The Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Mutebi is ready to lease 7,100 acres of land to The Sugar Corporation of Uganda Ltd (SCOUL) to grow sugar cane and save Mabira forest from annihilation. The question remains whether the government will accept the Kabaka’s proposal to bailout the forest or not. SCOUL is a joint venture between Mehta group and the government of Uganda. There has been a public controversy since the sugar corporation requested President Yoweri Museveni for 7,100 acres of the Mabira Forest for sugar production that the government is considering giving a way. The public outcry is that why Mabira and not else where. This forest has lived for over 60 years with uncountable birds reptiles and other insects, its medicinal value among other ecological usefulness to the nation. Will the coming generation be told the story of Mabira forest as history. Environment Minister Maria Mutagamba has prepared a cabinet paper asking for the permission to degazette Mabira Forest amidst overwhelming protest form the public and environmental institutions. Uganda is a signatory to the convention on biological diversity that imposes to the responsibility on the contracting parties to protect such animals in their natural environment and help communities to benefit from them through tourism. The country is even referred to as the pearl of Africa mainly because of its natural endowments.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has given a grant of millions to finance institutional support on trade and transport in East Africa. The fund co-financed with World Bank, will support the regional trade and transport facility by fostering trade growth and securing an effective EAC Customs Union this will help promote Tourism Industry in East Africa since non-tariff barriers along the regions main transit and transport corridor to be removed. Under the partnership arrangement between the two institutions the AfDB is financing the regional Integration Aspects of the project while the World Bank will finance the countries specific components said Director for infrastructure. With the resurrection of the East African Community, the harmonization of regional transport policies, plans and programs will help also promote Regional Domestic Tourism. The bank grant will allow the EAC secretariat to develop a regional customs strategy provide harmonized customs procedures and training and deploy an IT interconnection system and common database to link all the national customs systems.
The grant will also assist the EAC in preparing a regional transport strategy and regional road sector development program to guide the regional policies and investments in the road sector for 2008-2018. This program would be a blessing to east African travelers since they will be moving freely within the tourism destinations of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has given a grant of millions to finance institutional support on trade and transport in East Africa. The fund co-financed with World Bank, will support the regional trade and transport facility by fostering trade growth and securing an effective EAC Customs Union this will help promote Tourism Industry in East Africa since non-tariff barriers along the regions main transit and transport corridor to be removed. Under the partnership arrangement between the two institutions the AfDB is financing the regional Integration Aspects of the project while the World Bank will finance the countries specific components said Director for infrastructure. With the resurrection of the East African Community, the harmonization of regional transport policies, plans and programs will help also promote Regional Domestic Tourism. The bank grant will allow the EAC secretariat to develop a regional customs strategy provide harmonized customs procedures and training and deploy an IT interconnection system and common database to link all the national customs systems.
The grant will also assist the EAC in preparing a regional transport strategy and regional road sector development program to guide the regional policies and investments in the road sector for 2008-2018. This program would be a blessing to east African travelers since they will be moving freely within the tourism destinations of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
The Environmentalists have put softened assertive posture towards the Bujagali falls and power project, aside. The center of queries and community protest now on Mabira Forest, Will Bujagali Falls be the same? Several Environmental organizations like The National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE) had sought construction of the Bujagali power project belated in goodwill of the Karuma hydro-power project due to various environmental concerns. The government of Uganda is on the view to construct Hydro electricity power in Bujagali Falls. Reason being that Bujagali is expected to relieve power problems and reduce the expensive thermal power generation in Uganda. The environmentalists and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) conducted a hurriedly arranged public hearing and invited all stakeholders at the Grand Imperial Hotel in Kampala over the weekend to look into this matter. The World Bank Group’s executive director has not yet permitted the project. Will Bujagali persist animate?
Bujagali Falls is one of the dream places for the adventurers visiting the Pearl of Africa, Uganda. This is where the world’s longest river roars to life as the White Nile minutes after slipping quietly from Lake Victoria. It thunders between heavily forested islands and then leaps wildly into a series of spectacular drops. The roar of the rapids drift upstream with the gently breeze. Bujagali Falls is a one-kilometer wall of raging white water, followed by a series of 12 challenging water obstacles. This is the largest commercial rafting eddy in the world. It’s a beautiful stretch of river with abundant bird life and richly green-forested banks. If you want to raft here and experience the Nile, the sooner the better and Travel Hemispheres is proud to be associated with all these activities you can ever think of. Apart from Mountain gorilla tracking and viewing, Chimpanzee trips viewing, Game viewing and watching, Boat rides and launch cruising
Bird watching safaris, Filming crew expeditions, Mountain climbing and hiking and culture trips White water rafting at the source of River Nile is the dream place to be.
