Tourism Uganda’s growth engine

It will take a Zillion years for Uganda’s agriculture to compete with Denmark’s
I was delighted when Lonely Planet, an International Publisher of the world’s largest travel guide book named Uganda the world’s number one tourist destination come 2012.

I have argued in many in many for over 15 years that tourism should be promoted as Uganda’s engine of growth. With 50% of the world’s mountain gorillas, 7% of the world’s mammal species, 11% of the world’s birds’ species, the longest river and the widest lake in the world, Uganda has no equal in eco-tourism.
To put this in perspective, there are about 750 highland mountain gorillas in the world, but 400 live in Uganda, the rest in Rwanda. The US with an area of 3,600,000 square miles, has 600 bird species, Europe with a wider area has 700 bird species, while Uganda, measuring just 93,000 square miles, boasts of 1,500 bird species. One can watch over 250 bird species just with in Uganda Wild life Education Center.

Uganda has high agricultural potential but almost zero comparative or competitive advantage over Denmark, the US, Brazil or South Africa, because potential remains potential, until it’s exploited.
It will take a Zillion years for Uganda’s agriculture to compete with Denmark’s, in yield per capita, marketing, research, quality control, access to finance, weather and climate management among others.

Mind you, even after such long strides, Danish farmers still get finance from subsidies from their government.
The Uganda farmer, still at the mercy of weather vagaries, has to suffer high production costs arising out of poor infrastructure and its attendant issues. Yet after all those uncertainties, the Uganda farmer seeks to compete with other world farmers, on their terms a tall order! Needless to say, we would need to invite in tourism just as much as in agriculture, but the promise of success and rate of return on investment is much higher and safe with tourism than agriculture.

I love tourism because tourism come here, with dollars, to sleep in our hotels eat our food, drink our coffee, use our bodas, buy our fuel, buy memorabilia and other Ugandan products, all on our terms, and leave all those dollars here. They are not like “investors” who come here to, pay about $100 (Sh259,000) for a work permit, then take out any amount hey want!
When I was shadow minister for agriculture, I recommended in one alternative policy Paper, that Uganda should promote tourism as the engine of growth so that tourists come to Uganda to eat our food and drink our coffee on our terms.

The recommendation was blocked by the leader of the opposition and opposition Chief Whip, who believed that as agriculture minister I had no business promoting tourism, besides, agriculture is Uganda’s mainstay, blah blah…………Thanks Lonely Planet, you have made my point.
Tourists to Malaysia have grown from 5.5 million in 1998 to 24.6 million tourists in 2010, yet Malaysia, about the same size and about same population as Uganda, has less to offer.
If Uganda could receive 25 million tourists per year, with each tourist spending just $500 (sh1.3m) in Uganda, we could easily raise $ 12.5b (240b) per year.

Today Uganda earns only $600m (sh1.35b) per year from tourism, with virtually no investment and about the same from agriculture, with so much investment. With $12.59 per year from just tourism, who needs the “oil curse”, which oil more over is estimated to last 30 years, when tourism last forever.
Let us go tourism because it is more than looking at gorillas, it also about an experience.

