Tourism to turn Amin image into good

In a bid to promote domestic and cultural tourism, all major ethnic groups with their unique cultures and attributes will be classified into tourism clusters that will be marketed. The proposal announced by Asimwe, the chief executive officer of Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), will also see the often ill mentioned legacy of Idi Amin turned into a profitable tourism trail that matches other global tragedies – turned tourism hot-spots like the Holocaust Museum in Germany or the Rwanda Genocide Museum in Rwanda.

“Amin is the most popular Ugandan ever, but no one is making use of him, we have to develop this trail,” said Asiimwe at the post ITB Berlin briefing. Among the major cluster groups are Buganda, Busoga, Bunyoro, Kigezi, north and eastern Uganda. Other trails to be created are the Imbalu and Kampala Carnivals.

“In June we hope everybody will participate in the Uganda Martyrs trail. A sustainable domestic domain is critical for development,” Asiimwe said. The proposals are part of efforts to see the industry turn a new page after years of living below potential. Asiimwe announced that the Ministry of Finance will, in the next financial year, allocate $2m (about5bn) to tourism industry, which is a big shot in the arm following years of underfunding.

Part of the efforts will be geared towards marketing Uganda to her neighbors so that more people from East African Community come to Ugandaas tourists. UTB chairperson James Tumusiime said his dream is ensure that by the end of the current board’s three year tenure, Uganda will have a nationaltourism fair. “We want this to be our legacy, there is no forum to provide info on what Uganda can offer,” Tumusiime noted.

The acting director of tourism, Grace Mbabazi, asked the promoting agencies to build on the good will and several accolades that keep pouring in about Uganda’s unique blessings.

Edwin Muzahura the head of marketing at UTB said that their findings indicate that Uganda had one of the highest visits by foreign guests to its stall during the three day event; while close to 100 deals were sealed.

By Bruce Amp