Uganda: Gorilla Tourism Spurs Growth in Kigezi Region
Mountain gorilla tourism has not only contributed huge sums of money to the national economy, it has immensely sparked development in the Kigezi sub-region.
More than 18,000 gorilla permits are sold annually, which translates into an annual collection of more Shs38b. Each permit costs Shs2.16m ($600). According to John Justice Tibesigwa, the Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park acting conservation area manager, mountain gorilla tourism started in 1961 when the area was still a sanctuary.
In 1991, it was strengthened and was later, in 1994, recognised as a heritage site.
Tourism, Tibesigwa says, has not only benefited government but enabled Uganda Wildlife Authority to contribute Shs900m annually to communities around Bwindi-Mgahinga for development projects.
The Bwindi-Mgahinga area has more than 14 gorilla groups and only eight tourists are allowed to visit a gorilla group per day.
Available data indicate that the Bwindi-Mgahinga area has half the world’s population of mountain gorilla.
This, as a result, has attracted tourists in the area and has had a spillover effect in terms of service development, especially in hotel and hospitality and the transport sector.
Source of employment
More than 100 hotels and camp sites have been established and provide employment to more than 10,000 people.
Hotels such as Accadia Cottages, Bunyonyi Overland Resort Camp, Entusi, Bushara and Sharp Island Gorilla Lodge, among others are a good addition to the Kigezi tourism.
In the transport sector, an airstrip has been established in Kihiihi, Kanungu District and another is under construction in Rubanda District. The two will be an addition to the already existing Kisoro Airfield.
“Tarmacking Kabale- Kisoro road has also facilitated development. However, government should improve internet connectivity, provide electricity, especially in the national parks,�? Ivan Mbabazi Batuma, a member of the Kigezi Tourism Cluster, says.
Other tourism features such as Lake Bunyonyi, Mt Muhavura, and Queen Elizabeth National Park, Batuma says, should be promoted to create alternatives as well as establishing a special desk at border points to handle tourists.
Nicholas Byengoma, the vice chairperson of the Kigezi Tourism Cluster, says whereas government has injected money into the tourism sector, more needs to be done.
“Encourage the establishment of domestic air transport to ease movement, especially for tourists visiting different destinations, he says.
Tourism, as already stated, employs more than 10,000 people in the Kigezi sub-region and this, according to Seith Byarugaba, an investor in accommodation, is a big achievement that government should leverage on.
“There is need to habituate other animal species such as chimpanzees, red monkey and birds to diversify, he says.
Government, Fideli Kanyamunyu, the director of Wagtail Tourism Investments in Kisoro District, believes should return much more to local communities instead of the current 20 per cent.
“… giving us only 20 per cent of the entrance fees, which is only $40 out of the $600 should be revised, he says and appeals to government to consider giving soft loans to community members to improve the quality of their products.
But beyond looking at government, Akankwasa Barirega, the acting commissioner for Wildlife Conservation at the Ministry of Tourism, advises local communities and members in the Kigezi Tourism Cluster to be more innovative, especially in regard to creating tourism amenities.
For instance, he says, people should think of establishing facilities such house boats on Lake Bunyonyi, zip lines crossing the interlocking hills, cable cars on Mt Muhavura and hot air balloons, among others.
“You earn a lot because there is a ready market [tourists], he says.
Silver Baguma, the vice chairperson of Rubanda District, thinks that stakeholders meetings such as the one held recently, provide good engagement.
However, he argues, for employment opportunities, residents must be considered as the first priority.
Read MoreMotor Rentals Makes Uganda Travel Easier
As mentioned before you may have known or read before – there is no activity that is risk free. Even renting a car is risky because you might encounter some losses. Apart from being risky, it often seems frustrating and tiresome to go on long trips in deep wildness of Uganda safaris. You may come across a scheduled place where cars don’t move that frequently. Under circumstances when you experience a breakdown in such places example in deep places of Kasese or Kabale in Uganda, you’ll be in serious trouble. You’ll rarely find professional mechanics or repair shops that can help repair your car at the odd hour of the night.