The Writer is the President Uganda Federal Alliance >> Beti Kamya

By: Bruce Ampumuza

Ministry starts national tour guides training

The tourism industry has started a country wide training programme for tour guides in customer care.
The training is part of the efforts aimed at boosting the marketing of tourism industry, which is becoming the leading foreign exchange earner, generating over $600m last year.
“The training of UWA and private guides is, therefore, one strategy of addressing the challenge of inadequate professionalism in our tourism industry” , Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, the tourism minister, observed in a speech read by Andrew Seguya, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) acting Boss.
This was at the pass out of 84 tour guides from different conservation areas in western Uganda at the Makerere University Biological Field station at Kanyawara in Kabale National Park.
The minister said much as Uganda was highly endowed, unless these attractions were packaged into acceptable tourism products coupled with skilled manpower in customer care, they will remain dreams and idealistic geographic items on our maps and records.
He also noted that findings have projected Uganda’s tourism sector to be the leading in Africa.
“We are excited by the recent ranking by the Lonely Planet that identified Uganda as the best tourism destination in 2012”. “We should capitalize on that achievement and aim higher,” the minister added. Lonely Planet is a global travel magazine.
Seguya pointed out that local have basked in a historical belief that tourism is only for the affluent from overseas, yet it is a track of our heritage.
He compared Uganda with the US, which earns $4b annually from  bird watching, and yet they have very few birds. He also noted that Europe has only 700 birds but Uganda with 1,057 birds, of which 335 species were found in Kibaale National Park alone. Does not even earn $1b out of bird watching
He attributed this to negative attitude by Ugandans and inadequate customer care accorded to visitors by the wildlife employees.
Seguya said that the training programme was one of the measures to promote domestic tourism and sensitize people about their heritage. Training of guides, he said, was pertinent in causing collective responsibility for natural conservation among the public.
“I encourage you all to use the skills you have learnt to develop our tourism potential further so that we all benefit from this resource.” He said modern structures would be erected in all the conservation areas in the next two years.
Herbert Byaruhanga, the chairman of Uganda Safari Guides Association, which conducted the training together with UWA, said capacity building was necessary for Uganda to take a comparative advantage in their tourism sector.
He emphasized the need for specialized training of guides in bird watching to take the front-line in portraying the image of the sector
By: Bruce Ampumuza

Tourism Uganda’s growth engine

It will take a Zillion years for Uganda’s agriculture to compete with Denmark’s
I was delighted when Lonely Planet, an International Publisher of the world’s largest travel guide book named Uganda the world’s number one tourist destination come 2012.
I have argued in many in many for over 15 years that tourism should be promoted as Uganda’s engine of growth. With 50% of the world’s mountain gorillas, 7% of the world’s mammal species, 11% of the world’s birds’ species, the longest river and the widest lake in the world, Uganda has no equal in eco-tourism.
To put this in perspective, there are about 750 highland mountain gorillas in the world, but 400 live in Uganda, the rest in Rwanda. The US with an area of 3,600,000 square miles, has 600 bird species, Europe with a wider area has 700 bird species, while Uganda, measuring just 93,000 square miles, boasts of 1,500 bird species. One can watch over 250 bird species just with in Uganda Wild life Education Center.
Uganda has high agricultural potential but almost zero comparative or competitive advantage over Denmark, the US, Brazil or South Africa, because potential remains potential, until it’s exploited.

It will take a Zillion years for Uganda’s agriculture to compete with Denmark’s, in yield per capita, marketing, research, quality control, access to finance, weather and climate management among others.
Mind you, even after such long strides, Danish farmers still get finance from subsidies from their government.
The Uganda farmer, still at the mercy of weather vagaries, has to suffer high production costs arising out of poor infrastructure and its attendant issues. Yet after all those uncertainties, the Uganda farmer seeks to compete with other world farmers, on their terms a tall order! Needless to say, we would need to invite in tourism just as much as in agriculture, but the promise of success and rate of return on investment is much higher and safe with tourism than agriculture.
I love tourism because tourism come here, with dollars, to sleep in our hotels eat our food, drink our coffee, use our bodas, buy our fuel, buy memorabilia and other Ugandan products, all on our terms, and leave all those dollars here. They are not like “investors” who come here to, pay about $100 (Sh259,000) for a work permit, then take out any amount hey want!
When I was shadow minister for agriculture, I recommended in one alternative policy Paper, that Uganda should promote tourism as the engine of growth so that tourists come to Uganda to eat our food and drink our coffee on our terms.

The recommendation was blocked by the leader of the opposition and opposition Chief Whip, who believed that as agriculture minister I had no business promoting tourism, besides, agriculture is Uganda’s mainstay, blah blah…………Thanks Lonely Planet, you have made my point.
Tourists to Malaysia have grown from 5.5 million in 1998 to 24.6 million tourists in 2010, yet Malaysia, about the same size and about same population as Uganda, has less to offer.
If  Uganda could receive 25 million tourists per year, with each tourist spending just $500 (sh1.3m) in Uganda, we could easily raise $ 12.5b (240b) per year.

Today Uganda earns only $600m (sh1.35b) per year from tourism, with virtually no investment and about the same from agriculture, with so much investment. With $12.59 per year from just tourism, who needs the “oil curse”, which oil more over is estimated to last 30 years, when tourism last forever.
Let us go tourism because it is more than looking at gorillas, it also about an experience.

