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

Uganda has witnessed a growth of its tourist visitors by more than 350 percent over the last five years, as revealed during a dinner hosted for East African tour operators at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel on November 19.

193,000 visitors to Uganda in 2000 were recorded which figure increased to 512,000 in 2004.
The President of the Uganda Tourism Association, Mr. Thomas Wolfgang, spoke about re-branding Uganda’s tourism image and asked the tour operators to use the slogan Gifted by Nature.

The expatriate community was appealed to, to spend money on tourist destinations within East Africa. Visas can be acquired to Uganda at any point of entry.

This aimed at marketing Uganda as a tourist destination with tourism as the leading foreign exchange earner.
Uganda is gifted by flora and fauna, which attracts tourists to the country in large numbers.

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A team of six Ethiopians in Uganda on the implementation of decentralization in rural Uganda had a tour of West Nile and were amazed at the flourishing flora and fauna in the sub-region. The green forests, the plush grassland and the water sources in four sub-counties in Arua and Yumbe districts amazed the Ethiopian team.

Lack of capacity and resources at the grassroots is said to be the main problem in implementing development programmes in most African countries and Universal Primary Education, was the best means for decentralization because formal education empowers people through eradicating ignorance.

Flora and fauna in Uganda has enhanced growth of the tourism sector, which has become Uganda’s leading foreign income earner.

uganda tourism news

In the sixth East Africa’s Most Respected Companies Survey, Kenya Airways (KQ) has emerged as the most respected company in Kenya ahead of East African Breweries (EABL) during the country awards which were introduced this year.

MTN was named Uganda’s most respected and Tanzania Breweries in Tanzania at the ceremony meant to complement regional awards, the business community in East Africa and enhance the East African market.

EABL, which has won the top award for five consecutive years, led in the manufacturing sector.
Agricultural sector was led by Homegrown for the second consecutive year and Standard Chartered Bank triumphed over Barclays Bank in the financial sector.

Serena Group of Hotels led the hotels and tourism sector for the third year running. Nakumatt Supermarkets led the services sector and Safaricom maintained its lead in the telecom information and communication technology sector.

Mumias Sugar come third in the agriculture sector and the Tamarind Group coming third in the hotels and tourism sector tieing with the Movenpick Royal Palm Hotel.

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Uganda,Kenya and Tanzania attended the worlds largest global business event for the travel and tourism industry.
Countries like Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, SouthAfrica, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Ghana and Zambia also attended the expo.

Business worth billions of pounds was expected to be conducted at the exhibition which ended on thursday 17th of November in London.
The event was attended by 202 countries and regions that showcased tourism around the world.

World Travel market group exhibition director Ms.Fiona Jeffrey said that tourism continues to grow despite the challenges faced.This was based on the increase of tourists by about 25 million arrivals compared to last year.

uganda tourism news

A tourism expo is being held in Jinja,one of uganda’s main towns.
The expo taking place from 2nd to 4th December 2005, at the Source of the Nile – Jinja,one of uganda,s main tourist attractions,is under the theme “Sustainable Tourism for Economic Development.”

Wellspring Adventure Club Ltd. In conjunction with the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Industry and A & A Create Ltd will organize the inaugural Uganda Tourism Expo, called Destination Uganda Tourism Expo (DUTE). The event will show case Uganda’s tourism services and products to position Uganda as a favorite destination for foreign tourists

There are interesting specials with Inns of Uganda, Sheraton Kampala Hotel, Adrift, All Terrain Adventures and Wellspring Adventure Club,will showcase Uganda as land of opportunities, with some of the most unique sceneries, wildlife, vegetation and an intriguing cultural diversity.

The expo is intended to show case Uganda’s tourism products and services, to promote the domestic and global tourism , bring together key stakeholders ,generate media interest , position the tourism sector as an area of opportunities for investment,and
generate domestic interest from local communities, schools and the ABC segment in promoting Uganda as a key tourism destination.

uganda tourism news

On Saturday, October 15th,the Queen of Buganda, the Nabagereka Sylvia Nagginda patron of Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH), a local NGO that works with communities in Bwindi had a gorilla tracking expedition in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

The Nabagereka of Buganda kingdom trekked Gorillas after the launch of the CTPH-owned community tele-centre that was established in Bwindi to monitor the health of the gorillas and for the education of the local community around the national park.

