The on going 5th Eastern Regional Trade Fair in Uganda’s eastern district of Mbale has attracted roughly 160 local companies of which 20 are Kenyan companies. The Uganda Manufacturer Association (UMA) Principle organizers of other event anticipated that the fair would attract another 20 companies to total up 180 with over 35,000 visitors. Some of the Kenyan based companies for the exhibition include; Kenyan Ports Authority, Spectra Kenya and Sameer Agricultural and livestock company. The fair is aimed at opening new markets for exhibitors in eastern Uganda.
Eastern Uganda is one of the regions where Uganda’s tourism attractions are found; Mt. Elgon is an extinct volcano that first erupted more than 24 million years ago. With the largest surface area of any extinct volcano in the world (50km by 80 km), Mt Elgon is forth-highest mountain in east Africa, with the second highest peak in Uganda. It contains the largest intact calderas, a collapsed crater covering over 40kms at the top of the mountain, surrounded by e series of rugged peaks. The Bagisu and sabiny are the two ethnic tribes around the mountain. They practice subsistence farming and conduct circumcision ceremonies every even year to prepare young men for challenges of adulthood appealing for tourists as well as promoting Uganda tours. The communities have made agreement with the park for sustainable harvest of the traditional products.
Visiting Mbale’s Mt. Elgon National Park presents an exciting setting for extended hikes, interesting and unique flora and fauna, magnificent waterfalls, enormous caves, scenic peaks, gorges and hot springs, which bubble up at 48°c.
Every October of the year UMA organizes a main International Fair dubbed commonly know as Uganda International Trade Fair at lugogo show grounds in the capital by different companies across the world.
The major Uganda’s attraction is the endangered mountain gorillas, the human closest relative with 98% of the related gene. Uganda alone has five habituated gorilla families. There are four of the families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with other one troop in Mgahinga National Park, which are all visited daily with a group of eight visitors. These ape attractions are a major contributor of the revenue in the tourism industry in the country.
Uganda is also blessed with the chimpanzees, a delightful ape whose reminiscent gasp whoop call is an ultimate sound of the African rain forest, which also boosts Uganda’s primate safaris as well, the country’s tours at large. Chimpanzee communities have been habituated for tourism at kibale forest, Budongo Forest and Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Kyambura Gorge. Other places where these exiting primates can be is the Ngamba Island that lies on Lake Victoria with a community of orphaned chimpanzees.
Golden Monkeys and other species of monkey are also very well represented in Uganda for the country’s Safaris and Tours. Kibale Forest National Pak in Uganda boasts the greatest primate variety and destiny in East Africa with more than five species of these astonishing primates. Mgahinga National Park also hosts habituated troops of the rare golden monkeys and Murchison Falls National Park is on of the few East African strongholds for the spindly plains abode patas monkeys.
Ugandan wetlands ranging from enormous inland seas to the mysterious marshy expanse of Lake Kyoga are one of the areas of Birds in Uganda. The impressively scenic Lake Victoria Albert and Edward are the renowned areas for water birds contributing a lot the country’s birds and bird safaris as well in Uganda. The Mountain ringed Lake Bunyonyi is one of Uganda’s most rapidly developing wetland destination with some of the birding activities in the country. Lake Bunyonyo’s steep sided shores with over 26 small dotted Islands the deepest in East Africa and the second deepest in Africa with rustic hotels and campsites are one of the places for a must visit to have a Memorable Tour in Uganda.
The semiprecious stone in Lake Victoria known as Ssesse archipelago with around 84 islands both large and dotted with local villages also contributes a lot to bird safaris in Uganda. Ssesse Islands all well watered with forests has a variety of birds’ species that can’t be missed out for bird watchers.
Ssese Islands consists of many natural islands that have not been tampered by mankind for while. The Islands are virgin fascinating and secure for all walks of tourists who would like to escape from modern ego life and attend to natural environment free from pollution and where one can breathe fresh air that has not been contaminated. Ssesse Island is a unique sport fishing ground, with one of its small Island like the Bugala Island which has a stretch of white sand beaches and rich forest give visitors a life time memorable experience. Forest nature walks; bird watching, lady bird watching, swimming in fresh waters, sunbathing and sport fishing are among the tourism activities.
