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.

===================================

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