Uganda Tours, Uganda Safaris, Gorilla Safari News , Uganda Travel & safari

The state minister for works Eng. John Byabagambi said that the Government has set aside sh6.3b for upgrading the Gulu-Juba road to a first class murram road and build a new bridge on Aswa River,

A new contractor will start regravelling the road from Pabbo to Nimule as Sobetra Construction Company takes on Gulu-Pabbo road in a year’s time.

He said the European Union had contributed sh3.5b towards the rebuilding of the bridge and another sh3b the for road is part of the sh1.1 trillion budget for the ministry.

The minister said work on the brigde will start in two weeks time.
He said traffic would be diverted to Gulu-Patiko-Palaro-Atyak road when the work kicks off.

While inspecting the road on Wednesday,Byabagambi apologised to businessmen who had lost their property because of the bad road.

He said the road would be maintained and the Bibia-Nimur-Agoro stretch to Sudan would be tarmaced.

By Tanah Hadijah
Uganda Travel News

A mass of people swarmed Kaliro town yesterday to bid farewell to the late Kyabazinga, Henry Wako Muloki, at a state funeral attended by His Excellence the President of Uganda - Yoweri . K. Museveni.

It was a heroic send-off for the Isebantu (father of Busoga), gathering a 17-gun salute that echoed in the Vicinity.
It was prayers, tributes, praises, political posturing and lying of circlet as notables bid farewell to Muloki, 87, who yielded to cancer of the throat on Monday last week.
All the three arms of government were represented, with Museveni leading the executive, the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Sekandi, heading the legislature and the Chief Justice, Benjamin Odoki, for the judiciary. Several delegations from the rest of Uganda’s traditional kingdoms also attended.
At 9:40am, pall bearers clad in police uniform rolled the casket from his 1930 huge house in Kaliro to the expansive compound where dignitaries assembled in large marquees. Ten minutes later, the Bishop of Busoga diocese, Michael Kyomya, led a long procession of the clergy to a service. Choirs and the police band played music.

Mid-way the service, notables were asked to lay circlet led by the President and the First Lady Janet.
Museveni moved to the procession, laid the wreath, moved one step backwards and removed his trademark hat as he regally bowed in the last physical greeting of his deceased friend.

Other VIPs followed suit. Among then was the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, the Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, deputy Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, Prime Minister Prof. Apolo Nsibambi and his deputies Henry Kajura and Kirunda Kivejinja.

In the scorching heat that came before a downpour, a woman fainted and was carried away by Red Cross staff.

After a sermon by retired bishop Cyprian Bamwoze, Edward Wambuzi Muloki was pronounced heir to Muloki. Wambuzi, who has been assisting his father to administer the kingdom . He is known to be the youngest of the four sons.

Museveni, his wife, VIPs, the clergy and close family members proceeded to the graveyard for the official burial ceremony.

The rest of the mourners were asked to remain seated. However, hundreds of curious mourners watched the burial through the temporary fence. Even the rainstorm did not dissuade them.

During the burial proceedings, a police officer blew a bugle in a ritual that is reserved for VIPs and military officers as other pall bearers drew their swords in salutation.

Then off went the seventeen-gun salute. The casket was then lowered by pulley into the yellow-blue-brown tiled grave.
The burial sounds of the Ntukire drum, sounded only to announce the death and burial of a Soga king, could be heard in the background.

When the VIPs left the graveside, other guests and clansmen were called to participate in the burial rituals.

In the Busoga Culture, as the Kyabazinga is buried, the Ntukire drum is sounded and a cow speared, a ritual that is not witnessed by princes.
According to tradition, Muloki was buried facing the direction of Bunyoro kingdom where Mukama Namutukula, the founding ruler of Busoga, came from.

Mourners were served food, bottled water and soda. The Government donated 11 cows to the 11 royal clans of Busoga.

According to gender minister Syda Bbumba, who handed over the animals, they will be used to perform the rituals that follow the burial of a Busoga king.

Uganda is one of the countries that has got various unique and interesting cultural attributes.

