Kyenjonjo: Home of Elephants, chimps

An elephant in Kibale National Park which gave Kyenjojo its name to mean home of elephants.

Kyenjojo- Kyenjojo is a district in the Rwenzorisub-region in western Uganda. The name Kyenjojo simply means a place for elephants (Enjojo derived from the Rutooro word to mean elephants).
Travellers on Fort Portal-Kampala road used to tell stories of encounters with elephants on the way to Kyenjojo through Kibale Forest National Park that cuts across part of the district.
Kibale Forest National Park covers part of Kamwenge, Kabarole and a bigger part of Kyenjojo District.
The district was established in 2000 and carved out of Kabarole District which also later gave birth to Kyegegwa District in 2009.
It is part of Tooro Kingdom, which is mainly referred to as Mwenge County and its people as Abanyamwenge.
“Mwenge” means “banana beer” so Mwenge County is famous for its banana beer production. It is now divided into two counties: Mwenge North and Mwenge South.
Location
Kyenjojo is bordered by Kibaale District to the north, Kyegegwa to the east, Kamwenge to the south west and Kabarole District to the west.
It is about 250kms by road, west of Kampala or a 3-hour-drive from Kampala and covers an approximate 2,311.04sqKms of land.
The district is composed of Batooro, Bakiga and Banyarwanda tribes.
Population
The district has a population of 392,800 persons (195,300 males and 197,500 females) and the district population growth rate is at 3.37 per cent according to the district administration records.
The administrative set up is composed of one County (Mwenge), two parliamentary constituencies (Mwenge North and Mwenge South), 12 sub-counties, four town councils, 99 parishes and 19 wards, one town board (Rugombe) and 666 villages.
Health services
The staffing level in the health department is at 54 per cent with one general hospital with staffing level of 24 per cent,one health centre 1V (Kyarusozi), two health sub-districts (Kyenjojo and Kyarusozi), 11 health centre IIIs, 12 health centre IIs, two operating theaters and six doctors.
The average distance to a health unit is 5kms.
Road infrastructure
There are 289.3 Km (103kms tarmac while 186.3kms gravel) while feeder roads cover 351.4kms.

Safe water coverage
The number of main safe water sources is 151 bore holes, 10 piped water schemes with a total of 373 taps, 561 shallow wells, 511 protected springs 141 surface water tanks and one underground water tank.
Safe water coverage is at 72.3 per cent while the distance covered to access a source is 5km for urban taps, 1.2km for rural facilities.
Kyenjojo contributes a big part in the tea industry in the Tooro region. It has five tea factories
The district is endowed with a variety of natural resources. The majority of the people depend on them for their livelihoods in terms of food, shelter and income. These include forests, wetlands, minerals, wildlife, good climate, and arable soil among others.
Forest cover
Kyenjojo has 11 central forest reserves: Itwara, Matiri, Kagorra, Kitecura, Ibambaro, Muhangi, Kibego, Nkera, Oruha, Kikumiro and Kyehara.

Climate
Kyenjojo has favourable climatic conditions with cool temperatures and a bimodal annual rainfall of about 2,000mm throughout the year with well drained fertile soils.
The district is neighbouring Kibaale Forest National Park which is home to various animal species such as elephants, chimpanzees, antelopes and monkeys, baboons, bush pigs, various butterflies and a diversity of birds and plant species.

A few meters on Kyenjojo-Kagadi road in Kyenjojo Town is Katoosa Martyrs Villa known by the village in which it is located.

The tourist site is visited for the rocks that have become famous for the 24 Ugandan martyrs killed by Kabaka Mwanga in the 1880’s.

The rocks which have inscriptions of the Martyrs, with their names and dates when they were killed, gives the place a splendid look with rocks leaning on each other and others standing as high as the trees.

The villa, which has more than 30 stones, was established after the Catholics came to know that Saint Adolf Tibeyalirwa Abwooli is from Katoosa Parish, Kyenjojo District, Fort Portal Diocese.

Hassan Mugerwa Kajumba is the OC station Kyenjojo who has played a big part in crime elimination in the district.

David Mwinganiza is a doctor and owns Midastouch Hospital in Kyenjojo Town.

James Byamukama is the district chairman and a commissioner of oaths

Joyce Kwebiiha aka Mama Mission is the former Woman MP Kyenjojo District.

Aston Kajara is state minister for Finance and MP Mwenge South. He has represented the constituency in Parliament from 2001 until 2006 and from 2011 until now.

Elizabeth Ruhweza is the senior assistant secretary at Kihuura sub-county and a prominent farmer.

James Kats Karyeija is the chairman the opposition FDC party in Mwenge South.

Peter Mugisha is Kyenjojo RDC and the chairperson of the district security committee.

Uganda embassy in Washington DC boosts tourism

Uganda’s Embassy in Washington DC has partnered with National Tour Association (NTA) in North America to boost tourism in Uganda.

“Uganda’s share of North American tourism market is set to expand following the partnership with the National Tour Association (NTA), a leading player in the travel industry in North America,” Oliver Wonekha, Uganda’s Ambassador to the United States, and  Stephen B. Reacher, NTA’s Public Affairs Advocate at Uganda Embassy, Washington, D.C said.

Wonekha noted that although Uganda has some of Africa’s best tourist attractions, the number of tourists from North America visiting the country hasn’t matched this potential, a recent statement issued by the Embassy said.

She, however, noted that after emerging from a difficult past, Uganda has seen increased investmentin tourism infrastructure such as hotels in cities and game parks, access roads, boosting security in and around the tourist attractions.

She said the Embassy is working together with the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities; Uganda Tourism Board (UTB); Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) to increase the country’s visibility as a unique tourist destination.

Wonekha also said a surge in American tourists to Uganda will also positively impact on other sectors of the economy. 

“For instance, with 30 percent of American tourists also in search for investment opportunities, the volume of investments from the United States to Uganda will result in new investments in various sectors. She also said the recently launched East Africa Tourist Visa has already gained appreciation across the travel industry as an important milestone in the region’s tourism.

NTA is a leading business-building association for professionals serving customers travelling to, from and within North America, with a membership of over 1,500 tour operators who buy and package travel products to over 600 destinations around the world, and has unprecedented access to business-to-business networking in the travel industry.

Mr. Steve Reacher said the partnership will enable North American tour operators, airlines and other players in the travel industry to work closely with their Ugandan counterparts so as to market Uganda as a favourable destination for North Americans. He also noted that Africa is the most misunderstood continent—its diversity in terms history, cultures, peoples, and available opportunities. However, those who travel to Africa gain a completely new understanding of the continent, and always want to include Africa on their travel menu.

In November 2014, Uganda is scheduled to host the 39th Annual Congress of the Africa Travel Association (ATA) in Kampala, an opportunity for Uganda to showcase her tourism potential, and for local tour operators to develop partnerships with their counterparts in North America.

By Bruce Amp

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