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

Encroachers threaten Kumi heritage site

A section of the Nyero Rock Paintings site which encroachers have turned into a stone quarry

People are cultivating crops and quarrying on land belonging to Nyero Rock Paintings, threatening the existence of the site

Despite several interventions geared towards conserving Nyero rock paintings in Kumi District from destruction, people living in the neighbourhood have continued to carry out activities harmful to the site.

The heritage site, 8 kilometres west of Kumi Town on Ngora Road, is said to have been home to the early Iron Age inhabitants of Teso sub-region.

However, the archeological relics bearing imprints of the ancient people’s settlement in Teso are gradually vanishing due to uncontrolled human activities that authorities seem to have failed to check.

“The place is recognised internationally as a heritage site. There are rock paintings on the three caves and some of the drawings represent canoes, the sun and animals but all this is getting destroyed,” the site guard, Mr William Opio, said.

He said people living near the heritage site, most of whom settled in the area during the insurgency of 1987-1990 for safety from an army unit established near the caves, have been cultivating crops around the rocks, a practice that is exhausting the vegetation at the foot of the caves.

Authorities in Kumi said at least 20 families that have encroached on the land belonging to the heritage site have resisted calls to vacate the site.

Three years ago, Kumi District council passed a resolution banning stone quarrying and cultivation at the surrounding of Nyero RockPaintings but this has not stopped the activities.

“There is nowhere we can go. Maybe they (the authorities) should look into ways of helping us get land elsewhere,” Mr James Okiria, a resident on land claimed by the heritage management, said.

The stone quarries have gone further into the five-century treasure that the British government two years ago offered to secure funds for its protection.

“Government had abandoned the place for sometime and some people thought land surrounding the site had no owner. Permanent houses have even been built at the site,” the Kumi district boss, Mr Ismail Orot, said, adding that the US government in 2010 gave support of $37,300 to the department of museums and monuments for preservation of the cultural heritage at Nyero RockPaintings.

He said part of the funds have been earmarked to fence the rock shelters and conduct a dialogue with the neighbouring communities on the importance of preserving the heritage site.