The Queen was in company of the Chief Warden John Bosco Nuwe, Buganda Minister for the Royal Treasury, Apollo Makubuya, the Minister for Women Affairs, Apollonia Lugemwa, Mike Hutchinson, a journalist from South Africa and Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH) Chief Executive Officer, Gladys Kalema Zikusooka.

The Nnabagereka described it in the visitors’ book as “an experience out of this world that I would love to repeat.”

Mike Hutchinson, a journalist from South Africa, said he had never seen anything like that before. “They are so peaceful and yet very active!” he said in amazement and Apollo Makubuya said he would gladly go back to Bwindi.

Uganda news

President Museveni will today officially open the Ramsar meeting expected to attract about 20 ministers from different countries

More than 1,000 representatives from about 146 countries have gathered for the 9th meeting of the contracting parties to the Ramsar conference that will end on November 15.

Ramsar is a city in Iran where the wetlands Convention was adopted in 1971 to conserve wetlands and water resources. This has brought about the formation of the Ramsar convetion in Uganda . This convetion is targeted at organising Environmentalists to demonstrate against environmental degredation here in Uganda.The contracting parties convene once in every three years to review how best to implement the concept of wise use of wetlands.

CHILDREN from Asia and Uganda made a passionate call for the need to protect and restore degraded wetlands during the global meeting convened under the auspices of the Ramsar Convention on wetlands.

Even a debate on the same issue was organised by children at the Rainbow International Academy in Kampala yesterday, and they said some wetlands should be restored “to reduce the suffering of the children and the denial of world heritage.”

“Could you please use the remaining wetlands wisely so that by the time you hand them over to us they are useful,” read the appeal by the children, drawn from various primary and secondary schools.

The appeal was presented during the opening ceremony of the global meeting on wetlands at Speke Resort, Munyonyo in Kampala.

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Gorillas in Bwindi inpenetrable National Parks in South-Western Uganda have got a labaratory in Buhoma village, for undertaking tests on the endangered mountain species.

The labaratory is to monitor the health of the Gorillas by analysing samples regulary instead of reacting to imergencies when the disease breaks out.
The Dung of the Gorillas is collected once a week by Uganda Wildlife Authority(UWA) Officials,which is examined by reserchers and then advice on the proper measures to prevent disease outbreak.

Dr.Gladys Kalema said that the clinic will prevent the spread of diseases between the local people,wildlife and livestock in Bwindi park and the surrounding areas.

The labaratory was built through contributions of various partners of Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH),like uganda wildlife authority(UWA),Us Fish and wildlife service,goverments,private corporations and worldwide corportations.

Bwindi impenetrable forest harbours more than half of the global population estimated to be 750 gorillas,and these are the largest tourist attraction in uganda.

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The event which is expected to attract global tourism and travel players,is a dedicated business to business initiative that provides unique opportunities for the industry to meet,network,negotiate and conduct business.

EastAfrican heads of the respective national tourism agencies and directors of tourism in the line ministries accompanied by EastAfrican community(EAC) secretariat officials will represent the region as a bloc with Tanzania as head of delegation to the canaryWharf exhibition in London.

Running from 4th to17th November,the event is staged annually in London under one roof and this year round,industry leaderas shall unveil details of the new internet domain,travel (dot travel) to boost direct purchase of tour packages off the internet on day one of the event organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE)

“By attending World Travel Market,participants efficiently,effectively and productively gain immediate competitive advantage for their business and stay abreast with the latest developments in the travel industry”.WTM statement.

The uganda tourist board (UTB)chief Mr.James Bahinguza said that there would be over 4000 exhibitors from 180 countries. “We shall each have our own stalls at the exhibition”.

Later in March 2006,the German capital Berlin will host the International Travel Bureau (ITB) travel trade fair similar to the canary Wharf event in London.

UGANDA NEWS

Sheraton Kampala a 4 star hotel is to host the fashion week in kampala-Uganda. The fashion show being organized by Arapapa designs is to showcase young African designers like Xenson Senkaba who recently exhibited his fashion designs at Blue mango.

The fashion week, which is to take place from 24th-27th November, will feature themes from African countries like Uganda and Rwanda focusing on genocide, war and emancipation, and will feature other famous designers from around the world.

Arapapa manager Santa Anzo said that the fashion week is aimed at portraying Uganda as a “Destination for fashion and creativity”, promoting fashion and tourism industry in Uganda.

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