Milton
In preparation for Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting commonly known as CHOGM, First ladies are to visit Bulago Island. The lodge’s management in Bulago Island is functioning unstintingly to furnish enduring inkling in the direction of the visitors. CHOGM is due November 24th, 2007; and Bulago Island is one of the places that more than one hundred First ladies and ministers spouses among others will visit for a soothing pleasure trip on splendid environment. Janet Museveni, the First Lady of Uganda, will host the first ladies at the luxurious island move away. Other places to be reached include Ngamba Island, the chimpanzee sanctuary.
Ngamba is a below-20 minute boat ride from Bulago. Bulago Island is in Lake Victoria, Uganda and offers elegant view of the lake. The Island acts as home for different species of birds that contributes to the country’s Pearl of Africa. Many VIP’s, including presidents, ambassadors, film and sports stars at that time, may visit the Island. According to Alison Porteous, one of the lodge’s owners, the visitor’s resolve is most probable to access the island by Air so as to for them to be able to reach Queen Elizabeth National Park later in the evening.
In preparation for Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting commonly known as CHOGM, First ladies are to visit Bulago Island at head of the summit. The lodge’s management in Bulago Island is functioning unstintingly to furnish enduring inkling in the direction of the visitors. CHOGM is due November 23rd, 2007; and Bulago Island is one of the places that more than one hundred First ladies and ministers spouses among others will visit for a soothing pleasure trip on splendid environment. Janet Museveni, the First Lady of Uganda, will host the first ladies at the luxurious island move away. Other places to be reached include Ngamba Island, the chimpanzee sanctuary.
Ngamba is a below-20 minute boat ride from Bulago. Bulago Island is in Lake Victoria, Uganda and offers elegant view of the lake. The Island acts as home for different species of birds that contributes to the country’s Pearl of Africa. Many VIP’s, including presidents, ambassadors, film and sports stars at that time, may visit the Island. According to Alison Porteous, one of the lodge’s owners, the visitor’s resolve is most probable to access the island by Air so as to for them to be able to reach Queen Elizabeth National Park later in the evening.
GOVERNMENT has finally fulfilled its promise of rewarding Dorcus Inzukuru’s priceless efforts of winning gold at World Championships in Helsinki.
The Arua gazelle was handed the keys to the house that Government promised in recognition for winning the country a gold medal in Finland in 2005.
The function that took place at her home town of Arua was however almost called off when it emerged at the ultimate hour that Inzikuru had failed to travel for the event.
She was reportedly stack in Kampala due to lack of transport. Driving from Kampala to Arua is approximately 523km and it takes averagely 6-8 hours to get there by road
Inzukuru was supposed to fly to Arua but she was not booked and almost made her fail to attend her ceremony.
The ministry salvaged the occasion when they hired her a vehicle that arrived in Arua at 5:30pm, much to the relief of several guests that included defence state minister, Ruth Nakabirwa, who had arrived a day earlier to preside over the event.
Sh110m was reportedly spent to erect the three bed-roomed semi-executive house located on a plot of land that was formerly part of the West Nile golf course.
“The house was completed around October last year but we thought we could give this as an Easter gift to Inzikuru.” Nakabirwa said.
Inzikuru thanked Government, the Parliament and President Yoweri Museveni for fulfilling their pledge.