By Tanah Hadijah

Uganda Travel News

If you knew that traditional singer and Dancer Annette Nandujja is here only to welcome international figures at Entebbe or to Entertain people at various ceremonial occasions only in Uganda , then your better update your thoughts.

The Kiganda dance Superstar was seen performing at the Afro Fete concert at Hilton in Universal City, Califonia USA where the Africa Convention took place.
The Africa Convention is a sincere, ambitious endeavor to bring together Africans from all corners of the Diaspora and our sisters and brothers from all cultures, religious denominations and social strata in celebration and honor of our mother continent; Africa.

This four day event featured the best and the brightest of the African continent and conclude in a royal banquet ceremony. Among the highlights of the event was the Pan-Africa Women’s Empowerment & Economic Development Symposium, Film Festival, African-North American Couture Show and International Business Exhibition.

The Africa Convention salutes the proud accomplishments of Africans in the Diaspora who give the best of themselves; and seeks to contribute proceeds from the event ticket sales to credible, highly regarded charitable organizations that are doing vitally important work in Africa.

The Africa Convention is meant to inspire goodwill and beneficial exchanges among all Africans outside of the Mother continent and all mankind. This is an opportunity to address issues facing African men, women and children through the exchange of information, research and discussion. The event offers a platform for viable business opportunities and to promote social, cultural, educational and philanthropic activities among participants. Best of all, the Africa Convention is an occasion to celebrate what an indelible mark our continent imprints upon the globe!

Uganda’s Culture comprises of unique futures and the dances including the Kiganda dance is one of its attributes.

By Tanah H

Africa Travel News.

About 100 former LRA abductees marched quietly through Gulu town yesterday in commemoration of missing children and the people killed in the war. Unlike in the past 20 years, it is now safe to move in Northern Uganda .

The marchers raised hoardings in which they called on the public to support their cause.

Some of the posters read “Say NO to war in northern Uganda,” others had “Forgive us for what we could have done,” to mention but afew.

The event was prearranged by a charitable trust, known as World Vision. The programme manager of the children of war rehabilitation center in Gulu, Fulukas Boroa Enyaga, said the charity had helped 15,000 former abductees. He said the walk was fanatical especially to the children who were made to fight and kill .

Gulu district deputy speaker Patrick Oola Lumumba petitioned donors to help the post trauma abductees. He said that they receive death threats from some few rebels still in the bush.

Oola was abducted when he was 15. He said many Women with children returning from the bush had been abandoned and rejected by men.

Unlike in the past years, it is now 95% safe to travel to Northern Uganda.

UGANDA TRAVEL NEWS

By Tanah H

After the signing of a Memorundum of understanding between Uganda and Sudan, plans for development of the proposed Gulu – Nimule – Juba –Wau rwailway have been ultimately finalized.

This MOU was signed on the 26th of August between the government of Uganda and Sudan for joint development of the proposed railway line.

The Gulu-Nimule-Juba-Wau (920 km) route is considered shorter than the earlier proposed route of Pakwach-Arua-Oraba-Yei-Juba, which is 1,028 kilometers. The memorandum that also covered other modes of transport was witnessed by a deputation of officials from the Government of South Sudan (GOSS).

It was signed by the Minister of Work Mr John nasasira on behalf of Uganda while
Brig. General Philip Thon Leek Deng, the Minister of Transport, Roads and Bridges, signed on behalf of Sudan. Before signing , a meeting was held and it was in the context of Decision Number five of the 5th Session of the Sudan-Uganda Joint Ministerial Commission held in March 2007 in Khartoum.

The meeting noted the need to have joint project proposals on the roads and railway lines connecting the two countries for purpose of importuning funding. It also recognized a Joint Ministerial Transport Commission (JMTC) to execute the verdicts of the MOU and to mutually offer the development of transport road and rail network and services between the two countries
The bilateral meeting further talked about the stage of the ongoing and planned projects on key roads connecting Sudan and Uganda. The roads are: Arua-Koboko-Oraba-Kaya-Yei-Juba Gulu-Atiak-Nimule-Juba-Malakal Moroto-Kotido-Kaabong-New Site-Kapoeta Kitgum-Ikotos-Torit. It was agreed to speed up the process of advancing these roads to bitumen.

