Uganda in the eyes of Sir Samuel Baker’s offspring

(L-R ) Sir Samuel Baker’s great grandson David Baker, his daughter Melanie Baker and UWA Executive Director Andrew Sseguya

“Uganda has a diversity of tribes, landscapes and water bodies that are not found anywhere in the world” observed the visiting, explorer Sir Samuel Baker’s great grandson David Baker.

“It has been amazing to stand at the exact spot where my great grandfather stood with his wife Florence

150 years ago to see and name Lake Albert.”

“Thanks to RGS, the modern GPS and Google map. The exact spot is today a refugee camp,” added elated Baker.

Flipping his ipad open, he quotes from the griping account of Sir Samuel Baker’s exploration, a description of the people, lifestyle and dress code found in place way back in the 19th Century. “The reception I got was warm.

The natives greeted me by raising my hand up above my head. Then as a gesture of acceptance by the tribe-pumping it three times before-letting go,” read Baker.

Comparing experiences, Baker considers himself and his daughter Melanie lucky to meet Ugandans who are citizens of the global world today. 

They tweet, joke, wear Jeans, speak English, drink Coca cola and dine posh.

“Para Sarova is a ten star hotel,” said Baker. “Where else in the world can you see the big five, the cascading River Nile, birds and live dances like I have seen in one day. 

The thunderous drums are still ringing in my ears and the choreographed Bwola dancer’s footwork

is engraved on my mind. 

They can fill a theater to capacity in Central London!”

Great granddaughter Melanie who lives in Canada was speechless and could not wait to publish her experience in Africa.

“Getting to learn that there is a school named after my great granny makes me proud of my roots,” boasts Melanie. “And it has awakened me to the fact that not what we all take for granted in the developed world,

like education and healthcare, is available to all.”

National Geographic leader of the expedition Julian Fisher said credit goes to Uganda Wildlife Authority, Para Safari Lodge and National Geographic

By Bruce Amp

Rare monkey specie is tourism’s new kid on the block

A mangabey monkey. Recent research shows that the rare monkeys prefer to live in undisturbed natural high forests. 

Buikwe - In the next one year, Ugandans and other tourists can prepare to engage in a new form of tourism activity—tracking the Mangabeymonkeys.

Beyond the pleasure of following the grey-cheeked monkeys lies the unique fact that one will be tracking primates whose existence is largely limited to Uganda.

The government’s decision to promote the monkeys, also known as Uganda Mangabey or Lophocebus Ugandae, as the newest tourism product followed the commissioning of their habituation recently.

At the forefront of this initiative is the Ministry of Environment, the National Forestry Authority and Nature and Livelihood, an NGO.

Dr William Olupot, who works with Nature and Livelihood, said the monkeys are only found in Uganda although a small number lives on the Tanzanian side of the Uganda-Tanzania border along Lake Victoria.

Locations
“In Uganda, they are found in Lwamunda, Sango Bay and Bugoma forests in KibaleNational Park and in the Mabira Central Forest Reserve in Buikwe District,” Dr Olupot said.

He said recent research has shown that the rare monkeys prefer to live in undisturbed natural high forests, prompting the authorities to start the habituation process.

The exercise, which will last between one and two years, will see tourism officials slowly introduce humans to monkeys in a bid to make the latter get used to the former.

Once the monkeys are comfortable relating with humans then the public will be free to track them like they do with mountain gorillas in BwindiImpenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda.

Dr Olupot also wondered why Mabira, despite being close to the city (60kms from Kampala) with a large forest and plenty of flora and fauna was yet to be developed into a vibrant tourist destination.

Mr James Ndimukulaga, a director at the National Forest Authority, said far from claims that humans had invaded Mabira and destroyed it for charcoal and timber, the forest was still largely intact and could be developed into a tourism hub.

The call from Mr Leo Twinomuhangi, the ranger manager at NFA, however, was different.

He said there was evidence of “powerful” people connected to the UPDF, the police and local leadership clearing sections of the forest.

“I wish all the mentioned people can repent and stop the act. No one should ever cut a tree in Mabira and we will enjoy many more benefits,” he said.

By: Bruce Amp