were initially a sore point for my Ugandan sensibilities which are accustomed to fireworks at events like New Year’s Eve, or at concerts and mega church dos. 
Originally to chase jealous spirits away from the couple, the duration and volume of the fireworks is now one indicator of how moneyed or not the wedding is. 
Extremly loud fireworks for the well-heeled, fewer and less powerful ones for the putongren (common people). Not as annoying is the comparatively hassle-free wedding organisation and even shorter receptions.

Instead of the “begging meetings” we now use to make celebration events happen, a hongbao (red envelope) sealed with one’s contribution to meeting wedding costs is given at the entrance to the reception hall. 
We performed at a wedding in Shaanxi, where two hours were enough for dinner, speeches, the guests receiving their gift packs from the couple, and the obligatory fireworks display which continued unabated for 15 minutes.

No Sunday fun day
Our contractual work was always in amusement parks like Beijing Happy Valley, and Baiyangdian Island Park in Baoding. Our experience with Ugandan troupes was that paying crowds mainly appeared for the Sunday family shows. Midweek shows never attracted people as many or as enthusiastic.

Thus we marveled at how, rain or shine, weekends or not, public holiday or not, we always had large audiences, even in parks considered backwater by Chinese standards. In Qinhuangdao’s Yesheng Dongwu (safari park), for three months we never had a day off because the audiences just kept coming. Our pleas for one met no success, as it had no business advantage to both the park and our boss if we dammed the stream.

The Price of a foreign face
Like some parks, Yesheng Dongwu made its money from tourists taking photos with the waiguoren (foreigner) dancers. We initially thought our agent too optimistic she said our salary and return tickets would be realised from those sales. She was right on the money.
Each person appearing in the photo paid 20yuan (Shs8,000 ) per print, or 10yuan if they shot using their own camera. Thus a family of five adults and one baby paid 100 yuan(Shs40,000) for one print, and 20 yuan for every extra print they ordered.

In such parks, our performances merely served as curtain raisers for the photo sessions. For a typical 10-hour day, on average we did three five-minute shows every hour, with photos taking up the time in-between. 
While in Uganda such a business would likely fail in its infancy, in China it has become standard park practice that in parks like Happy Valley, I continually refused money from tourists whose resultant glee was so visible it amused me no end.

Foreigners behaving badly
As exotic as we waiguoren seemingly are, I respected that China generally tolerates no bad behavior from foreigners of whatever stature. A Brit who raped a girl on a subway, and a Russian cellist who put his feet up on an old woman’s headrest and then insulted her when she complained inspired “the 100-Day Crackdown” which started on May 15 2012.
It was a campaign to weed China of foreigners with questionable visa issues, and the ‘floating ticket citizens’ (tiao piao ren) who have neither passport nor address, despite being obviously non-Chinese. 
Sweeps and spot-checks were conducted by Chinese police in areas with high numbers of foreigners.

Contrast that with Uganda, where a certain “Ugandanised” foreigner I know has for years driven her DMC without getting stopped even once by the traffic police, even to merely ask for her non-existent driving permit like they do the rest of us.

The flag-raising at Tian’anmen Square
On a Monday morning in July 2009 I witnessed with admiration and envy as military honour guard executed with much decorum a tightly-choreographed march while carrying the Chinese flag across a temporarily-blocked Chang’an Avenue to hoist it on the flagpoles at Tiananmen Square.

I watched fascinated as at the split second the sun appeared behind them, they unfurled it. Literally in surround sound, the mostly Chinese tourists /pilgrims hemming me in sang along as the Chinese national anthem came over the installed speakers.
I admired their fervor because it was not a national holiday, and yet about 10,000 citizens mixed in with the usual busloads of foreign tourists had braved the dawn drizzle to watch the ritual which is accompanied by a military band on the first day of every month.
I was envious because I never imagined a similar ceremony at Kololo nationalgrounds would evoke even half the patriotism the crowd’s presence personified if the dates were not January 26 or October 9.