The Government has secured a credit from the World Bank to commence a practicability study and detailed design of the Vurra-Arua-Koboko-Oraba road, which is anticipated to begin in September 2008. It did not say how much the credit is.

However, it says upgrading to bitumen is expected to commence in March 2010. “During this financial year the road will undergo routine maintenance and full regravelling will commence in December 2008. Reconstruction of 14 bridges along the road is also expected to commence in December 2008.

UNRA’s Corporate Communications Manager, Mr Dan Alinange said that tenders for construction are due at the end of August.
The Kitgum-Musingo (Border) 80km link lies in Uganda while the Musingo-Tsertenya-Ikotos-Torit (280km) is in Sudan. The feasibility study and detailed design of the entire link from Rwenkunye-Apac-Lira-Kitgum-Tsertenya is scheduled to commence in February 2009 and be completed in December 2009. Upgrading works estimated at US$150m are scheduled to commence in June 2010.

The cost for construction of this road is currently estimated at $75.4million. Moroto-Kotido-Kaabong-New Site-Kapoeta road (265km) is scheduled to receive full regravelling commencing January 2009. Subject to availability of funds, upgrading works are expected to commence after June 2010. The road is estimated to cost $174million.

TRAVEL UGANDA NEWS

By Tanah H

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The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (Uwec) Entebbe today will host well-wishers to a birthday party not of any any political or bureaucratic motives, but for Zakayo, the oldest chimpanzee at Uwec who has turned 44 years.
Zakayo the alpha male is one of our flagship animals at the centre. UWEC is that the the birthday will be celebrated with a couple of tour activities. Zakayo is said to be a favourite to visitors at the Centre and yet a historical member of the centre whom we think deserves a celebrated birthday with the public notice.

School children are lined up today ate UWEC to witness the birthday celebration, participate in a quiz competition and question-answer session and many other activities , organised by the zoo authorities on the occasion in a bid to spread the conservation message.

Zakayo is said to have been born in June 1972 at Semiliki in Bundibugyo and was hand-raised. The chimpanzee was later surrendered to the Entebbe Zoo on June 10, 1976. The chimp is said to be very fatherly.

According to Uwec, “Zakayo has sired eight offsprings and is very protective towards the younger chimps. He is always the last to go out in the mornings and the last to get inside in the evenings.” He is said to be so humane.

Uwec appealed to the public to continue supporting the centre given the fact that

Tourism was declared Uganda’s second largest income earner last year and foreign Exchange earner.

Tanah

Primates Tour News

The Ugandan Government has asked all manufacturers and exporters of soft drinks to indicate the “Uganda, Gifted by Nature,” logo on their packs. This was suggested in a bid to promote the country as a tourism and investment destination.

Uganda minister for tourism, trade and industry , Ms Janat Mukwaya,told MPs that the practice would start this year to enhance the promotion of a positive image and branding of Uganda.

She added that all hotel owners should be persuaded to place Uganda’s wildlife and other tourist attractions that Uganda has to promote the country.

The committee was scrutinising the ministry’s policy statement.

In October 2005, President Yoweri initiated the “Brand Uganda Campaign” at the Commonwealth Speke Resort Hotel in Munyonyo. The President unveiled the logo, which read: “Uganda, gifted by Nature.”

The campaign was courtesy of Government and SCOPE-USAID. At the end of 2005, Uganda’s rich heritage was televised on CNN to give Uganda an opportunity to compete for a share of global tourism and investment revenues.

By Tanah Hadijah

Uganda Safari News

BUJAGALI Energy has given a $3.8m (about sh6.1b) engineering contract to a US-based firm, MWH.

MWH, a global provider of environmental engineering, strategic consultation and construction management services, will provide engineering services for the 250MW Bujagali hydro-power project.

Bujagali Energy is a joint business enterprise between Industrial Promotion Services of Kenya and US power giant, Sithe Global Power.

