The Mountain Gorilla Highlands
Uganda’s Gorilla Highlands stretch from Kabale area, Kisoro, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Mgahinga National Park to Kanungu area conveying most of Uganda’s beautiful scenic views.
Uganda is a haven for many natural attractions like the lakes from where one can enjoy the wonderful sights and sounds of various bird species such as Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Kayumbu and Lake Chahafi, Lake Mutanda and Lake Mulehe. It’s also park for mountain gorillas found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It’s also a home to many primate species like the chimpanzees, golden monkeys which can all be tracked with the help of a well-trained tour guide.
Recently-developed trails offer some of East Africa’s most spectacular hikes across rural Africa, safe to explore per pedes apostolorum, by dugout canoe across the lakes or by mountain bike cross country.
Only a few parts of Uganda have been documented with trail descriptions, maps, and video maps, the latest tool available for wannabe visitors to this part of Uganda. Accommodation is now available from basic camping over home stays to luxurious lodges.
According to Miha, the head behind the gorilla highland project “The Gorilla Highlands initiative” was started in 2011 by Edirisa, a social enterprise based at Lake Bunyonyi. It is open to anybody interested in branding and promoting southwestern Uganda for the sake of rural development. It has established the ‘Gorilla Highlands’ brand as a flag to unify the region, connect local companies of all sizes into a network, and expand tourist expectations of what the area can offer. We are focused on innovative solutions to tell the world an engaging story about our part of Africa. The Gorilla Highlands initiative offer travelers, tour operators, the media, and development organizations a centralized and consistent service built on extensive local knowledge.”
He further noted, “We are tapping into a world-class web of professionals passionate about this region whose very first product, the Gorilla Highlands Interactive eBook, won a United Nations award in 2013. While the eBook showcases our deep knowledge of our home area, Gorilla Highlands is much more than that. We are about rural development empowered by culture. Our belief is that economic transformation in southwestern Uganda is only possible when we have respect for our cultural heritage, and when we properly utilize tourism as a tool to uplift the poor.”
In his notes, Miha Logar stated that “Our current biggest project is the Gorilla Highlands Video Map. It challenges tourists’ potentially negative preconceptions by giving video tours of places, lodges, and activities, revealing beautiful, comfortable, and safe environments. On the other hand, we don’t just do multimedia products. We tell our story of southwestern Uganda through tourism experiences as well – Gorilla Highlands Trails is a system of guided trips, taking from 5 hours to a week or more, including camping with rural families and with a special stress on the Batwa.
“Our tour itineraries already utilize Kigali as the airport hub; expansion of the Gorilla Highlands concept into Rwanda is planned for 2015.”
By using Kigali as the entrance airport helps to lessen / cut short the distance covered to reach the south western part of Uganda. It is also suggested to use due to the existence of the common tourist visa that entails visitors easy passage through Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya and it can be obtained at 100 USD.
In addition, this gives tourists a chance to enjoy the beautiful sights of “Land of a Thousand Hills” before crossing over to Kisoro / Katuna and Kabale via Cyanika border for the amazing spotlights of the South Western part of Uganda.
Uganda is now connected to the rest of the world by the top African, European, and Gulf /*8airlines daily and apparently known among Africa’s number one adventurous destinations since it’s a peaceful and Ebola Free State.
Gorilla Highlands offers pocket guides and last year launched the award winning e-book available from the Apple Store.
Read MoreUganda: Gorilla Tourism Spurs Growth in Kigezi Region
Mountain gorilla tourism has not only contributed huge sums of money to the national economy, it has immensely sparked development in the Kigezi sub-region.
More than 18,000 gorilla permits are sold annually, which translates into an annual collection of more Shs38b. Each permit costs Shs2.16m ($600). According to John Justice Tibesigwa, the Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park acting conservation area manager, mountain gorilla tourism started in 1961 when the area was still a sanctuary.
In 1991, it was strengthened and was later, in 1994, recognised as a heritage site.
Tourism, Tibesigwa says, has not only benefited government but enabled Uganda Wildlife Authority to contribute Shs900m annually to communities around Bwindi-Mgahinga for development projects.
The Bwindi-Mgahinga area has more than 14 gorilla groups and only eight tourists are allowed to visit a gorilla group per day.
Available data indicate that the Bwindi-Mgahinga area has half the world’s population of mountain gorilla.
This, as a result, has attracted tourists in the area and has had a spillover effect in terms of service development, especially in hotel and hospitality and the transport sector.
Source of employment
More than 100 hotels and camp sites have been established and provide employment to more than 10,000 people.
Hotels such as Accadia Cottages, Bunyonyi Overland Resort Camp, Entusi, Bushara and Sharp Island Gorilla Lodge, among others are a good addition to the Kigezi tourism.