Motor Rentals in Uganda won’t cause any harassment for you or make you wait for long under a crisis. All you need to do in order to avail their services is to call up their number. These services ensure much of your mental peace when you’re going out on long vacations.
Decide quickly on car hire in Uganda and how you can escape out to different destinations with ease. You’ll often need to drive your car through roads with narrow space that you actually don’t favor. Your car is precious to your heart and you take utmost precaution to preserve it. These rough and clumsy lanes are often a cause of concern for you. Resting on the backseat of your car sets you on a relaxing mood; you’ll hardly enjoy your time while you’re on the driver’s seat. There are a few good options to enjoy your time while you’re relaxing on the backseat –
Read magazines or listening to music, Check out updated online information, Discussing business through your cell phone, Indulging in funny games and Watching a movie on your smart phone
Motor Rentals allow you to try out these things as you make good use of your traveling time.
Before your flight takes off at the airport, you may find a car rental service to pick you up from your destination. You won’t have to face any questions like that of other tourists, especially when you feel tired after a long journey. Without spending much of your valuable time over negotiations, you may head straightway to your hotel and save your breath for your forthcoming meeting or sightseeing.
Replacing any repaired car, making emergency trips, opting for outdoor tours, vacationing with loved ones, going out on international trips and business trips are reasons that compel you to consider opting for Motor rentals. Instead of driving your car, it is always beneficial to try some car hire online booking regardless of all facts and circumstances.
Eventually it will help reduce your repair and maintenance costs. In order to turn your tours more pleasurable, you’ll need to hire a car when taking a trip in Uganda. Prior to hiring car rental services, you must do a fair bit of car hire price comparison. Whenever you’re going out on your leisure vacation or business trip, you’ll need to be more careful about not causing extra exhaustion on your car.
Read MoreHow to Get the Best Car Rental Price in Uganda
Due to the increasing number of tourist visiting the country has made car rental in Uganda a very popular business thus also becoming as competitive as car rental companies are emerging everyday to join the market and also become dominant figure in the car rental fraternity. Many companies are trying their level best to hire cars to their customers at discounted prices but not all reduced prices come with good intention of giving better services. So you have to be so careful and keen on getting best car rental prices with good car rental services.
Here we came up with on how to get the best car rental price in Uganda to labor you off the hassle of looking for good car rental services with best prices.
Always use online reservation to hire a car. Car rental websites are always having promotions for their businesses in of discounts. By using the internet to book a car rental you stand an opportunity to get a best car rental price with a discount. This makes you save money on your car rental to use for other items on your trip.
Car rental companies in Uganda has a policy of fuel refilling that is when they hire you a car they expect you to return it with exact amount of fuel you found in the car before you took for your tour in Uganda. So all you have to is look and find the fuel station with cheap fuel to refill the tank by doing that you will have saved some money since fuel is also part of the car rental expenses.
You can also get best car rental prices by making an early booking of the car rental services. Here you have a time to make price deduction negotiation with the car rental agency and in most cases these car providers are lenient, they are always willing to give out discounts to their customers if you request for it.
Regular customers know the best time to hire a car from a car rental agency that is the low season of traveling. In Uganda November it is the car rental agencies cut the prices of the car hire as they expect low turns of customers, so you are more likely to get the car at a good prices as you take advantage of the situation of the time as they car rental business is not at a hike in the country. So when you are planning your trip to Uganda it is better to do it in November when the car rental prices are low and also the prices of other tourism products are also low.
You should also collect the car hire from the car provider’s premises other than the airport as you make end up paying airport car fees and also you may have to pay for the fuel used to drive the car at your place of convenience (airport)
It is also recommendable to compare the car hire package deal you have got from a particular company with other deals from other companies and check if it is has lower prices than other deals from other companies. You should also look at the convenience; reliance and safety of the car hire deal you have reserved from the car hire agency. If everything is well then you are guaranteed of having good car rentals services in Uganda at the best prices.