Woodcarvings are one of the unique ventures good for interior décor. Ones taste is expressed in the choice of décor in ones home interior. Despite the fact that a diversity of contemporary decorations is obtainable on the marketplaces, woodcarving is a house tents to look supplementary ordinary with decorations that depict African culture. Homes can look African by using woodcarvings for your center decorations. Vicent Mubiru of Cabinet Artists along Ggaba Road says that any thing can be carved out of wood like sculptures and masks, which Masks can be used as hanging decorations
Although some people think that the carvings are ancient people who are into fashion have a hidden beauty in them. Woodcarvings are also common in homes for travelers. The interior designer Milly Tussuubira said that, the appearance of ones home does not need to be inert, some innovative skills need to be applied to make it look magnificent and exceptional.
Woodcarving is widely spread in Uganda especially in tourism sites like Murchison falls National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Cultural centers like Kasubi Tombs. Other places where visitors on Uganda tours and safaris can have a stop over include Banana boat, Design Agenda, Afriart Gallery, Aada Africa Art Gallery and Kreation Gift
Nations to discuss trade in wild species, the fate of hundreds of endangered species hanging in the balance representatives from 171 nations that kicked off a critical two weeks meeting in Hague on how best to regulate the global commerce in wild flora and fauna is coming to an end. The meeting that attracted 2500 delegates of the convention on International Trade in Endangered species of Wild Flora and Fauna and CITES voted on dozens of proposals seeking to strengthen and weaken trade protection for wildlife ranging from Elephants, and Leopards to Orchids and Cactus threatened by over population around the world.
These animals among others has been poached around the world including Uganda where elephants and other wild animals are been killed in need for creating space for man like around Queen Elizabeth National Park. Whether legal or illegal wild flora and fauna trade for live specimen or it’s by products like Ivory, Coral Jewelry, Tiger bone, Medicine and Exotic woo furniture generates tens of billions dollars as revenue every year. A middle ground for safeguarding wildlife and protecting the livelihood of local populations who exploit it economically is rarely easy lamented experts. The Communications Director for the International Fund for Wild Animals said that what they are trying to do is to include consideration for peoples livelihood into all future deliberations for all wild life and people to have equal benefits.
The two East African Community of Uganda and Tanzania are to benefit from USD6.5million project lobbied by EAC. This project is meant to increase farmer’s income from banana based beverages production. The project known as the pilot project which is to benefit farmers along the Lake Victoria Region will add value to enhance the supply chain of bananas directly through by linking farmers to the processing of higher valued added products.
East Africa is one f the worlds largest producers of bananas in the world. Uganda alone contributes to approximately over 50% of bananas produced in East Africa. These bananas are of great value to the country. Despite beverage production, banana plantations are also one of the tourist attractions in Uganda hence contributing to travel to Uganda as well as Uganda tours and safaris.
The Managing Director of the Common Fund for Commodities, Ambassador Ali Mchumo said that with the co-financing from UN Habitat and other agencies, the banana project will even lick Coffee farmers directly to markets and organize farmers into efficient suppliers of raw materials for banana and other fruits based processing companies.
The project was originally conceived as a coffee diversification strategy. Mchumo also added that this project seeks to strengthen the participation of small scale farmers in the banana and other fruit-based beverages market. This fund is part of the funding provided by the CFC to target poverty areas and to help increase farmers income and activities through commodity development in Africa and Latin America.
The business community in Africa must invest in businesses that are not harmful but friendly and in harmony with the environment, Rwandan President Paul Kagame advised.
The president said that this would be the only way the African continents would achieve economic prosperity. Africa is blessed with all the kinds of natural flora and fauna hat when managed well development can be achieved. Ranging from Birds, animals and plants promoting Africa safaris ands tours can greatly play a vital role in the continents prosperity.
The Rwandan Head of state made comments during the official opening of the three day environmental journalists workshop in June held at Kigali Serena Hotel in Kigali Rwanda. The conference financed by European Union (EU) and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNDP) brought together journalists from 16 African countries under the umbrella body African Network of Environmental Journalists.