Nature meets beauty at the Entebbe Botanical Gardens

Spread out over more than 40 hectares, the Entebbe Botanical Gardens have hundreds of different species of trees and other plants

In connection with being a centre for research on different plant species, it is probably known among a few like the scientists but for the annual Boxing Day motor sprints and other entertainment events or just a place to relax, Entebbe Botanical Gardens is more known and popular in this sense.

Although many people may have no or little knowledge of the history of this magnificent green expanse as research centre, the thousands of visitors who come here annually have come mostly as tourists.

Many species
Situated on the northern shores of Lake Victoria, the 41-hectare botanicalgardens have a varied collection of species of plants, which are native to tropical, sub-tropical and temperate zones, besides several shrubs and other plants that have been regenerated naturally over the years.

Mr John Wassawa Mulumba, the Head of the National Generic Centre, who is responsible for this public facility, says that the gardens are a popular attraction for visitors. There are an estimated 65,000 visitors per year.

“The gardens were established in 1898 as a reception centre for experimental crops that were being introduced into the country by the colonial government like rubber but we keep their seeds to assist in making better crop varieties,” he says.

Mulumba adds that some crops could be resistant to given pests or diseases that enables them pick the genes from the resistant breeds and mix with the improved varieties to get better yields.

Upon entry into this facility, tall trees near the main entrance welcome you to the facility. The rocky headland and running water through the drainages makes an ideal observation point as you walk further. There are small patches of rain forest where Colobus and Vervet monkeys can be seen next to great blue and white hornbill.

Tourists are spoilt for choice upon viewing the red tailed, velvet and beautiful Colobus monkeys as they jump smoothly from one tree branch to another chattering. The yellow gold and green bamboo walkways offer cool shelter. The thick canopy of the trees and refreshingly cool shelter make the gardens exceptional.

Deep inside the collections of different trees are decorated cobweb of golden spiders that can be best described by each individual’s judgment.

Established in 1898, the gardens were set up as a reception centre for experimental crops that were being introduced into the country by the colonial government.

Today its home to tropical and warm temperate plants, apparently if you are looking for endangered plant species or one that has become extinct in your locality, this ought to be your first port of call. Cash crops like coffee, tea and cocoa were initially studied here before being taken to other research institutes at Kawanda, Namulonge and Serere. Original plants like rubber have continued to grow in the wild here because they never took off on a commercial scale.

New caretaker
Just like any other establishment in the country, Entebbe Botanic Gardens bore the impact of Uganda’s political turmoil and suffered neglect during those episodes until in 1995 when the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries took it over and placed it under the National Agricultural Research Organisation.

This led to the establishment of a Centre for Plant Genetic Resources Programme under the Forestry Resources Research Institute in 1999 to store seeds and provide information about plants in the botanical gardens.

What I love about Uganda

MOTHERLAND. As Uganda celebrates her Independence jubilee,there are numerous reasons to smile and frown about her journey.

Life asked some people what they love about the country.

Hon Christine Ondoa, Minister of Health
I love the nature and the beauty of the country. We have peace, freedom of speech and business. Kampala has expanded from the seven known hills. The education system has been improved with the many universities, institutions and schools. There is an improvement in the health sector where the services are extended to all the health centres, people no longer need to travel long distances in search of health services.

Timothy Mutebi, taxi driver Ggaba stage
I love nothing about my country because it is filled with corruption; the leaders no longer care about us the peasants. We always go to hospitals but do not find medicine. Our children go to school but are not taught because the teachers are striking and there are high levels of unemployment. People have lost the dignity and women dress indecently. It is so annoying that no president has left the presidency peacefully.

Peter Kajjiri, councillor, Buwama, Mpigi District
I love the cultural settings where people are free to practise their cultures and norms. Uganda is a God fearing country and people have been given chance to practise their religions. I also love the built relationship between the policemen and soldiers with common people, they are no longer a threat like it was before independence; they got to know that we are human like them.