Read MoreTips for the perfect self drive car rental
While on vacation in a foreign country, it is everyone’s desire to drive in new cars: a car that commands elegance, class, comfort and respect.
It is only embarking on a self drive car rental in Uganda deal that can make your desires come true. This is the most evident and vivid way of driving yourself in very high end and posh car.
The tips of self drive car rental in Uganda are as not so complicated as manufacturing a vehicle its self. They are very simple tips to understand and comply with in order to acquire a self drive car rental and also have a good experience.
All one needs to do is hit the internet and search for good competent self drive car rental companies in Uganda and choose the one that best suits your needs. Make a good relationship with them through emailing them and also contacting them through the phone as their telephones are always displayed on the websites.
When you contact your preferred self drive car rental company then tell them about your needs then best on the needs they will know what to offer to you or come up with the best suggestion and advice that can suit your needs. This is normally done by outlining and explaining to you the available cars for your needs.
It is important to note that you are supposed to choose a car that can fit your needs and finances. For example if you are going for a family wildlife safari trip, it is advisable for you to choose a passenger van like super custom or safari van which have a four wheel drive and can accommodate all members of the family you intend to travel with. on other hand if you are solo traveler and making a Kampala city tour go for a compact car like a Toyota Premio or a crossover car like a RAV4 those two cars can best serve the latter purpose without draining your pockets.
Remember irrespective of the car that you select for yourself, you have to be responsible of it. There are some essential regulations and policies that you must keep in mind hiring a car and
When you get to the car hire agency premises or meet the car provider whether online or off, he/she will tell to issue you valid driving license and this is supposed in a comprehensive language that is acknowledge in Uganda that is English or French that can be accepted by some companies. The driving license is proof that you are able and eligible of driving a car. If you do not have one then you can hire a car with a driver. The car hire agencies have professional chauffeurs
You should always take note of the speed limit at which you are driving on the Uganda. You have to be very cautious while driving a rented car because you might end up paying much if an accident occurs by your fault. No insurance compensates for reckless driving. On Ugandan roads always keep a speed limit of 40-50 when driving on busy roads and 60-80 on highways.
Finally, you are supposed to return the car from selfdrive tour on the date and time promised otherwise you might bump into a premium fine for the late return of the vehicle.
Self drive tours in Uganda are one of the most exicting tours in Uganda and these tours can become more incredible when you go by the above tips on self drive car rentals in Uganda.
Read MoreVisit Ngamba Island & Experience Exclusive Chimpanzee Watching
Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary is the best place to spend time watching chimpanzee as they play, interact with each other and even watch what you are doing, is undoubtedly one of the many fascinating experiences you can enjoy in Uganda. The thrill of knowing that by visiting them on Ngamba Island you are directly contributing to their well-being, overall conservation of the species and supporting the local community gives additional meaning to your Uganda safari.
Ngamba Island is part of the Koome group of islands located on Lake Victoria, 23km southwest of Entebbe, Uganda. It consists of approximately 100 acres, 95 of which are forested and for use by the chimpanzees. Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary was established in October 1998 and is currently home to 49 orphaned rescued chimpanzees.
Day trips
Feeding times from the visitor viewing platform are at 11:00am and 2:30pm. You can view either of them. You are advised to arrive at the island at least 1 hour before the feeding so that you listen to an informative talk by the sanctuary staff, enjoy the island’s beautiful views, natural wildlife, bird life and activities such as volleyball, swimming in the Lake, kayaking and island shopping.
