There is going concern about the destiny of forestland in Mabira and Bugala reserves reflecting growing awareness of the dangers facing Uganda and her environment. Mabira forest and Bugala reserves are one of the centers of birding activities in Uganda, tourism being a hot cake today.
Mabira forest has over 300 species of birds, some of them endangered like the Nahans francolin and the Papyrus gonolek. Mabira forest also have plants with medicinal value, some of them used by local communities to treat ailments likes impotence and heart diseases. Mabira forest is one of the reservations for Uganda tour circuit. While Bugala Island is one of the biggest Islands in Uganda where birding activities and other interesting ones like fishing is done in the country.
Let the human needs do not simply exceed the ability to respond positively to the environmental warnings. If the survival of humanity in Uganda depends on the countries remaining forests, like the issue of Sugar. Must the forestland of Mabira and Bugala reserves depleted in the name of sugar. Sugar, which is claimed not enough in Uganda approximately more than 60% of the population survive in rural areas without even knowing whether sugar or tea exists on this planet. Lets all humanity around the world over join hands to ensure the survival of the remaining forests. People talk of global heating, but what has been done on the ground. In the past tropical forest in Asia, Africa and Latin America covered about 12% of the land’s surface. At present, they cover only 6%, and they will descend on this trend if at all even a small country like Uganda is to give away its natural blessings.
Marystella
Uganda and the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) received support from counterpart International to fund the first ever Africa Media Exchange as part of the 4th IIPT Africa conference on peace through tourism. The Excellency, President Yoweri Museveni in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism Trade and Industry will host this event in May 2007. A press statement from counterpart International says the Africa media exchange will bring together notable journalists from Africa, Europe and North America. The aim of the exchange is to encourage increased media coverage and international awareness of Africa rich variety of sustainable tourism initiatives and projects. This programme was first launched in Jamaica in 2001 to provide valuable learning experience on tourism and media. Restoring Uganda to its former glory will also be made possible through this programme. Tourism Media will further help in improving Uganda’s tourism image to the outside world to know that Uganda of today is not Uganda during Amins regime. Uganda to today is the place to be, nature walks, quad bike riding, white water rafting, all game parks activities and religious tourism is one of the activities to be carried out in the country. Bwindi impenetrable Forest National Park known for mountain gorillas, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison fall, Kidepo Valley for all the wild flora and fauna.
Claims are that there is no single disease, be it a skin rash, fever, Joint pains or cancer among others that cannot be cured at the Kitagata Hot Spring. Visiting Kitagata is like going to a referral hospital. Seeing people both men and women cutting across all ages who are almost naked in water in pond like formation is the first sign that you have arrived at the healing place. Kitagata is vernacular ward meaning warmth. Due to the popularity of the spring both the village and the sub county is also known as kitagata in the western Uganda. The hot spring has attracted many visitors who throng the area to experience the curing power of the water that burbles from the ground. Patients at kitagata drink and bath with the spring water twice a day. They take turns to immerse themselves in the spring water so as to get healed. According to the guide at the Hot spring, the morning session is shorter because when the heat increases, the water gets hotter and uncomfortable for bathing. The pearl of Africa is where beauty transcends from wild flora and fauna to culture.
The World back last year earmarked millions of US Dollars to facilitate Rwanda’s Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS). The money was allocated for budget support, ICT development through the E-Rwanda program, the Lake Kivu Methane gas project, the fight against HIV/Aids and rehabilitation of the Kigali Ruhengeri road for the promotion of gorilla tourism in Rwanda as well. Rwanda is preparing its Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy to be finalized this year. Based on the EDPRS, the next Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) 2008-2012 will be prepared jointly with DFID and will be presented to the World Bank of Directors in fiscal 2008. This Interim Strategy Note (ISN) will cover the period 2007-2008 and will there fore bridge the gap between the two full CASs to enable the alignment of Bank assistance with the EDPRS.
In the last decade, the Rwandan government has embarked on a comprehensive liberation of its economy, initiated legislation reform, promoted trade and pursued regional integration. The current assistance strategy supported the Rwandese government in undertaking key reforms to promote progress in meeting targets in the social sectors and an improved economic environment. This will create great opportunity for the great gorilla region for further development.
Tanzania plan to invest USD313 million in air transport infrastructure in the next 10 years is to benefit Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam. The investment is meant to upgrade the existing facilities to meet international standards. The project, which, is to be concluded in 2011, is expected to generate jobs and spur the country’s economic growth through Travel and Tourism since the aviation industry is one area, which can help the Tanzanian economy to stimulate. Tanzania has 24 airports. Two are international airports; Jnia and Kilimanjaro Airport, while four others; Arusha, Mwanza, Dodoma, and Mtwara are local terminal to tourism destinations in Tanzania. Tanzania Airport Authority was directed to search for investors with substantial capital and no how to invest in such areas. Taxiway, Apron, runway and the lighting system at Jnia were last rehabilitated and upgraded 20years ago. These developments will enable visits to Nationals parks in Tanzania be made easily of which Travel hemispheres is proud to be associated with safaris in Tanzania.