Julie Mutesasira, local gospel artiste
Everything around us is good, for example, the security. People move at any time of the night without being bothered by army or policemen like it was before independence. I always leave functions late at night and reach safely. I love the favourable weather. It never interfers with our trade or locations that much unlike in other countries where people may get displaced.

Patrick Isiko, LCII chairman Buwenda Parish, Mafubira Sub county, Jinja 
There is freedom of speech, worship and good security in the country .
In education there is a problem, those days they used to give scholastic materials but it is not the case these days despite there is free education.Nonetheless, for the last 26years, there has been security. Women have been also recognised as you can see, there are female ministers, which is good for our country.

Faith Biyinzika, textile cloth dealer, Jinja 
I love Uganda because the security has improved. People move freely throughout the night. Even if you come across police and soldiers they do not disturb along the roads.
I see people travelling with soldiers in public vehicles and interacting freely which was a great change compared to the past regimes. There is stability in the country, people are constructing big houses and there is free education for the children of Uganda.

Andrew Ogwang Oyang, LC5 vice-chairman, Lira
I love my county motto- For God and My Country- this makes Uganda a religious country that embraces all sorts of religious sects within the country; everyone is free to practice his or her religion. Secondly, what I love about my county Uganda is the recognition of the contribution of different personalities in the country. Celebrating Ugandan Independence is recognising the effort of the ex-President Apollo Milton Obote and his auxiliaries in the fight to bring freedom from colonial domination.

Gertrude Lando, Mbale 
If the people who struggled for this country to get independence came back today, they would ask to go back immediately because they will find a country they craved for messed up. The old governments were here for a short time, but there was no corruption, they built infrastructure that still stands the test of time. Today, the only thing I can love about Uganda is that we are independent, we can manage our affairs although the type of leaders we have all self-seekers, we just need to revisit our past.

Monday Kabiito, a trader in Masaka 
What I like about Uganda today is the relative peace and stability that we are enjoying. The question is how long will it last, especially if we do not pursue the political lines that sustain stability and peace, such as carrying out fair elections? There is some economic development and people everywhere in Masaka Region are constructing better houses. I see more cars on the road. If we learn to change our leaders peacefully and we sustain this kind of stability then the future will be bright.

Mary Bebwajuba, Kabale District vice chairperson 
People vote candidates of their choice regardless of who is influencing them. Uganda is a better country than what it used to be in the past. Government policies on education such as universal primary and secondary education, Naads, improved health services at parish level, improved transport systems making the rural villages connected to market centres to sell their agriculture products makes Uganda a good country to live in.

Canon James Kahuku, retired church leader, Kabale
I love Uganda today because of the current peace and freedom of expression. In the olden days, you would not be sure of tomorrow. The existence of many places of worship and dedicated church leaders have also made Uganda a beautiful country for one to live in. What we want to day is for Ugandans to love and forgive each other to fight greed and promote harmony.

George Rashid Opio- Ojwina LC5 councilor, Gulu
My love towards the country is improving now that people are preparing for the celebration of Uganda’s 50 years of independence.
However, there are few things in the country that need to be addressed; the level of corruption by the Central Government is becoming unbearable and affecting development
in the country.

Sam Kusemererwa, fruits seller, Kampala
I would have been proud of my country and all we have as Ugandans, but the problem is that we are not safe. Our security is poor, poverty levels are still high, and leaders do not want to leave their post. This has created wrangles and insecurity right from the local levels.

Sula Magezi, human rights activist, Masaka 
What I like about Uganda today is the freedom that we have which allows people from any part of Uganda to move and do business or any other job in any part of Uganda. Take Masaka here as an example; we have people from Kisoro and Fort Portal working here without any problem. When you go to Mbarara you will find people from as far away as Jinja.

By Bruce Amp

Jinja council halts Shs2.5b source of Nile devt project

Jinja Municipal Council has halted a proposal by Nile Breweries Limited to invest Shs2.5 billion in the development of Source of the Nile RiverTourism Site. Nile Breweries was set to commence on the development programme last year with a proposal to be sinking in Shs500 million per year for five years.