Overnight
An excursion over or more days, staying in our exclusive permanent tented camp on the island is worth your time. Each of the four tents overlooks the lake from its raised, private wooden deck and accommodates two persons in comfort with full sized twin beds, en suite bathroom and solar lighting. Freshly prepared sumptuous meals are provided in either our covered, or open dining area beside the Lake. Meals very but we try to cater for all tastes. Drinks are available on cash sale basis including water, sodas, beers, wine and a selection of spirits.
As well as viewing the chimpanzees from the viewing platform, visitors have lots of time to enjoy the island’s other facilities. The early mornings are particularly memorable as the chimpanzees nosily wake up at sunrise, calling loudly to anyone who is listening. At sunset huge numbers of bats are often seen as they fly out of the forest and into the colour ful sunset.
Care Giving Experiences
The unique experience offers you an amazing opportunity to spend time the chimpanzees. The caregiver experience is a 24-hour opportunity to be behind the scenes of the sanctuary and participate in the daily routine like preparing food, cleaning facilities, health checks and generally learning more about the efforts needed to take care of the chimpanzees.
The caregiver and Ngamba trail activities may only be included as part of the overnight excursion to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary and they require advance booking. Care giving requires specific vaccinations and health requirements (more than the ones required for travel to Africa) that need to be fulfilled well in advance.
Other Activities
- Sunset
- Volunteering packages
- Students camping
- Retreats
- Boat rides
- Photography
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Community culture experience
Meeting / Departure point
All trips depart from Entebbe. Contact us for departure times. We meet at waterfront club in Entebbe town where safe parking is available and pre-trip briefing is conducted before proceeding on foot to the pier. Transport from your local hotel can be arranged in advance upon request.
Read MoreTop Things to See on a Uganda Safari
Are you traveling to Uganda or are you thinking of going to Uganda? Don’t have a second thought just book a visa and get a ticket then travel to the country. You can never regret your visit to Uganda. This is land where love and nature were born and last free. Many people who have come to Uganda have had a lifetime experience and convince their compatriots to come and visit the pearl of Africa. This is why the number of tourist coming to Uganda is increasing at a rapid rate. Please don’t miss the glorious opportunity of visiting the pearl of Africa before you die.
These are some of the most popular activities and attractions you encounter when you visit the peaceful land of Uganda.
Uganda has a variety of wildlife which is very interesting and exciting to interact with like the lions elephants, giraffes, birds, zebras, monkeys, chimpanzees, the mountain gorillas which are the most visited animals in Uganda, the hyenas to mention. These are normally found in the remote areas of Uganda so visiting these animals makes you experience a natural and eco life from the food, air you breathe, shelter, animals and the people you encounter on the safari.
Here are some of the famous national game parks which are visited by tourists: Queen Elizabeth national park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo national, Bwindi impenetrable national park, Lake Mburo national park, rwenzori mountains national park, Mountain Elgon national park, Mgahinga national park, Kibale national park and Semliki national park. These parks are not monotonic in such way that they do not posses the same activities and animals. These all have various different animals and unique activities differing from each other. Visiting one does not guarantee you to encountering all wildlife and the related activities at a go. You have to visit one park at time to experience the real wildlife in Uganda. We can organize proper itineraries for visitors who wish to see specific wildlife of their interests.
Uganda has so many water bodies that make someone’s visit so fun and exciting. We have river Nile that transects from the central part of the country through the North West end of the country till the North Africa. It is the longest river in the world and possesses a lot of unique features that support tourism activities. For example the water falls that are used for rafting and some of its river tributes are used for boat ride where there are a lot of aquatic life and sport fishing can be done on these waters.
Uganda has many lakes like Lake Victoria which is the source of the Nile and this has lots of beaches from Jinja through Kampala to Entebbe and Masaka. These resorts are used for relaxing, picnic, partying, sightseeing and boat ride and some of them have exquisite accommodation facilities and serene climate around them.