The Writer is the President Uganda Federal Alliance >> Beti Kamya

By: Bruce Ampumuza

"Uganda is Africa condensed, with the Best Tours" Lonely Planet Said

Uganda is Africa condensed, with the best of everything the continent has to offer packed into one small but stunning destination. Uganda is home to the highest mountain range in Africa, the Mountains of the Moon in the Rwenzori National Park It is the source of the mighty Nile, and around Jinja offers the best white-water rafting in the world. It has the highest concentration of primates on earth, including the majestic mountain gorilla, one of the rarest animals on the planet. Head to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a chance to get close to these great apes.

On top of all this, the scenery is so striking that it looks like an oil painting, the beautiful national parks see far fewer visitors than in neighbouring Kenya and Tanzania, and the capital, Kampala, is safer and friendlier than most in Africa. In 1907 pioneering tourist Winston Churchill called it the ‘Pearl of Africa’. He was right.
Mention Uganda to most people today and the first thing they’ll think of is the brutality of Idi Amin. Their naivety is their loss as, thankfully for Uganda, the big man died in exile in 2003. The reality is vastly different. Stability has returned to most parts of the country and tourists are welcomed with open arms (some areas, particularly in the north, remain unsafe for travellers – see more in the Health & Safety section). Despite the trials and tribulations of the past, Ugandans have weathered the storm remarkably well. The people offer heart-warming hospitality up and down the country, their ever-present smile accompanied by ‘Hello Mzungu!’. They are truly some of the finest folk on the continent.
Take the plunge now, before the world wakes up to this magical microcosm of Africa

By: Lonely Planet

Queen Elizabeth National Park, a protected birding paradise

In 1954 the Government of Uganda gifted 1978km of land to the world, a nature preserve to be used as a living laboratory for scientific research, eco-tourism and tropical forest management. The Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The Park, stretches from the crater-dotted foothills of the Rwenzori range in the North, along the shores of Lake Edward to the remote Ishasha River in the South, incorporating a wide variety of habitats that range from Savanna and wetlands to gallery and lowland forest.
This remarkable diversity is reflected in its bird list of over 605 species, the largest of any protected area in Africa.
Birding
The main camp at Mweya is attractively positioned at a peninsula separating the Kazinga Channel from Lake Edward, with fine views of Rwenzori Mountains and spectacular sunsets over the lake.
White-shouldered Cliff Chat which is increasingly becoming a rare sight in Uganda is also resident here.
Other species include: Shoebill, Martial Eagle, Black-rumped Buttonquail, African Skimmer, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Black Bee-eater, White-tailed Lark, White-winged Warbler, and Papyrus Canary.
Here birders get a decent chance of seeing males competing for female attention and while watching this rare scenario, you will simultaneously watch birds build their nests (which is often done in groups). This combination is a rare experience indeed.
In the vicinity of the airstrip and the camping site along the Kazinga Channel, you will see the resident African Mourning Dove, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Swamp Flycatcher (often far from water), Grey-capped Warbler, the beautiful Black-headed Gonolek, Red-chested Sunbird Slender-billed, Yellow-backed Nightjars are fairly common along the airstrip and may be flushed from their roosts under thickets.

The Raptors
These are well represented by Brown Snake Eagle, Bateleur, African Harrier-Hawk, Martial Eagle and Grey Kestel are all frequently seen. Lion day, Temminck’s Courser, Collared Pratincole and Red-capped Lark, prefer short grass towards the southern end of the airstrip, which is also a good vantage point from which to observe over flying raptors, large water birds such as pelicans, storks, and swifts and swallows.
At sunset thousands of swifts perform an acrobatic display of feeding before disappearing into the horizon a scene often captured by professional photographers on visit.

Kazinga Channel
The Kazinga Channel is a natural magnet for water birds in the vicinity of Mweya and acts as a migrant trap for birds moving along the Albertine Rift.
A launch departs twice daily providing an excellent way to see a wide variety of water-related species on the channel.
As you start the cruise, you are able to see water birds  such as: Great White and Pick-backed pelicans, Great and Long-tailed Carmorants, common Squacco Heron, African Open-billed Stork, White-faced whistling and knob-billed Ducks and  African Fish Eagle among others.
Additionally, a scenic crater area found north of Katwe road is a good place to search for widespread grass land species such as common Buttonquail, Croaking Cisticola, Broad-tailed Warbler and marsh Tcharaga.