It was agreed that the council only allows the company to use the site for advertising its products after developing the site to international standards with modern structures and leisure parks.

However, the Jinja Mayor, Mr Baswari Muhammad Kezaala, while presiding over the Tourism Day celebrations for Crested Crane Hotel and Tourism Training Institute, last Friday said the council acted on orders of government which asked them to halt the project, pending a verified physical plan.

“All developments at the Source of the Nile River Tourism Site, including the one for Nile Breweries proposal have been stopped until the consultants assigned by government come up with a physical plan and give the feedback,” Mr Kezaala said.

He added that there was, however, no guarantee that Nile Breweries will be given a go -head to invest the Shs2.5 billion in the developments at this site.

The head of corporate affairs at Nile Breweries, Ms Sumim Namaganda, could not answer our repeated calls when contacted while the company’s head of development, Mr Mayanja Omugalanda’s number was switched off.

The institute principal Ms Namutosi Amoli said the tourism day celebrations at the institute have made annual in an effort to create tourism awareness in the area with silent tourist attraction sites.

By Bruce Amp

Have you been to Uganda, fellow Ugandan?

A mother gorilla takes time off to play with its young. File Photo 

In the year 1907, Winston Churchill baptised this place the “Pearl of Africa” –he believed Uganda was the best place in Africa, and rightly so. After 105 years, one of the world’s leading travel magazines Lonely Planet confirmed what the pioneering British tourist saw decades ago by declaring Uganda as the world’s Best Tourist Destination for 2012.

It is not that Ugandans don’t love this beautiful country but it is rather disappointing that we haven’t made the most of the spotlight given to us by Lonely Planet (BBC Travel), National Geographic, New York Times and several other reputable tourist magazines.

It is even more puzzling to imagine the small numbers of Ugandans who tour this God-given treasure trove – a destination regarded by many outsiders as a must-go.
Last year, the ratio of Ugandans going to Kenya for holiday compared to those who travelled within was around 8:1 – most of them went to Mombasa. In fact, Kenya received more tourists from Uganda than any other African country. This is simply because most African countries are now committing so much effort and budgetary allocations to promoting domestic tourism and the response is positive.

Making the locals understand the beauty of this country and grow a sense of adventure is proving to be a tall order for the people responsible for marketing this country.
When Ugandans go out they find it hard to talk about the attractive places in their country – because they hardly know any. When a Ugandan gets a visitor from abroad and they ask where they can have fun they always suggest a nightclub.

Uganda Tourism Board has tried on a small budget to market tourism but they haven’t been loud enough to remind Ugandans to be tourists in their own country. Consequently, would be domestic tourists are not aware of the sheer beauty of this motherland, the fascinating wildlife, her rich culture and heritage, the fantastic weather, and the warmth and hospitality of fellow Ugandans.

The President of Uganda Tourism Association and managing director for Great Lakes Safaris Mr Amos Wekesa points at a couple of impediments facing domestic tourism including poor marketing of Uganda as a destination; high travel rates, low awareness of the potential of tourism as a viable economic sector, poor infrastructure, inadequate funding from government and lack of skilled manpower.

“Our education system hasn’t given us a chance to talk about Uganda,” says Wekesa. “Apart from our food which we have no choice over, Ugandans don’t know anything else about this beautiful place because no one is teaching them about it.”
UTB’s Executive Director Mr Cuthbert Baguma says one of the things affecting domestic tourism is the lack of exposure in the media.

“Visibility is very vital in this trade and the key to visibility is that you must showcase but that is not happening here,” added Baguma. “Plus, tour operators need to offer authentically affordable packages that meet the needs of all potential local travellers because a visit to a place goes beyond just the natural attractions.”
Wekesa also believes that tour operators scare off local travellers by charging a lot of money.