The project, which is expected to cost $682m (sh1,098b), started in August 2007 and is scheduled to be completed in 2011.

Once online, the plant is projected to double the nation’s energy capacity and give the much-needed power that will ease economic growth.

MWH also made a request for qualifications and tender documents for selecting a project delivery contractor on an engineer, procure and construct basis.

The project is on the Victoria Nile River, about 8km downstream of the Owen Falls dam hydropower project. The facility will supply power from a native and renewable resource.

Innitially , when the issue of constructing a dam at Bujagali falls was brought up, many people thought it would distruct white water rafting one of the tourism highlights in Uganda and Jinja as a tourism site. However, most of the white water rafting companies have confirmed that the tourism activity will continue even after the construction of the dam.

Uganda Tours News

Tanah

The Uganda wildlife centre (UWEC) is stuck with a whooping US$ 1562500 million which it cannot put into use to develop the centre. While appearing before the parliamentary Sessional common tourism, trade and industry to review their performance over the past year 2007, UWEC’s management said that because of its quasi status as a government‘s approval.
Dr . Richard Okwir , a member UWEC board of Director committee told members of parliament that though they wish to partner with some other companies to use the funds to develop the centre, this is not possible as they are just a government trustee.

He said the money accumulated from proceed of the shares they have in the new vision , standbic and NSSF, generates over USD$ 125,000(USH 200 millions) each year.

Transformed in 1994 from the then Entebbe Zoo opened in 1952, UWEC is used as Uganda’s conservation and education centre for both the flora and fauna species especially those that face extinction. However, the paradox of the theme is that though the centre has all these funds stored away in the banks, it is complaining of gross under funding by government especially its development budget.

He added that was it not for Volunteers who highly subsidize their running costs, it would be an up –hill task for them to operate normally . He said that because of this, they are curtailed from doing out reaches to educate Ugandans about wildlife Conservation issues.

He added that were these out reaches carried out , encroachments of gazettes like national parks, wetlands and depletion of some plants etc would be minimal.

The legislators promised to support the BODS bid to become an independent body.

Mr Angino Gutumoi said that UWEC’s Status has risen as this would give it more opportunities. He added that they are prepared to support the bid so that UWEC can fully exploit its potential.

He said that UWEC’s Casual relationship with the government would not take them far so It would better set off for it is improper for UWEC to keep begging yet they can stand on their own..

As a government trustee, UWEC has no legal mandate to make it’s own decisions with government’s approval.

BY Tanah Hadijah
Uganda Safari News

Mr Raymond E Kendall the man who kept Sir Edward Mutesa in England while he was in exile and his son Kabaka Ronald Muwenda mutebi the now ruling Kabaka of Buganda is again in Uganda on a red cross mission. Raymond checked in on the 2nd of July and he was welcomed by Receptionists at the imperial resort beach hotel.

When he was met by Abacus African Vacations Tours manager Ms Tanah Hadijah at The Imperial resort beach hotel in Entebbe, he applauded on how beautiful Uganda is and said it is the reason why he brought his son to Uganda to tour around the place where he stayed in the 1950s. His son and the wife are now on a 10 days Uganda highlights tour with Abacus African Vacations . They will be touring Murchison falls National park, Kibale NP, Queen Elizabeth Np, Bwindi for Gorilla Tracking and L. Bunyonyi in Kabale.

He promised to meet the now reigning Kabaka of Buganda on a special visit before he leaves the Country.

He demeaned the policies of some western countries of putting a red alert on Uganda claiming that it is insecure and stopping their citizens to Visit Uganda yet the country is safe. He urged Abacus African Vacations to get a tourist supplier in England saying that many people would love to travel to the country but because they are afraid of internet scam, they find it hard to book tours using the internet

Mr Raymond Kendall is remembered in the history of Buganda Kingdom for having safe guarded the late Kabaka Edward Mutesa while in Exile and is now the Secretary-General, ICPO-Interpol

By Tanah Hadijah
Uganda Tour News