Tanzania plan to invest USD313 million in air transport infrastructure in the next 10 years is to benefit Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam. The investment is meant to upgrade the existing facilities to meet international standards. The project, which, is to be concluded in 2011, is expected to generate jobs and spur the country’s economic growth through Travel and Tourism since the aviation industry is one area, which can help the Tanzanian economy to stimulate. Tanzania has 24 airports. Two are international airports; Jnia and Kilimanjaro Airport, while four others; Arusha, Mwanza, Dodoma, and Mtwara are local terminal to tourism destinations in Tanzania. Tanzania Airport Authority was directed to search for investors with substantial capital and no how to invest in such areas. Taxiway, Apron, runway and the lighting system at Jnia were last rehabilitated and upgraded 20years ago. These developments will enable visits to Nationals parks in Tanzania be made easily of which Travel hemispheres is proud to be associated with safaris in Tanzania.
Tanzania plan to invest USD313 million in air transport infrastructure in the next 10 years is to benefit Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam. The investment is meant to upgrade the existing facilities to meet international standards. The project, which, is to be concluded in 2011, is expected to generate jobs and spur the country’s economic growth through Travel and Tourism since the aviation industry is one area, which can help the Tanzanian economy to stimulate. Tanzania has 24 airports. Two are international airports; Jnia and Kilimanjaro Airport, while four others; Arusha, Mwanza, Dodoma, and Mtwara are local terminal to tourism destinations in Tanzania. Tanzania Airport Authority was directed to search for investors with substantial capital and no how to invest in such areas. Taxiway, Apron, runway and the lighting system at Jnia were last rehabilitated and upgraded 20years ago. These developments will enable visits to Nationals parks in Tanzania be made easily of which Travel hemispheres is proud to be associated with safaris in Tanzania.
Lake Bunyonyi is Natures Prime Island with a unique vantage point from which to experience the utter power and majesty of Nature in an African setting with over 26 Islands. Is it legend or reality poor roads disrupt Bunyonyi Tourism? The business community in Rubanda and Ndorwa counties in Kabale district of recent were calling for the urgent rehabilitation of the Kabale- Bunyonyi road to make Bunyonyi safari more luminous. Lake Bunyonyi is a popular tourist area with about three large resorts and ten campsites. It’s entwined between the hills of Kabale with elegant views of the natural environment of the Pearl of Africa. . The lake is a popular superimpose for the hundreds of tourists traveling to the gorilla regions of Rwanda or the famous Mountain Gorilla at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. After a hectic gorilla safaris, visitors ever get the indescribable sensation of breathing the fresh breeze of Lake Bunyonyi by taking nature walk around the island and communicating to the many birds that call Bunyonyi home. From where its name is derived Lake Bunyonyi a ‘Rukiga’ word meaning ‘ a place of many small birds’, though there is acclaim of poor roads tourists can not ever imagined missing an Island exclusive to themselves live their dreams by not visiting natures prime Island, lake Bunyonyi.
By Achen Mary Stella.
The commercial Bank of Rwanda (BCR) was named bank of the year 2006 for Rwanda by the prestigious The Banker Magazine. Organized by the respected Financial Times (FT) of London, the emerging bank was noted for having turned the financial institution to become a market leader in a relatively shot span of time. The question relics will Commercial Bank of Rwanda again remains the bank of the year 2007? 2006s annual award ceremony was held at the Dorchester Hotel London on November 30th was attended by Bank chief executive officers and managers from 140 countries around the world. At the ward its chief financial officer, Mr. Chemo Gaye, represented BCR. Speaking during a press conference held at the BCR headquarters in Kigali last year, the head of personal banking Mr. Gilbert lamented ‘ it was gratifying for the bank to have won such a award without lobbying for it’. BCR was privatized less than two years ago and they have been able to achieve such performance through innovative modern banking financial and better image said Gilbert. BCR was previously owned by the government of Rwanda and later privatized with an 80% controlling stake sold to Actis, a leading private equity investor in emerging markets with head offices in London. This ground breaking investment, brokered by the Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency that made the link was Rwanda major privatization deal in 2004. Since investing Actis has helped to bring in world class best practices by implementing anti-money laundering, credit and compliance policies and improving system and operation control, which helps visitors on tourism safaris without Rwandan cash made easier. With the new introduced management and board who have extensive international and African banking experience, there is credit cards, Visas among others for not only Business travelers but also tourists in visiting the Gorilla regions of Parc de nationale Volcano’s commonly known as The Gorillas of Virunga among other tourists sites of Rwanda. While a lot of progress has been made, the BCR is still some way to achieving the desired objectives of customer service, supporting national development and providing return to their stakeholders.
With the Commonwealth Heads of State and Government Meeting (CHOGM) months away, there is absolute so as to linger on schedule. According to the Public Relations officer of CAA, the Airport is undoubtedly the main gateway to Uganda. Over 90% of the delegates coming for CHOGM will have to go through Airport one of the objective of the meetings is to showcase Uganda as a country with capacity to host such meeting as well as promoting tourism in Uganda. The airport has the necessary capacity; gross traffic projections of up to 2022 were made. There is only the expansion of minimum space, which already started in September 2006. This will include physical expansion for the area; repairing the floor, the ceiling, air conditioning and introducing new baggage reclaim belts that will all be ready soon. Security will be at its best during CHOGM, which were worked on already. The other concern were, expansion of the current arrivals hall area, introducing a new facility to handle passengers in a good manner, installation of four passenger loading bridges, building a new cargo center and shift all cargo operations both dry and wet cargo. The cooling facilities will all be fixed. CHOGM will not only benefit Ugandans but tourists who will visit the country after the summit. There were some of the national parks identified for lodges and hotel development that will help improve tourism facilities in Uganda. Potholes in the City will no longer disrupt urban tours as well as Uganda tour circuit as one explores the pearl of Africa.