“Tour operators focus a lot on foreigners but we need to find a way of encouraging domestic tourism by making it affordable for the locals,” Wekesa says.
But when everything is said and done, Baguma believes that domestic tourism is growing.
“Apparently, domestic tourism is growing steadily,” said Baguma. “School children, corporates and families travel but maybe the mass culture of travelling is what is missing.”

Uganda deserves the spotlight as each and every hamlet, village, trading centre, town, district or region here has one unique tourism plant or facility, whose potential is crying for exploration and development, which has the potential to ensure an even development of the country and above all to stop the rural-urban drift, in search of non-existing white collar jobs.

Tourism is the only area that brings in foreign exchange earning without export and Uganda’s opportunity to use tourism as a major pillar for its economic growth is realistic. Globally, tourism today, is the second largest industry, which employs the most people and it is still growing. It is the major foreign exchange earner of more than 60 countries.

In Uganda, tourism as a tool for poverty alleviation is not in doubt. What is in doubt is the understanding of the industry because not much by way of education as to what it is and is not is brought home to the Ugandan society.

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the various gorilla families in uganda

Of the estimated 400 mountain gorillas in Uganda, around 112 have been habituated and they belong to families. Like humans, every member of the seven different families has got a role to play.
And, oh yes, these mountain gorillas also have names just like ours:

Bitukura Family
Mugisha, Ndahura, Kadogo, Rukumu, Karamuzi, Rukara, Obia, Kamunga, Betina, Ruhara, Twakire and Mubwindi.

By Bruce Amp

Uganda is Celebrating 50 years of Independence ( 1962 - 2012 )

Filming Chimps

Studying the apes has been shown to provide answers to some of humanity’s most enduring problems, like the discovery of life-saving medicines.

Going by the many different shows on TV today, film, as a tool, can be used to educate more about tourism and science. It is not every day that arts and science come together for a cause. Sabrina Krief takes us through her research on the possibility of human beings using herbal medication for treatment of diseases, like Malaria, among others that affect chimpanzees.
How do chimpanzees, our closest relatives, “get to know” how to avoid poisonous plants and select those that seem to treat them? This is the question that is still tormenting Krief, a veterinarian and lecturer at the National Museum of Natural History. By observing the plants ingested by the chimpanzees in therapy, she hopes to eventually identify active natural substances susceptible to fit in the composition of new drugs for humans.

Perfect partnership
In 2006, Krief partnered with Uganda Wildlife Authority, Makerere University and ICSN-CNRS in France to carry out research on various plant species eaten by chimps. By closely observing their behaviour, Krief made an outstanding discovery. Chimpanzees are able to select plants not only for food but also for medication.
This, according to the researcher, is a form of intelligence that should remind us how close we are to the apes. But we would perhaps never have known much about this research if Mathieu Vidard, presenter of La tête au Carré on French Channel France Inter, hadn’t interested himself in recording what is perhaps Sabrina’s daily life and job into what he called “On a marché sur la terre” (We walked on Earth).
Vidard takes viewers on a worldwide trip visiting the largest open sky laboratories. On April 1, a French TV Channel France 2 broadcast this documentary, which recounts a journey of encountering scientists worldwide.

Recently, a select crowd of guests watched the documentary at the NationalMuseum alongside Krief and Prof. Gilles Boeuf the President of the French Museum of Natural History (MNHN). In “We walked on Earth,” Vidard encounters Krief, a brilliant young primatologist who has for the last 10 years traversed Uganda’s forests to meet the chimpanzees.
Krief’s hope and aspiration are modest. “If we observe the chimpanzees, we may be able to find remedies for common human diseases,” she says in the film. Considering that over four million people watched it in Europe, one wonders how much more this documentary alone would spur in tourist numbers.
Although Sabrina does not see herself going commercial with it, if watched by many other countries, we could perhaps remain perched at the top of tourist destinations for must visits once again. The documentary takes the viewer through the wilderness right into the hearts of forests, home to our distant cousins. Swinging from branch to branch, they fascinate Robert, a pupil in one of the schools near the national parks. “I thought they would be fierce but I see they are peaceful animals,” he tells Vidard.
Used as an ambassador to conserve habitat and preach against trapping gorillas and chimps, Robert and others also present a short skit on awareness and protection of the chimps. Fellow pupils are excited by the skit and seem to have taken in several points, a plus for Krief who sought to sow seeds for future conservationists. “We walked on Earth” basically takes the viewer through Krief’s life as she digs into the life of chimpanzees, how they feed, how they communicate and most importantly how they treat themselves by chewing certain leaves.