During the his key note president Kagame said that African governments in partnership with private sectors have a big role to play in ensuring that the much needed investments and precious environment are in mutual understanding. this conference attended by several officials including the Rwandan Cabinet, the chief justice president, the senate and speaker among others
Rwanda and Uganda today is widely known for its endangered mountain gorillas which attracts a thousands of visitor in these country hence rising a lot of revenue the countries and development. Ugandan Bwindi Impenetrable National Park alone is estimated to be having around 300 gorillas out of 760 that lives in Africa and the number is still on the increase. While the rest is being shared among the remaining three national parks of Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga National Park of Uganda. This is all development and prosperity in Africa due to gorilla tours and gorilla safaris in these countries.
The business community in Africa must invest in businesses that are not harmful but friendly and in harmony with the environment, Rwandan President Paul Kagame advised.
The president said that this would be the only way the African continents would achieve economic prosperity. Africa is blessed with all the kinds of natural flora and fauna hat when managed well development can be achieved. Ranging from Birds, animals and plants promoting Africa safaris ands tours can greatly play a vital role in the continents prosperity.
The Rwandan Head of state made comments during the official opening of the three day environmental journalists workshop in June held at Kigali Serena Hotel in Kigali Rwanda. The conference financed by European Union (EU) and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNDP) brought together journalists from 16 African countries under the umbrella body African Network of Environmental Journalists.
During the his key note president Kagame said that African governments in partnership with private sectors have a big role to play in ensuring that the much needed investments and precious environment are in mutual understanding. this conference attended by several officials including the Rwandan Cabinet, the chief justice president, the senate and speaker among others
Rwanda and Uganda today is widely known for its endangered mountain gorillas which attracts a thousands of visitor in these country hence rising a lot of revenue the countries and development. Ugandan Bwindi Impenetrable National Park alone is estimated to be having around 300 gorillas out of 760 that lives in Africa and the number is still on the increase. While the rest is being shared among the remaining three national parks of Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga National Park of Uganda. This is all development and prosperity in Africa due to gorilla tours and gorilla safaris in these countries.
The UN forum on 14th June accepted a milestone nine-year ban on intercontinental ivory do business to trunk a surge in poaching that has killed up to 20,000 elephants per year. The ban will go into effect after the one-off sale by four southern African nations of government-held stock of elephant tusks. The exact amount of the stocks are in dispute, but may be 150 to 200 tonnes, according to Willem Wijnstekers, the secretary general of the 171-nation Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The agreement, which breaks an 18-year deadlock and comes after weeks of sometimes fierce debate among African nations, was formally adopted by CITES almost immediately after it was submitted by Chad and Zambia “on behalf of Africa.”
Africa is a few of the continents blessed with wild flora and fauna that boosts tourism activities around the globe. Ranging from the Big Five Mammals, Reptiles to birds among other wild flora and fauna. This African solution to an African problem marks a great step forward for wildlife conservation, said Wijnstekers. At stake is the future of the world’s largest land mammal, which once numbered in millions. A century of hunting and poaching — which has increased sharply in the last six years — has reduced the African elephant population to approximately 500,000. Remaining herds are concentrated in southern Africa, with far smaller populations in some central and western African nations.
Based on seizures, experts estimate that between 12,000 and 20,000 elephants are illegally killed every year to feed illicit markets concentrated in East Asia. The one-off sale would cover ivory stocks in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe registered as of January 31. The money raised would go into conservation programmes. The southern African nations initially opposed a moratorium on ivory trade, and had earlier sought annual export quotas. More than 20 other African nations, led by Kenya and Mali, came to CITES proposing a 20-year ban on all international commerce. They argue that limited trade simply encourages poaching and point to sharp increases in illegal commerce since occasional sales of ivory resumed in 1997 after an eight-year ban.
This is a clear win for elephants and the conservation efforts of all the range states led by Kenya and Mali, which had originally proposed a 20-year moratorium, said Peter Pueschel of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Susan Lieberman of the World Wildlife Fund, which has invested heavily in elephant conservation programmes, also welcomed the deal, but said it should have detailed a plan for halting illegal ivory trade. This move hopefully succeeds as we conserve the Africans natural resources and maintain Africa as Number tourism destination in the world.