In the transport sector, an airstrip has been established in Kihiihi, Kanungu District and another is under construction in Rubanda District. The two will be an addition to the already existing Kisoro Airfield.
“Tarmacking Kabale- Kisoro road has also facilitated development. However, government should improve internet connectivity, provide electricity, especially in the national parks,�? Ivan Mbabazi Batuma, a member of the Kigezi Tourism Cluster, says.
Other tourism features such as Lake Bunyonyi, Mt Muhavura, and Queen Elizabeth National Park, Batuma says, should be promoted to create alternatives as well as establishing a special desk at border points to handle tourists.
Nicholas Byengoma, the vice chairperson of the Kigezi Tourism Cluster, says whereas government has injected money into the tourism sector, more needs to be done.
“Encourage the establishment of domestic air transport to ease movement, especially for tourists visiting different destinations, he says.
Tourism, as already stated, employs more than 10,000 people in the Kigezi sub-region and this, according to Seith Byarugaba, an investor in accommodation, is a big achievement that government should leverage on.
“There is need to habituate other animal species such as chimpanzees, red monkey and birds to diversify, he says.
Government, Fideli Kanyamunyu, the director of Wagtail Tourism Investments in Kisoro District, believes should return much more to local communities instead of the current 20 per cent.
“… giving us only 20 per cent of the entrance fees, which is only $40 out of the $600 should be revised, he says and appeals to government to consider giving soft loans to community members to improve the quality of their products.
But beyond looking at government, Akankwasa Barirega, the acting commissioner for Wildlife Conservation at the Ministry of Tourism, advises local communities and members in the Kigezi Tourism Cluster to be more innovative, especially in regard to creating tourism amenities.
For instance, he says, people should think of establishing facilities such house boats on Lake Bunyonyi, zip lines crossing the interlocking hills, cable cars on Mt Muhavura and hot air balloons, among others.
“You earn a lot because there is a ready market [tourists], he says.
Silver Baguma, the vice chairperson of Rubanda District, thinks that stakeholders meetings such as the one held recently, provide good engagement.
However, he argues, for employment opportunities, residents must be considered as the first priority.
Read MoreKarimojong Warrior Dancers Wow Uganda Martyrs’ Pilgrims
This year’s annual martyrs celebrations on 3rd June were led by Bishop Giussepe Filippi of Kotido located North Eastern Uganda. He was accompanied by the diocesan choir and a troupe of Karimojong warriors donned in traditional garb in a gallantry of hymn, dance and worship to the delight of Pilgrims.
This year attendance hit the one million mark with President Yoweri Museveni being the chief Pilgrim. Also in attendance was Maria Nyerere widow of the founding Father of The Republic of Tanzania, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere.
The President committed government support to the development of the martyrs’ shrines into tourism attractions. This will add impetus to efforts by the Uganda Tourism Board in promoting religious tourism that began with a martyr’s charity walk dubbed ‘in the Footsteps of The Uganda Martyrs the previous day.
Pilgrims came from as far as Malawi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda,Kenya, the United States of America and Nigeria.
Over 45 martyrs were burnt alive in 1886 on the orders of the reigning Kabaka (king) of Buganda following growing dissent in the kings court from the new converts to Christianity at the height of colonial struggle.
Festivities will be held in the same venue on the 18th October to commemorate Golden Jubilee since the canonization of the Catholic martyrs by Pope Paul VI.This shall coincide with the commemoration of the martyrdom of lesser known martyrs Jildo Irwa and Daudi Okello from Acholiland in Northern Uganda who were martyred almost 25 years later in Paimol.
Read MoreUganda Discounts Gorilla Permits
The management of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has launched a Gorilla tracking promotion to enable potential visitors enjoy the same gorilla experience at subsidized rates. According to a statement from the Executive Director, Dr. Andrew Seguya, the following promotional prices will apply for visitors wishing to track gorillas within the months April and May 2015.
Foreign Non Residents will pay US $ 350 for a permit instead of US$600, Foreign Residents US$300 instead of US $500 and East Africans will part with UGX150,000 instead of UGX250,000.
Dr. Seguya says in a statement that the promotion is aimed at giving back to UWA’s esteemed customers. The promotion which is open to all tour operators and partners will be guided by the following guidelines. The promotional period will run for the months of April and May 2015.
This applies to unsold permits for this period and does not include prepayments before announcement of this promotion.
Payment for all gorilla permits under the promotional rates shall only be done at the Reservations office at UWA Headquarters in Kampala only. No promotional permits will be sold at the park .Permits offered for sale under these promotional arrangements will be paid for in full (100% of value) at the time of booking. The acceptable payment methods are cash or direct bank transfers. There will be no cash refunds, reschedules, cancellations and transfers allowed on promotion permits. Promotional permits will be marked “”Promotional Permit””
Uganda is a home to more than half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas.Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in South western Uganda are host to the mountain gorillas which live in organised social groups.