There are also other lakes like lake Kyoga, Edward and George ,lake lake Mburo, lake Albert and lake Bunyonyi to mention but a few. These also have some interesting aquatic life interesting to watch and also have good resorts for example Lake Bunyonyi has the most exciting resort in the country with a very fantastic accommodation and eco environment. This has become the place to be for honeymooners and also holiday makers.
Uganda also posses many mountains but most visited ones are mountain rwenzori and Mt Elgon since they are the most popular one. These mountain have some exotic animals to see, and also used for camping, mountain cycling and climbing.
The climate of Uganda is worth to talk about i.e. the equatorial climate. It experiences sun and rain throughout the year. Many tourists come to feel this natural sun of Uganda. Uganda has very hospitable people that welcome other people from different worlds.
One should not also worry of how is going to travel to his/her preferred destination in Uganda as the country has drastically improved its road networks accessing these places and there are variety of cars to hire in Uganda to take you around these nature gifted places. There are well trusted car rental agencies in Uganda that can lead you safely on the roads.
Going to Uganda is one of the most amazing decisions one can ever take and never gets regrets because Uganda has a well organized tourism system for the visitors and also it loves and welcomes visitors.
Read MoreGuide to Self Driving in Uganda
It’s really sometimes not easy to do a self drive safari when in strange country this applies to both Africans who go to foreign countries and the reverse is true. In most cases many avoid diving themselves in a country they don’t know very well and the traffic roles in that particular country. However you can still go for a self drive in Uganda if you’re a careful driver.
Things to Know
You can drive in Uganda using a foreign driving license for up to 3 three months after which you will need to get a Uganda driving license from the Uganda Revenue Authority or an international driving permit.
Since Uganda is one of the gifted nations in the world with very many interesting things waiting for you to discover when on a Uganda safari, perhaps in a self drive vehicle, national parks and games with a abundant wildlife, plants and various species of birds, mountain hiking activities, lakes and rivers which provide memorable activities like fishing and rafting on the longest river Nile indeed the self drive adventure is worth it, explore the pearl of Africa as it’s sometimes referred to as. When you are in a self drive car service with us, we will offer you a friendly price that will fit your budget and in fact you won’t fail to have a breathtaking safari. Considering many activities that you may enjoy on yourself drive safari /car rental the following below is the list among others.
Upon your arrival at Entebbe international airport, that’s when you will be handled yourself drive car however this depends on what we agreed upon you can rent a car with a drive or self drive. You may decide to first visit the botanical gardens in Entebbe upon your arrival date then after set off from Entebbe to Kampala which is about 40kms around an hour drive to Kampala Uganda’s capital and its largest city, however you should not that Entebbe highway is a very busy road with very many traffic jams so some patience is needed.
When you arrive in Kampala there very many things which you can do, (Kampala city tour) visit the Uganda Museum to get more information about the history of Uganda, visit the Ba’hai temple, why not also the Kasubi Tombs where over 4 kings of Buganda where buried, it’s a respectful place most especially to the Baganda tribe who contributes the highest percentage of the Ugandan population over 15%. You can also decide to visit the Makerere art Gallery, the Uganda martyrs shrine at Namugongo where over 22 Uganda martyrs where burnt arrive for failure to renounce their religion on the orders of Kabaka (king) Mwanga , other places include craft village and local markets. With a self drive car you can’t fail to visit all these places and all of these places are within 15 kilometers drive from the capital city Kampala.