The Kabaka (king) of Buganda, Ronald Mutebi, is petitioning the Constitutional Court in a bid to block the Government from giving away part of Mabira Forest to the Sugar Corporation of Uganda (SCOUL). The Buganda kingdom cabinet has decided to take this matter to the Constitutional Court to fight for the protection of the environment and all forests in Buganda to save the Kabaka’s subjects and their descendants from the adverse effects resulting from the Mabira give-away, Buganda’s deputy Information Minister, Medard Lubega Sseggona, announced in a statement. He noted that the Kabaka’s offer of alternative land for sugarcane production, near Mabira, had been ignored by the Government. It also regretted that the king’s emissaries to the sugar company had not reached any deal to save the ecologically and climatically critical forest. Kabaka’s decision is hinged on the need to save citizens from the eminent dangers of drought, desertification, poverty and famine the cutting of Mabira would stimulate. The Buganda kingdom also decided to take a petition to Parliament, sensitize the public on the dangers of deforestation and stage a peaceful demonstration to save the forest, is deeply divided over the issue.
Civil society organizations, led by the Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment, already filed a case with the Constitutional Court last week arguing that the proposed degazettement violates the constitution. Environmental activists, united under the Uganda Forest Working Group to Save Mabira Forest Reserve, handed over a petition against the planned give-away to the speaker, Edward Sekandi On Thursday
Mabira central forest reserve is one of Uganda’s largest surviving natural forests covering an area of 306 square kilometer. The forest is a natural habitat of 312 species of trees including the endangered Cordia, Millenii, Mililia Exclesa, the warbhugia Ugandenesis which has over forty ailments and the vulnerable Prunus Africana which cures prostate Cancer and boosts human immune system. Mabira is also home of 315 species of birds such as the nahan’s francolin, Cassin Hawk Eagle, the forest wood hoope, the purple throated Cuckoo, the Tit Hylia, the red headed blue bill, the Black bellied seed cracker, the shinning blue kingfisher, the white bellied kingfisher and the Blue headed crested monarch. Some of these species can only be found in Mabira forest, the pearl of Africa. Other Unique features to be explored in the forestv reserve include 218 butterfly species, 97 moth species and 23 small mammal species especially primate species of the monkey clan.
The organizing committee for the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting has vowed to carry a new face to the Commonwealth People’s Forum (CPF). The CPF gives commonplace people and civil society organizations the chance to showcase their work to the delegates at the Commonwealth summit. It is the only Commonwealth summit forum that is open to the public. Warren Nyamugasira, the chairman of the organizing committee for the CPF, said: “The previous CPF events have been described by participants as exclusive and non-participatory. There are many changes, including a people’s village at Hotel Africana, which will enable people to touch, feel and see the beauty and reality of the Commonwealth.” He further added that
The village, which will be open from November 18 to 24, will have an open forum, a market place, learning tents, film shows, mini-debates, interactive conversations and a wall of greatness, where topical issues will be pinned.
Uganda stands to benefit from CHOGM. Parallel special events involving NGOs, business and youth now coincide with each CHOGM. That in any case the agenda of CHOGM 2007, should focus on human rights, rule of law, constitutionalism, independence of the judiciary, democracy, and the situation in northern Uganda. The summit will also help boost tourism in Uganda. Tour areas have also been already identified where delegates will be whisked off for a leisurely excursion and stately luncheon. Among the Tourism areas to be visited includes Bulago Island, Uganda’s romantic luxury island, Ngamba Island, the chimpanzee sanctuary, Queen Elizabeth National Park and most likely the source of the Nile. These are one of the important places in the heart of the country that depicts the natural world and home for different species of birds for birding safaris and other wild fauna.
Tourism was identified as one of the key economic derives by the Rwandan government way back in 2001. All indicators show that Rwandan tours have consistently met its target visitor numbers and length of stay. With the contribution of Gorilla tourism of Rwanda, the sector has also exceeded its average receipts expectations. Due to the quality of tourists visiting Rwanda, the visitors’ expenditure is exactly in line with the country’s strategy. Rwanda is beginning to see the true eco-tourists who are very much interested in nature, primate safari its preservation and also keen to understand the daily life and culture. Rwanda wide conference on gorilla tourism and tourism in general have painted a promising picture about the future of tourism in the country. This has not only generated income for the country but also boosted the image of the country.
The provincial leaders are beginning to see the need to be partner in the unleashing of tourism potential in their provinces and protection of natural assets. Since tourism cannot prevail in an environment that is not peaceful, the army and police have been great stakeholders in the preservation of the natural resources. The government of Rwanda has created an enabling environment for tourism to flourish. The government has also taken a lead role in setting up tourism infrastructures that will set the trend and bridge and bridge the gap as private investors come on board.