For further information and to reserver your permit please call reservations on +256 414355 403 or email reservations@ugandawildlife.org
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Tooro Marks 18th Coronation Anniversary Tomorrow
Tooro Kingdom will September 7 (Saturday) mark its 18th coronation anniversary. King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi ascended to the throne in 1995, following the death of his father, Patrick Olimi Kaboyo to become the 12th ruler of the 180-year-old kingdom.
The celebrations are scheduled to take place at the royal palace in Fort Portal, Kabarole District, will be graced by President Yoweri Museveni and other dignitaries from abroad.
The kingdom of Toro, of the babiito dynasty, aptly claims its rightful origins in the ancient empire of Kitara. The first son of Omukama Kyebambe III of Bunyoro rebelled and annexed the southern part of his father’s kingdom, forming his own kingdom.
He placed the northern border of his new kingdom at River Muziizi. The kingdom of Toro was born, under the reign of Rukirabasaija Omukama Kaboyo Kasunsunkwanzi Olimi I.
Following the death of Omukama Kaboyo Olimi I, there followed several other kings and princes on the Toro throne. Some of them reigned for very short periods of time, during which they were still referred to as “Omubiito” (prince) , not by the right title of “Rukirabasaija Omukama”. When we include such princes, the number of batooro kings comes to 8.
The present Omukama is Rukirabasaija Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV. A brief write up on each Omukama follows. It should be noted here that the numerical denotation of kings of Toro takes off from the list of Bunyoro kings, before Toro broke away. This is why, for instance, while there have been a total of two kings with the name Olimi on the Toro throne, Omukama Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi was Olimi VII.
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Bamasaaba Launch 2012 Circumcision Season
Traditional Circumcision Ceremony or Imbalu season opens in Uganda
The Bagisu “Gisu” tribe in Eastern Uganda launched the start of this year’s cultural circumcision season on Friday commonly known as ‘Kushina Imbalu’.
The opening ceremony of this year’s 2018 Imbalu season-an ancient Ugandan practice of mass teenage circumcision, was officiated by the Bamasaaba cultural leader Omukuuka Wilson Wamimbi who warned against forceful circumcision – according to www.westfm.co.ke
While speaking at the launch held at Bungokho Mutoto Sub County in Mbale District, the Wamimbi sounded a serious warning against those involved in forceful circumcision saying that the act has brought fear among the non Bagisu ling in the area leading to under development in Bugisu land.
He said that those involved in the act are not true Bamasaaba adding that they might be rebels or Al Shabab using the opportunity to tarnish the name of the kingdom but has however called upon the Government and other stakeholders to help in curbing the threats.
The ritual held around August of every even numbered year is Uganda’s largest mass circumcision.The ceremony signify the rituals, musics and dances performed to initiate adolescent boys into manhood among the Bagisu. Often a public event, it is a celebrated and widely practiced Gishu tradition.
The Bagisu (singular Mugisu) are people of the Bantu family who live along the slopes of Mount Elgon (also called Mount Masaba) in eastern Uganda
For further reading or to learn more about the Imbalu ritual read about MUSICKING AND DANCING IMBALU CIRCUMCISION RITUALS
Read MoreUganda Tourism Minister opens new Heritage Museum
The Uganda Minister of Tourism, Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, lamented the lack of funding when opening a new privately-owned heritage museum in Mbarara just before Christmas. He used the opportunity to ask for equitable funding for his ministry and the tourism sector, commensurate with the contribution of the sector to the national economy, which he pegged at over 9 percent of GDP, and yet in his own estimate, his ministry was receiving a paltry 0.13 percent from the national budget allocation.
Only recently was Uganda elevated by “Lonely Planet” as THE destination for 2012, but in the absence of sufficient funding, matching the promotion and marketing expenditures of say Kenya or Rwanda, Uganda is expected to fail capitalize on this unique opportunity, leave alone being able to produce some very special promotional campaign as the country enters its 50th independence year.
President Museveni, who was present at the opening ceremony of the new museum in Biharwe township in Mbarara, Western Uganda, was seen nodding to the remarks, giving some hope that a directive to the finance ministry may yet come forth, but its value immediately put in doubt considering the general budgetary constraints of government, in the light of economic developments and runaway inflation.
While most lodges were booked up over the Christmas holidays, fewer than normal Ugandans were seen entering the parks, leaving the field to wealthier expatriates who are not hit by the devaluated shilling as they are paid in hard currency, countering a policy of bringing more and more Ugandans into the national parks and game reserves and staying in the safari lodges and safari camps, unlike in Kenya where the Kenya Tourist Board together with Kenya Wildlife Services has launched the #TembeaKenya campaign, having to get Kenyan know their country better.
