Golf tourism unleashes the beauty of Kabarole

Kampala. When the Uganda Golf Union unveiled their partnership with the Uganda Tourism Board early this year themed around the Open, the game’s biggest calendar tournament, the idea of developing the culture of sports tourism appeared a tough sell.
The notion that the Open would help explore the country for domestic and international tourism wasn’t an easy one to mull over at the time, particularly for country not famed for marrying sports and tourism. But after the two upcountry legs of the tournament, first in Mbale and later Fort Portal Town in Kabarole, the success has been such that golfers and non-golfers are counting down the days to the Arua leg of the competition.

The Kabarole trip, however, literally took the breath away.
Fort Portal, a peaceful, clean and hushed town, has always been a favourite destination for frequent visitors to western Uganda. Yet routine trips there somehow do not diminish its radiance.
For golfers and fans of the game, the course at Tooro Golf Club is one of the few non-Greater Kampala and Entebbe facilities that has been run admirably. So the chance to play and compete there was one they seized with both hands.

West Nile Golf Club organized a glorious number of their members to make the journey and there was also a presence for counterparts from Entebbe, Serena, Kitante and Jinja.
The bus carrying golfers, officials and sports, travel and tourism journalists left Kampala and arrived in time for the contingent to head to the ‘Top of the World’ scenic tip in Kabarole.

The ‘Top of the World’ summit is literally that. While there, the feeling that engulfs you is one of nirvana and accomplishment. The marvellous view of the crater lakes surrounding the hilltop takes the breath away; it is a much welcome break from the monotonous routine of Kampala’s polluted, dirty and dusty atmosphere.
On the highest hill behind Lake Nyamirima, you can see up to five Crater Lakes in all their serenity. The air is clean, the abundant green is pure and all you breathe and see is an atmosphere of nature in its most gorgeous form.

When the bus arrived in Fort Portal, a few golfers opted to disembark at the Club to practice for the Open which was to be held the following day. But the majority preferred to remain aboard and from the look of the volumes of images they took with the stunning sunset and Crater Lake views in the background, none of them regretted their decision not to practice on the Friday the contingent arrived.
You can tell the popularity of an attraction by the number of selfies, mobile phone and professional camera photos taken in a given area. The ‘Top of the World’ experience was no doubt one of the highs for the group, and yet the tour of Kabarole hadn’t quite started.

Amabere Ganyinamwiru
For the non-playing crew, Friday was a chance to sample the sights and sounds of night life in Fort Portal. Pavilion, a bar for all intents and purposes but designed with nightclub features, seemed to attract most revellers. And it didn’t disappoint.
On Saturday, there was a morning and afternoon trip to the renowned ‘Amabere Ganyinamwiru’ caves. Located approximately 9kms out of the town, this attraction is a wonder.

While on the bus, the tour guide took us back to O’Level geography when he discussed the stalactites and stalagmites we were about to see at Amabere. While the formations of those minerals inside the caves captivated some, others were fascinated by the water fall that runs 24/7 every day of the year.
Golfers who had rounds later in the day did the morning ride while those who played in the morning visited Amabere in the afternoon.
There was also a one-hour energy-sapping if not adventurous trek from Amabere to Kyeganywa Hill. Up there is a splendid view of multiple Crater Lakers from all corners.

The final touring day was a drive towards the DR Congo border to visit the Semuliki Female Hot Spring. The water is so hot it boils eggs inside 10 minutes. Many were doubting Thomases until they bought raw eggs and boiled them in the natural Hot Spring.
On the journey back to the city, there was a unanimous feeling that golf had narrowed the country’s borders thanks to the UGU/UTB partnership.
It was road trip that scored abundantly in enabling sports-loving Ugandans to discover the Pearl of Africa.

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