“When they shout loudly, they are actually communicating,” Krief explains to Vidard. Although shot in French, English sub titling though with some misspelt words, suffices. The message is not lost. If you have never been to any ofUganda’s tourist destinations, this documentary brings the animals right in your face as you watch what Vidard and group enjoyed during the shoot.
The pictures take you to the parks, you feel like you are actually there and you don’t have to face the challenges like slippery ground taking its toll on Rwenzori Mountain climbers among others shown in the documentary.
Krief and team had to trek to Magherita Peak to let us in on the herbal medicine species available there. According to some clips in the film, we are separated from our chimp ‘cousins’ between eight and 12 million years ago. Although it is still a long way to go, Krief and team would want to finalise with the research.

By: Bruce Amp

The octogenarian who beat culture to reach her goal

President Museveni decorating labeka Okwong during this year’s Labour Day celebrations in Gulu. 

She was among the lucky few girls to get an education eight decades ago. Labeka Auma Okwong decided to pass on this luck to the girls in Achioli Sub-region.

Labeka Auma Okwong narrowly missed going to school. At the age of eight, she managed to enroll in school after a missionary nun, Mama Cave Brown, from England saw her in church and asked her parents to allow her educate the girl.

“At eight years, I had never been to school apart from having the basics like reading the Bible and a little writing which we picked from baptism classes,” she recalls. The encounter with the nun took place in Koch Goma, (present day Nwoya District), when she had gone to visit her father, a catechist at the church.

She recalls how Mama Cave Brown used to move around with her, preaching and also gave her the responsibility of reading Bible verses. Okwong’s parents picked interest in her Bible reading and let her join school.

Now 81 years of age, she is a retired teacher who is one of the most educated women of her time. She began her education from Gulu Primary School where she studied for six years and then joined junior school. But due to lack of female teachers in Acholi, she was enrolled in Gulu Primary Teachers College where she studied for three years and got a certificate in teaching. On completing the course, Okwong was posted to Boroboro Vernacular Teachers College, where she was assigned the responsibility of teaching language, that is pronunciation and spelling.

Consequences of marriage
She taught for three years before getting married. During that era, conceiving or getting married meant that you had to quit your job. It was a government policy that when a woman opts for marriage, she had to let go of her job. And if the person left before serving in a position for less than four years, there would be no pension paid.

Later, this policy was revised and Okwong was called back to duty. She was also awarded a scholarship to upgrade at Stranminis Belfast College in Northern Ireland in the UK. She says the skills obtained at the college helped her to become the first female assistant inspector of schools in Acholi District from 1968-1970.

“Had not it been Mama Cave Brown who helped me to get an education, parents that time thought that educating girls was making them lazy and promoting prostitution in the community. Girls were only taught how to read and little writing and be prepared for marriage so that they can get dowry to their parents and contribute to their brother’s marriages,” she says. 
She adds that her education was an eye-opener to her father, Rev Canon Yayeri Ojok, who also went ahead to ask to other parents to take their daughters to school.

“I am glad that girl education was taken up seriously and to date, there are many girls who have achieved in life as result of the struggle for girl child education in the region. Though there are others who are still tied up by the cultural norms and tradition especially those married off at a tender age.”

Okwong is among the 24 people who were awarded the Nile Medal by President Museveni at this year’s national Labour Day celebrations in Gulu. She was recognised for her work in the field of productivity, research and cultural enterprise.

