Uganda- Amazing tourism hub, if only…

It’s a matter of taste. There seems to be no set criteria in determining which lands are the best to visit, but as someone who has travelled around the globe, I have to say that with more effort in the tourism sector, little can compare with what Uganda can offer.

In the late 1990s, I used to sit for hours listening to the speeches of President Museveni. At the time the President was very focused on how to present Uganda to the world, this land that has almost every attraction tourists look for but have little knowledge of, except for the story of Iddi Amin, of course.

Many years later, and after numerous travels in Uganda and around the world, I could not agree more with the President. I have written this before, about my fascination with whatever Uganda has to offer, and my disappointment that little is known about it to people who look for beautiful and exotic places to break away from the concrete jungles they live in. But then, apart from some little progress in the field of tourism, things are not moving as fast. What are we waiting for?

Whenever I take a boat ride in Lake Victoria, and while I am mesmerised by this amazing water body and its stunning lush islands, I wonder why no one is taking the opportunity to invest in boats that carry tourists around. And except for a few islands with accommodation facilities –some being very expensive-are there other places that one can spend a night or two romancing with nature?

One of the key factors in tourism is the price. We do have newly opened hotels and lodges near attractions such as Jinja, Murchison falls and on the lake, but their prices seem on the high side. This might be destined for a group of people who can afford to pay such amounts, but the majority of tourists would prefer to spend less on hotels and instead stay longer in the country to visit other attractions. The potential should grow to take in as many people as possible.

One of our friends had her family over for a visit, they loved to have a tour on the lake, and somehow they found a local boat that was reasonably priced to take them on a tour. After sightseeing in one of the islands, the aged boat engine started giving up and to make matters worse, water started emerging in the boat and it was only panic till they finally got back to the shore. A disaster in making was thankfully averted, for this time. The lake is one of the many attractions Uganda has, with a lot of potential, but somehow it remains the least explored.

Some people find the multiplication of hotels and lodges as a threat to nature, but some establishments in Uganda have managed to keep it green and eco-friendly. One example is “The Haven” lodge in Jinja. Every time we get a chance to cut off from the hustle and bustle of Kampala and find refuge near the river, we choose to stay in this environmentally friendly lodge, and every time it is like the first time. We can never stop marvelling at the natural beauty of the surroundings, just a few steps away from the real village where life goes on as before.

Another example are the Geo lodges in different parts of Uganda, where elements of nature are truly represented and nature respected while one is enjoying a touch of modern comfort and hospitality. However, there is need for more ofsuch establishments that create a perfect break away in the arms of Mother Nature without compromising the surroundings. This will also generate a welcome competition that hopefully brings down the costs of accommodation. By now, we have only touched the surface of a multitude of attractions in the over 10 National parks and tourist destinations found in Uganda.

I was reading in a review that Uganda was expected to be the world’s top destination for tourists, I only hope that the status ‘expected’ will be replaced with Uganda ‘is’ one of the world’s top destinations, and why not? When you have it, you should flaunt it!

nafhamaani@yahoo.com