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2008 MTN Kampala International Marathon Charity
The 5th edition of the MTN Kampala Marathon will take place on November 23rd 2008. In the first three editions, the proceeds from the marathon were donated to Uganda Red Cross towards the Mama Bag Appeal.
The 20 year civil war in Northern Uganda greatly undermined the public health infrastructure within the region. The Mama Bag Appeal initiative was therefore set up to provide expectant mothers living in Internally Displaced Peoples Camps (IDPs) with the basic necessities for a safe delivery. Expectant mothers were chosen because they were the most vulnerable. Over 8500 expectant mothers in Northern Uganda benefited from the proceeds of the marathon that totaled to 125 million Uganda shillings for the three years.
In 2007, peace slowly returned to the region, with many of the IDPs encouraged to go back to their homes and resettle into a normal life. The MTN Kampala Marathon donated 59 million shillings to the purchasing of a return kit to be given to families from katakwi resettling home from IDP camps. With this money, a total of 1180 kits were distributed to these families. A return kit includes farming implements, seeds, a mosquito net, among many other things.
This year, proceeds from the MTN Kampala Marathon will once again go towards purchasing return kits for families resettling in their homes within the areas of Karamoja, Kitgum, Amuria and Katakwi. The Marathon hopes to be able to purchase 2000 return kits, the cost of which is estimated at 100 million.
We cannot reverse history, but we can shape the future. Togteher we can make a difference.
MTN Kampala Marathon 2008. Run for fun, Run for life.
The marathon legend
In 490 BC, the Greeks defeated the Persians in fierce battle at a place called Marathon; In order to deliver the news of the great victory they sent a runner Pheidippides to Athens to announce the victory. He ran over a distance of roughly 42.83 Km, shortly upon arrival and delivering the good news, “Rejoice! We conquer,” he dropped dead.
Subsequently, when the first modern Olympics were held in Athens in 1896, a race was organised over the same course that Pheidippides used and thus named “The Marathon race”.
The early Olympic Games ran the Marathon over varying distances and it wasn’t till the Paris Summer games of 1924, that the standard distance of 42.195 Km was adopted and used to date.
Marathons in Uganda
The earliest marathon races held in Uganda were run in the 1920s and were organized by Officers of the Kings African Rifles in order to improve the fitness levels of the soldiers, as a result of this one of the first Ugandan Marathon routes ran between Kampala and Bombo Military Barracks.
In the subsequent years in the 50’s and 60’s when running became a popular and professional sport periodic national events began to take root and flourish. Marathons were held in Jinja, Entebbe , Lira, Arua, Mbarara and Moroto.
Unfortunately in the turbulent years from 1972 to 1987 when there was widespread persecution and disorder, organising marathons let alone any form of road-race became an impossibility.
It wasn’t till the late 80’s and the early 90’s when relative peace returned to the country that competitive road races including Marathons were organized once again. However having spent such a long period without hosting regular marathons. Local organizers faced great challenges, Sponsors were skeptical, participants limited in number and the general public uninterested.
Still through the efforts of a few committed individuals and the support of athletics officials a sprinkling of events were held in the late 80 to mid 90’s most notable amongst these was the 1991 British Airways Marathon which was the first comprehensively organized and sponsored Kampala Marathon.
In the subsequent years the Marathon reappeared as an event in the UAAF national athletics calendar both as a full 42 km event and a half marathon, however due to a lack of funds and the intensive nature of a marathon, the races were often cancelled or held under the most Spartan of conditions.
In 2004 MTN Uganda decided to widen its sports sponsorship programme. Athletics was one of the sports chosen; this was due to its wide reaching appeal and the abundance of natural running talent available. In choosing an event that would signify the intent that MTN had for athletics a decision was taken to sponsor an Inaugural Kampala Marathon. The response to this event surpassed all expectations and the inaugural MTN Kampala Marathon in 2004 drew over 1264 participants both local and international.
The actual race was won by local track star Joseph Nsubuga (fittingly a soldier) who clocked a winning time of 2:18:21 while the women’s race was won by Margaret Nakintu in a time of 3:07:17. These times though considered slow by international standards must be considered in their context, the route in Kampala “the city of seven hills” is one of the most challenging in the world.
The second edition of the MTN Kampala Marathon was dominated by Kenyans the Men’s race was won by Busienei Wilson Kipkemei who led a Kenyan clean sweep of the first three places, the time itself was disappointingly slow 2 hours 31 minutes 31 seconds, well below the previous years best set by Joseph Nsubuga.
The women’s race once again confirmed the dominance of Margeret Nakinti on the Ugandan women’s marathon scene she successfully defended her title in a time of 2:48:18. Unfortunately she will not be able to defend her title in 2006 having won the event twice and long dominated the local distance running scene she secured a sports scholarship and is now permanently based in the US.
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