Looking back, the 80-year-old regrets that the colonialists only concentrated on teaching a few people who would help them in doing their administrative work.

“They were just looking at giving the basics and natives by that time had no capacity to sustain education, they paid little attention to our plea as many children remained uneducated because they could not trek for over 20km to reach where the schools were.”

A few girls who were able to join school were limited to Arithmetic and home economics while the boys did mathematics and geometry.

However, she has no regrets being a teacher. And among her achievements, she prides in lighting the candle of the girl-child education in Acholi which is still burning up to date.

Zanzibar: Tourists using more water than local people

Large tourist resorts in Zanzibar are consuming more than 300 per cent more water per person per day than local people, creating chronic shortages.

According to a new report from the UK-based charity Tourism Concern, the situation in Zanzibar and The Gambia, is typical of the problems faced by many poor African people living near large tourist resorts.

The report accuses large international hotel chains of “unsustainable appropriation” of water supplies as well as pollution of water supplies through poorly regulated tourism.

The consequences of this chronic water depletion “are threatening the environment, and undermining living standards, livelihoods and development opportunities of impoverished local communities,” the report says.

Consumption
Tourism Concern says that one of the worst examples of the gap between the use of water by tourists and local people is in the villages of Kiswengwa and Nungwi in Zanzibar where tourists were using 16 times more fresh water per head each day than locals.

Overall, across Zanzibar, Tourism Concern said that luxury hotels consume up to 3,195 litres of water per room per day while average household consumption was 93.2 litres of water per day.

It said that tension over the issue had become so acute that guards were patrolling hotel pipelines “to prevent vandalism by angry locals.”

The report adds that a recent power cut led to a cholera outbreak in which at least four villagers died after consuming well water thought to have become contaminated with sewage from nearby hotels.

“Government policies tend to favour international hotels and tour operators over local entrepreneurs. This is causing conflict and resentment, and threatening the sustainability of the tourism sector itself,” the report notes.

Rachel Noble, Head of Policy and Research at Tourism Concern said: “The benefits of tourism-related jobs and economic growth are grossly undermined where governments fail to protect water rights and the environment from the impacts of poorly planned tourism development.”

She said that threats to water resources in tourist destinations are complex and challenging, and demand a co-ordinated response to effectively address them.

By: Bruce Amp

Bird habitats in East Africa under threat as pressure on land rises

Growing up in Kenya’s Rift Valley, little Edna Ratemo was always mesmerised by the nearby scenic Lake Nakuru, whose shores were carpeted in the vivid pink of the Lesser flamingos.

“The sight was breathtaking. The waters would subside, marking the low season; then when the waters returned, you would see millions of flamingos,” she reminisces.

Several years down the line, many things have changed. “The well defined high and low seasons are long gone. The lake’s water levels have been falling and the flamingo numbers have decreased drastically,” she says.

Nakuru town has also changed. Its population has been increasing steadily over the years and putting a strain on the areas’ resources.

For example, more buildings have been erected, and farms are now close to the Lake, polluting it with raw sewage and harsh chemicals that affect the Lesser flamingos adversely.

Ratemo’s is not a lone cry. Environmentalists across East Africa are concerned about the rapid destruction of Important Bird Areas (IBAs) or habitats that are of immense value to the region.

The conservation monitoring co-ordinator of Nature Kenya, Fred Barasa, notes that birds act as environmental watchdogs.

“When they disappear from an area, it shows there is a problem with that ecosystem that could endanger the lives of other animals, plants and human beings,’’ says Barasa.

He notes that of great concern are unprotected IBAs, which are at risk as pressure on land in East African countries increases.

East Africa’s economy is largely driven by environmental resources, mainly in the agricultural and tourism sectors. Therefore, failure to avert the destruction of IBAs spells doom for the region’s development agenda, and the future of its citizens.

Lake Natron in Tanzania is another threatened wetland IBA. Studies have shown that three-quarters of the world’s Lesser flamingos live in East Africa, and they all depend on the Lake as a significant breeding site.

