EU envoys urge leaders to promote local tourism

The European Union (EU) head of delegation, Mr Attilio Pacifici, has asked district leaders and private sector institutions to promote tourism around Mt Elgon region.
Mt Elgon Park currently receives more than 3,000 visitors annually, who are still few, according to players in the sector.

While addressing a press conference during a four-day retreat for the EU heads of mission in Uganda in Mbale Town on Monday, Mr Pacifici said although the region is endowed with tourism potential, it has been neglected.

“This is a beautiful part of the country but despite the beauty, it has been neglected. Let us package this region for tourism, advertise it and make it easy for tourists to come and stay,” he said.

Mt Elgon Park has a number of waterfalls, including Sipi Falls, Sisiyi, Kagera Falls, Bilitanyi Gorges falls, among others.

The National Park is a gazetted international ecological conservation area, as a habitat to unique vegetation species.

It is also home to different bird species, including the endangered lammergeyer. It also has the largest mountain caldera in the world.

Other prominent tourism activities include Imbalu (circumcision) and bull fighting in Bududa District.

Mr Pacifici said they decided to hold their annual EU ambassadors retreat in Mbale District because the region has a lot of economic potential.

“This is unique place but it still has some shortages such accommodation, so some investment needs to be done,” he said.

The retreat, which started on Monday is aimed at tracking progress on infrastructural and socio-economic projects that are funded by the EU and its member states.

The delegation is to visit projects such as the Tororo Solar Power Plant, Tororo-Gulu railway line, Malaba One stop border, Spot light project, the National High Altitude Training Centre, Kapchorwa among others.

The Belgian ambassador to Uganda, Mr Rudi Veestraeten, said despite the region producing the best coffee in the world, the farmers have not benefited.

“Coffee is sold locally to local traders, who sell it to a regional trader. By the time coffee reaches the European market, there is an increase in overhead and farmers get only a little share of the real value of the coffee,” he said.

Mr Veestraeten encouraged farmers to sell coffee directly to Europe, adding that there are no tariffs imposed.

The Mbale District chairperson, Mr Bernard Mujasi, applauded the EU ambassadors for choosing eastern region and Mbale in particular.

“We are grateful because we know at the end of the day, our partners will identify challenges including the poor state of our roads and support us to overcome them,” he said.

Mr Mujasi said the EU states have been instrumental in promoting infrastructural development and creating job opportunities for the youth.

Mr Emmanuel Gyezayo, the EU information officer, told Daily Monitor that the annual event is an avenue for ambassadors to sit together and brainstorm on strategies to strengthen cooperation between EU and the Ugandan government, challenges and solutions.