How some top executives will spend the festive season

Like anyone else, some of Uganda’s top executives will take time off to wash off the stress that has come with 2018.

What you need to know:

Taking time off. They are busy people. Business health rests on their shoulders and they will go all the way out to see that things are in perfect shape. Sometimes they answer for the inefficiencies of others.

Like anyone else, some of Uganda’s top executives will take time off to wash off the stress that has come with 2018. Some will take in the marvel that is Uganda’s nature while others will travel out of Uganda. Here, some shared their festive holiday plans with Edgar R Batte.

“The festive season is indeed a season to rejoice, to have a break from work, to adore the Lord and receive the birth of Jesus Christ.
It is also a season to give the best that we, in the banking industry, can offer as around such times customers expect the best from us.

Therefore, for me, I will be in office most of the time to ensure the best service to our customers.
I will have a brief break to join my family in the village to celebrate Christmas and then retreat to office to ensure smooth closure of the year. I will also use that time to prepare for the New Year.

Fabian Kasi, Centenary Bank managing director
My family and I always take time off out of town to reflect on the past year and make plans for the new one.
We usually pick a place by the water or the beach to calm down the year. This time I will let my daughters pick the place and I believe, it will be somewhere in Entebbe.

It’s important to spend time with family to let off life’s struggles. The end of the year is truly a time for reflection. Reading self-help books, talking to each other, listening to music, playing board games and making sure the grandchildren have something to do as well is very important to me.

We usually pick a place with a kids’ play area or a swimming pool to make sure they do not get bored.
Last year we went to Malindi, Mombasa and Turtle Bay. We had the most amazing time. We flew to Nairobi and then hopped on the SGR train.

This experience created memories that will last us a life time. I belong to a travel club that’s making it easier and more affordable for the family to vacation together in exotic places.
I thank God for this club. When our children were growing up we would head for Queen Elizabeth almost every Christmas time.

Didan Atukunda, Loving Heart Uganda chief executive officer
The festive season will be full of good moments because my sister is coming home. I will be picking her from the airport and we will travel to Kabale where we will spend our holiday.

We will be camping and taking a boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park, do a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, go chimpanzee tracking in Kalunzu Forest and return to Kabale to engage in a series of activities such as zip lining in Bunyonyi.

We start our festivities on December 18, which is my birthday and stretch through up to December 29.

Jaqueline Kemirembe, Platinum Tours & Travel managing director
I will be working because the festive season is the busiest in the tour and travel sector. When work is done, I plan to take a holiday out of the country with my family. However, I will use that time to check out hotels and tourist sites I can recommend to my clients.

On Christmas Day, I will be hosting my family and in-laws and it will be an opportunity to show off my cooking. Basically, it will be a family day out since we rarely spend quality time together.
Later on, I will be in Cape Town for the World Trade Market, where I have been invited as a tour operator.

Simon Lwanjo, Preg-Tech Technologies chief executive officer

I look forward to the festive season. After a lot of hard work throughout the year, we plan towards the end of the year to take time off with family.

This year, in particular, I am going to keep it local and we are planning to experience some interesting places in Uganda. I am going to drive my family to either Kidepo Valley National Park or Queen Elizabeth National Park to spend two nights.
Usually, we set off two days ahead of Christmas because it is around this time that traffic is low in such places. For example Paraa Safari Lodge, Kidepo and Mweya are usually leas booked around this time.

Basically, that is the concept I have used throughout the years and I usually like taking the children to see things and experience new places.

Last year, we drove all the way to Kigali where we had our Christmas and it was a good experience for the children.
We spent three nights there but you cannot imagine that Kigali is usually deserted around that time.

William Blick, Uganda Olympic Committee president
The festive season is that time of the year when I choose to relax and appreciate everyone around me. I enjoy spending time with family as I reflect on what I have done and what I plan to do in the New Year.

I travel a lot during the year, so I choose to spend time here, at home, with family.
On Christmas we eat out because we don’t want anyone to miss out as they cook for others.

This time, we plan to eat out at Fang Fang Restaurant.
So, it will be a Chinese affair. We also take time off during the festive season to do some charity.
We will be visiting Sanyu Babies Home to make some donations as well as St Stephen’s Church in Lungujja. After a good meal on Christmas, we will be taking out our bicycle to go out and cycle then later on socialise over games such as monopoly.

Pearl Kakooza, The Uganda Association of Travel Agents chairperson
This Christmas, my boys who live abroad, will be coming to join us here. We usually meet once a year. The plus this year is that my 28-year-old son is coming with his girlfriend (maybe his future wife).
This is the first time anyone has come home with someone special. So, we are going to Pakuba Lodge in Murchison Falls National Park for three days.

I chose Pakuba because he is coming with a girlfriend who has never been to Africa. So, we want to give her a nice African experience.

Also, my sister who lives in the US, is coming to visit. We shall have our Christmas dinner on December 24 and stuffed roast duck will the main feature on the menu.
I rear ducks at home and these will have a mix of grilled fish and other food items. For us, our Christmas comes early because we celebrate it on the night of December 24.