From Kampala set off to the south western part of Uganda a gifted place with very many attractions and it’s not less congested with traffic jam like in Kampala, you will have a stopover at the equator crossing for photography and snacks, from here you will continue to Uganda national park and the nearest park Lake Mburo national park with spectacular wildlife. A car rental is worth it as there is no means from the main road to the park. You will enjoy game drives for an opportunity to come across several species of animals like impala, buffaloes, zebra, elephant, worth the list is endless. Boat cruise is also rewarding with several species of animals like schools of hippos and birds, enjoy horse riding and a natural walk at the park
Still with your rental car in Uganda you can connect to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park with rolling hills of kibale up to the park to have a memorable experience. the park activities including the most done activity that’s gorilla tracking, you will park your car at the park headquarter and then after briefing at the park headquarters embark on a search for our close relatives, possibly the activity is unpredictable it can go from 1-8 hours depending on where they spent their last night from, so a reasonable degree of fitness is needed , and you are required to go with tracking gears such as sturdy pair of walking shoes , long sleeved shirts bottled water since tracking is done in the forest expect a lot of difficult in the forest like muddy and stinging plants. You can decide to enjoy other activities at the park like canoe ride on Lake Mutanda or on Lake Bunyonyi the second deepest lake in Africa after lake Tanganyika, enjoy the batwa cultural experience, this is a group of people whose men grow up to 4inc they will entertain you through their cultural songs and dance and they will also explain to you how they have managed to live in the area for over 500 years. All these places can be reachable with a courtesy of our car rental.
Still you can transfer from Bwind impenetrable national park to Queen Elizabeth national park which is a drive of just about 70km. This is one of Uganda most bio-diversity parks as it hoses a very big number of wildlife. When at queen Elizabeth national park you can enjoy very many activities including game drives to watch very many species of animals including various species of antelopes, buffaloes, elephant, lion and leopard just to mention but a few, still you will also enjoy a boat drive along the Kazinga channel that connects lakes kyoga and Edward. Among many other optional activities which you can enjoy at the park, how do you see watch the tree climbing lions at the famous part of the park Ishasha sector of the park. And with our 4×4 vehicle you can still connect to Kibale forest national park to track chimpanzee or to enjoy a habituation experience. To connect to Kibale from queen is about 130kms, on your day of chimpanzee tracking you need to drive up to the park headquarters /Kanyancu to receive a short briefing about the dos and don’ts while with chimps before 8am.
With yourself drive car, you can still connect to Murchison falls national park Uganda’s largest national park located in the north western part of Uganda. You will fast drive up to the top of the fall where the mighty rive Nile crosses plunge 45m creating the dramatic Murchison falls it is a very fantastic view. You will also enjoy other park activities like game drive for opportunity to see different species of animals like giraffe, elephant, buffaloes, various species of antelopes, and elephant among other, also a boat cruise at the Nile River is also rewarding with various species of animals like hippo, crocodile and several species of birds include the rare shoebill
With your car rental either chuffer or self driven you can still reach the far northern part of Uganda the remote areas of Uganda to Kidepo valley national park. Transport in this region is difficult but with yourself drive car you can’t fail to get there. Visit the cultural Karamojong villager to learn more about the African culture, they will entertain you through their cultural dance and music, and they will explain to you how they have managed to live in the area and you can visit many interesting areas in the north region of Uganda. Indeed much can be seen on a Uganda safari with your car rental service, you can reach every corner of the country. We have a variety of cars for hire just book with us a car and enjoy many interesting activities for a memorable experience on your safari.
Read MoreMost Popular Uganda National Parks
Many travelers look for safaris in Uganda. However travelers wonder about the best safari parks where they can enjoy an unforgettable adventure! There are ten national parks in Uganda and here are the five most popular parks to visit in Uganda.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the most popular national park in Uganda. Located in western Uganda, this UNESCO world heritage site is a sanctuary for almost half of the remaining population of the endangered mountain gorillas.
Kibale Forest National Park
Many tourists travel to the Kibale forest a national park in Uganda mostly loveed for its primates. Regarded as a tropical rain forest, the area is blessed with diverse wild life. Lots of primates exist in the wilderness with chimpanzee as the main source of attraction. Vervet monkeys and the olive baboon can be found in the natural ambience attracting the tourists from all over the world. Dense vegetation and the thick canopy make it an enticing option for the visitors who are able to hear the sweet and intriguing sound of the chimpanzees all over the forest.