Therefore, conservation organisations worry that plans by the Tanzanian government to construct a road the Serengeti Highway close to the lake, could interfere with its ecology. It could also revive plans to build a soda ash plant at the Lake, which would adversely affect the flamingos.

The 2011 Report on the IBA Status and Trends in Uganda shows that the Lutembe Bay Wetland on the shores of Lake Victoria is the most affected in the country.

The population of migratory birds (specifically the Gull-Billed Tern) has been decreasing over the past five years. This may be attributed to habitat changes such as cultivation, real estate development and agro-chemicals pollution from surrounding flower industries.

The report recommends strict regulations to minimise these threats. Lutembe Bay is important to surrounding communities as a source of fish for food and income, raw materials for local crafts and building, as well as water for domestic use

By Bruce Amp

Sudanese kill two in Kidepo

Two people including UPDF soldier and a ranger with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), were killed on Friday by Sudanese pothers. The suspects belonged to the Toposa, a worrier tribe in South Sudan, according to a statement by UWA.

UWA’s public relations manager Lillian Nsubuga identified the dead as Pte. Matthew Oyoo Odongo. She said the duo lost their lives as they attempted to intercept poachers who had killed a buffalo.

Park Authorities said rangers on patrol informed them at 9: 00am that they had sighted the poachers at a place called Nakoromoro. The poachers were seen carrying smoked meat toward river Kidepo. UWA responded by dispatching reinforcements and mounted a joint operation with UPDF. The plan was to arrest the poachers. However, they turned out to be more than what had initially been communicated. In the process, one poacher shot two people dead.

Sh60b to boost Tourism

Government faulted for not doing much to take advantage of the various accolades won by the country.

The tourism Minister expects Sh60b this financial year to brave the hurdles in its struggle to promote the sector since its inception six months ago. “For tourism to transform the economy and the lives of the host, the onus in on the government to sow more if we are to reap more,” Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, told hoteliers, donors and operators during a meeting to discuss the way forward for the industry in Kampala last week.

“We need more resources to enable the ministry to put up the recommended infrastructure update and sustain it, aggressively market the destinations abroad and offer the great expectations promised.” Alluding to the more than $600m tourism earns the economy; the minister asserted that the sh12b previously given to the sector was not enough. This followed a heated debate about what needs to done to exploit the numerous international accolades won by Uganda comprising; Planet One, New York Times and National Geographical. “These are the Bibles of tourism who are sending thousands of tourists from across the world packing and saving to come to the Pearl of Africa,” said Kamuntu

“The onus is on us to provide a perfect chain services from the time one touches down at the airport, through accommodation , transit to National Parks, rivers or cultural tourism sites.” The participants offered recommendations that would enable Uganda sustain herself as a lead destinations in the competitive global market. The participants argued the government to adopt a consistent marketing tagline to replace the most preferred destination, Gifted by nature, Irresistible Uganda and Pearl of Africa.

“There is a need to hire a marketing body to sell Uganda to EU and US markets,” suggested as sustainable tourism expert Brad Weiss. “The global shocks like the credit crunch demonstrated to the market why vital regional tourism ought to be promoted to avoid dependence on one segment of tourism.” Weiss advised that besides conventional tourist destination other attractions comprising community tourism, goat race, MTN Marathon and Ndere Troup ought to be promoted. Also recommended was product development especially the Nyero Rock Paintings in Kumi, Bigo Bya Mugenyi and Mabere Ga Nyinamwiru in Fort Portal.

Amama Mbabazi, the Prime Minister, recently urged social communicators on Twitter and Facebook to market Uganda as a destination and inform friends with up-to-date information. “Put records right that are negatively portrayed like the infamous Kony 2012,” said Mbabazi. “Mbabazi said there are plenty attractions that can make guests stay longer and spend a lot more while here. Packaging and delivery of our product remains the biggest challenge,” he said.   

By: Bruce Amp