Papyrus swamps
She says that the papyrus swamps provide nesting sites for Shoebill and they may be seen soaring overhead or feeding at the edge of the marsh in the early morning or late afternoon.

The Cultural twist
The Bakonzo, some of the indigenous people around Queen Elizabeth, first settled here many hundred years ago. And although western influences are evident, they haven’t overshadowed the traditional Bakonzo customs and folklore.
By building eco-lodges in their villages and guiding birding tours, many Bakonzo communities have found new ways of benefiting from their natural gifts. Bakonzo guides are incredibly in tune with nature.
While guiding you through the forests you will be amazed at the way their innate sense of direction will lead you through the sometimes thick unmapped areas. And their stories and legends will keep you entertained along the way.

Accommodation
Mweya Safari Lodge overlooks the Peninsular. However, having your breakfast at the balcony is good enough to expose the abundant birdlife found in Queen Elizabeth national Park.
The National Park Campsite overlooks the Kazinga Channel, has showers and pit latrines. Jacan safari Lodge under the Geo Lodges Chain in Uganda is within the Maramagambo Forest. Wilderness Tented Camp in Ishasha area. Bandas (1 two bed and 2 three bed) managed by Uganda Wild Life Authority.
William Byaruhanga, chairman Tourism Uganda, says: ‘Amongst the ornithologists, Uganda has long been the best kept secret in terms of its plethora of bird species with over 1,040 species on record’.
‘This ranks Uganda as one of the top global destinations for bird watchers and combined with Uganda’s other unique attributes, make it a definite must visit destination’. He concludes.
Meanwhile, the Uganda Wild Life Authority (UWA) recently launched eight new birding trails in Murchison Falls National Park effectively making birding a specialized tourism product.
Uganda’s bird species count per square kilometer is the highest in Africa and it accounts for 50% of the continental total.
While addressing birders and journalists participating in the annual birding day in Murchison Falls Park recently, UWA product development executive Patrick Tushabe said: ‘ We are packaging birding as a new tourism package as one way of diversifying our revenue-generating activities’.
Projections from UWA indicate that birding has a potential of generating between $20m and $45m annually if 10,000 birders visited Uganda.
Tushabe said that the opening of the new trucks brings the number of birding trails in Murchison Falls to 10.

By: Kamoga Edris

UGANDA BEST TOURIST CHOICE

Uganda has been rated as the number one country to visit next year by Lonely Planet, the world’s largest travel guidebook and digital media publisher. Lonely Planet which has been publishing tourism guidebooks for about 40, years released its list of best destinations in the world over the weekend of 29^th Oct 2011.
Uganda emerged as the number one destination following a survey that included opinions from travelers, bloggers and tweeters and votes by a panel of in house travel experts.
Uganda topped the list of top 10 countries ahead of Myanmar (Burma), Ukraine,  Jordan, Denmark, Bhutan, Cuba, New Caledonia, Taiwan and Switzerland.
The book cites some must see places as the Ssese Island, Lake Bunyonyi and Jinja. It also talks about Uganda’s National Parks with Luxury Lodges, outdoor camping, games viewing and Kampala which is one of Africa’s safest capital cities.
The tourist guide also points out to intending tourists to witness next year (2012), when Uganda will be making 50 years of independence.
Lonely Planet said: “It’s taken nasty dictatorships and a brutal civil war to keep Uganda off the tourist radar, but stability is returning and it won’t be long before visitors come flocking back. After all, this is the source of the River Nile – that mythical place explorers sought since Roman times.  It’s also Savannah meets the vast lakes of East Africa and where snow capped mountains bear down on sprawling jungles.” Also, Lonely Planet recommended Uganda as a holiday destination for adventure travel to track gorillas, water rafting and mountain trekking. Also, there are other pleasures offered in the tranquil beaches of the country’s numerous lakes.
Amos Wekesa, the president of the Uganda Tourism Association, said Uganda should prepare itself for an increase in tourist numbers following the global ranking.
He said the challenge ahead is for Uganda to train tour guides in order to take advantage of the job opportunities that will come with the anticipated increase in the number of tourists.
Wekesa said Uganda has an absolute advantage in tourism over her neighbors in the East African region.
“Uganda has the highest density of primates such as gorillas, Chimpanzees and Baboons in East Africa However, the country’s tourism potential untapped yet the sector can market Uganda globally,” Wekesa said.
He also suggested that the Government increase the budget allocation to the tourism sector in order to develop it; as well as revamping the tourism bodies with competent personnel.
Currently Uganda receives 500,000 tourists and earns over $650M in revenue from tourism every year.
Uganda invests $300,000 in tourism annually, which is the lowest among the East African countries. For instance, Kenya invests $23m; Tanzania invests $10m and Rwanda $5m.
Uganda’s potential to attract tourists will also be boosted by this year’s potential to International survey that found Kampala to be one of the cheapest cities in Africa to live in for expatriates.
Ranked at position 202 in the world, Kampala fares a lot better than Tanzania’s Dar-es-Salaam (187) and Kenya’s Nairobi (108).
This gives Kampala an edge over its East African counterparts as an attraction for highly skilled foreign labour.
By: Bruce Ampumuza