Kidepo National Park
Located in an inaccessible terrain, the Kidepo valley national park is very popular but the visitors are unable to reach, due to the hostile terrain. It is quite far away from the capital, a total of around 800 km for the tourists, however majority of travelers prefer to visit by air to save time.
If one is looking for a hotel, Apoka lodge could be the answer because it is amazingly constructed and equipped with modern amenities including climate control options. People can view cheetah, Buffaloes and the amazing elephants in their natural habitat accompanied by striped hyenas as well.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
This is the best savanna national park to visit in Uganda.
Murchison Falls National Park
The Uganda game reserves are very famous due to the presence of the bamboo villages and the large crater lakes formed because of the old volcanic formation. Wetlands accompanied by the Mabamba swamp and Budongo forest are the chief attractions of the country. Watching the Majestic lions feasting on wilder beast is a magical site cherished by the people arriving in the national parks.
Travelers can also relish the presence of the glacier near the equator with the dense jungles as the back drop. Golden monkey considered to be one of the endangered varieties is also found in Uganda and people can track them through the rocky forests.
Read MoreSezibwa Falls
The Ssezibwa Falls are found in both Mukono and Buyikwe districts. From Kampala, a journey to these falls takes about an hour driving along the Kampala- Jinja highway. Ssezibwa is a short word Ssizibirwa Kubo meaning “you cannot broke my way”. For sure you can’t block this rivers’ way!
How to Get there
Travel along Kampala – Jinja highway. Branch off @ Kayanja Trading Center.
The Sezibwa falls are 17meters high and the pool is of 13 meters deep with brown waters.The waters take this coulour because they have eroding from the sedimentary rocks.
The locals say that river was produced by a woman of Ekibe Clan and Sezibwa Falls is one of the few human born rivers in Uganda.
The river is a cleansing site – visited by King Mwanga of Buganda in 1889 although scholars say that it was earier first visited by his father King Ssuna ll.
At the river is a cultural site with shrines of Walumbe the god of death in Buganda & Musoke the god of rain. The place has a tropical forest on the blanks of the river and hence enough rainfall is received!
The forest also makes the site, a bird watchers paradise. The place has about 200 species of birds and these include: African finfoot, Shining blue kingfisher, Emerald cuckoo, Great blue Ross’s Turaco, grey headed negrofinch, striped kingfisher, white spotted fluftails, red headed Malimbe, green hylia and among others. Camping and nature walk are some of the things you can enjoy at this amazing site .
Read MoreKarimojong Warrior Dancers Wow Uganda Martyrs’ Pilgrims
This year’s annual martyrs celebrations on 3rd June were led by Bishop Giussepe Filippi of Kotido located North Eastern Uganda. He was accompanied by the diocesan choir and a troupe of Karimojong warriors donned in traditional garb in a gallantry of hymn, dance and worship to the delight of Pilgrims.
This year attendance hit the one million mark with President Yoweri Museveni being the chief Pilgrim. Also in attendance was Maria Nyerere widow of the founding Father of The Republic of Tanzania, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere.
The President committed government support to the development of the martyrs’ shrines into tourism attractions. This will add impetus to efforts by the Uganda Tourism Board in promoting religious tourism that began with a martyr’s charity walk dubbed ‘in the Footsteps of The Uganda Martyrs the previous day.
Pilgrims came from as far as Malawi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda,Kenya, the United States of America and Nigeria.
Over 45 martyrs were burnt alive in 1886 on the orders of the reigning Kabaka (king) of Buganda following growing dissent in the kings court from the new converts to Christianity at the height of colonial struggle.
Festivities will be held in the same venue on the 18th October to commemorate Golden Jubilee since the canonization of the Catholic martyrs by Pope Paul VI.This shall coincide with the commemoration of the martyrdom of lesser known martyrs Jildo Irwa and Daudi Okello from Acholiland in Northern Uganda who were martyred almost 25 years later in Paimol.
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