Uganda set to earn $2.5b from Tourism

One of the gorillas relaxing during the 2011 gorilla census in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Uganda is set to be a major tourist destination once the proposed 7 Wonders National Program takes center stage. The campaign will also boost Uganda’s revenue earnings with figures estimated at over $2.5b each year.

The initiative designed by Amos Wekesa Masaba a tourism investor and PresidentUganda Tourism Association is supported by the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU).

Commissioned last week at the launch of Proudly Ugandan Club at Kampala Serena Hotel, the 7 wonders program will gear the tourism sector in Uganda into great heights.

Wekesa told New Vision that 7 Wonders is a premier promotional campaign geared at advancing tourism inside and outside Uganda through branding.

“The campaign shall involve asking Ugandans within and abroad to choose Uganda’s 7 wonders. The selection of the 7 wonders will start with President, Cabinet, and Parliament before it rolls out across the country,” he said.

A World Bank program implemented by PSFU has approved funding for the initial survey of the tourism attractions amongst tourism stakeholders to choose the best 30 natural wonders out of which the whole nation will choose the to 7 wonders of Uganda.

Ugandans will be given a chance to vote the best wonders of Uganda via sms, radio and internet.

Ernest & Young, an International Consulting firm will carry out the survey that will include identification of outstanding unique features that are increasingly particular toUganda only.

“The features will be identified from across the whole country with selections spread across flora, fauna, national parks and forests,” he said. Others will include features like rivers, mountains, rocks, historical, religious and anthropological sites.

Wekesa says the campaign once successful will earn Uganda over $2.5b (Shs700 trillion) annually from tourism.

Gideon Badaggawa the chief executive PSFU said the campaign is a boost towards improving competitiveness in the Ugandan tourism industry. ‘Uganda’s scenic, unique and rich tourism potential has gone unnoticed over years,” he said.

He said the campaign is being supported by USAID (Sustainable Tourism in the Albertine Rift), Uganda Wildlife Authority and Uganda Tourism Board among others.

Despite the tourism potential, Uganda receives a small number of tourists averaging around 500,000 a year.

Wekesa says the potential benefits accruing from tourism will increase income for stakeholders in transport, hospitality, community, communication and financial sectors.

“Uganda will be earning more from the sale of crafts, money transfer, visit to national parks, beaches, mountain climbing and accommodation and meals in hotels,” explained Wekesa.

He said revenues will double once the numbers of tourists rise. “What we need is market for our products and what would be better that attracting 2m people each year with a potential of each at least $2500 (Shs7m) while in Uganda,’ he mused.

Unlike other East African countries that invested much in tourism last year (Kenya-$23m, Tanzania $10m, Rwanda $5m) Uganda only invested $300,000 earning a paltry $650m.

But unlike the other states, Uganda still stands out because it has the highest density of primates (gorillas, chimps, baboons).

The campaign will boost Uganda’s earnings in bird watching with figures estimated to $400,000 (Shs1.5b) annually.

By: Ampumuza Bruce