UGANDA: Uganda Civil Aviation Authority Sets Tough Conditions For AIrline Licence Applicants

The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has set tough conditions to airline companies that applied for licenses to operate local and regional flight services.

According to the aviation body’s Managing Director, Mr David Kakuba, the tough conditions are intended to ensure safety and high standards because worldwide, the industry is highly regulated.

The sector manages risk at almost 100 percent. Therefore, if you want to come and fly in the air space of this country, you must go through very many procedures to be cleared, he said.

He was speaking on Thursday in Kampala, during the Civil Aviation Board Air Services Licensing Committee public hearing session where six companies were defending their applications.

A public hearing session is one of the conditions, where companies have to defend their proposals.

The public is free to raise any objections against the companies that have applied for either new license or renewal of license with the aviation body.

According to David Kakuba, the managing director for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), 48 operators are currently licensed to access Uganda’s airports.

Upon the arrival of Uganda’s aircraft Bombardier CRJ900 into the country on April 23, Lilly Ajarova, the Chief Executive Officer for Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), expressed optimism at the benefits, the carrier was to bring to Uganda’s tourism industry.

Likewise, several aviation operators revealed plans aimed at tapping into Uganda’s improving tourism potential, saying the number of tourists visiting the country, is increasing day by day.

Anthony Njoroge the country manager of AeroLink, noted that the company currently operates three aircraft which fly within different national parks in Uganda.

World over, tourism numbers are increasing and Uganda is one of the key tourist destinations. We, therefore, want to position ourselves for such a viable market, intimated Njoroge.

He added that the planes are chartered to fly tourists to Semuliki national park, Kidepo, Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth national park and Bwindi impenetrable forest.

This was during a public hearing of applications for air services licensing which was conducted at Mestil hotel in Kampala, on Thursday where aviation operators were subscribed to public scrutiny, as one of the processes for renewing or acquiring an aviation operating license.

According to David Kakuba, the managing director for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), 48 operators are currently licensed to access Uganda’s airports.

He also noted that some operators have already expressed interest in increasing the number of flights into Uganda, for there carriers.

Every operator must, however, embrace competition which is very stiff in the aviation industry, advised Kakuba.

He, however, intimated that Uganda airlines will be accorded preferential treatment like free office space and exemption from parking charges. As a national airline, its screens shall be used to market Uganda’s tourism sites and destinations, stated Kakuba.

McKenzie Ongwen the chairperson for the licensing board revealed that licensing process has been eased for air service operators in the interest of promoting Uganda’s tourism sector.

When an airplane is fit for flying and has competent and qualified personnel, as well as a certificate of regular maintenance, other processes are easier.

He called upon more air service operators to join Uganda’s aviation industry, saying, there are ongoing expansion works being carried out at Entebbe, Arua, Kabale and Gulu airports.

Meanwhile, Godfrey Kitagenda of AirServ company said, their operations are centered to humanitarian works among which include medical services. He, however, acknowledged the booming tourism industry in Uganda, saying it’s tempting.

According to Ephraim Kamuntu, the minister for tourism, wildlife, and antiquities, Uganda has seen steady growth in tourism, in terms of tourists arrivals, foreign exchange earnings and tourism contribution to Gross Domestic Product(GDP).

Kamuntu said the sector accounted for 7.3 percent of GDP, foreign exchange earnings worth US$1.45bn and more than 600,000 jobs in the year 2017.

Six companies have been shortlisted for licensing to operate local and regional flight services, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has revealed.

Among the airline companies shortlisted is Sun Guru Limited which applied for new licenses to operate private and domestic non-scheduled passenger flight service and Misk Air Limited which applied for domestic non-scheduled passenger flights.

Four companies applied for license renewal and they include; Aero Link, Air Serv Uganda, Premier Services East Africa, and Jobihani Investments. Speaking during the Civil Aviation Board Air Services Licensing Committee public hearing session, where the six companies were defending their applications on Thursday in Kampala, CAA’s Managing Director, David Kakuba said they have set tough conditions for the applicants to ensure safety and high standards because worldwide, the industry is highly regulated.

The sector manages risk at almost 100 percent. Therefore, if you want to come and fly in the air space of this country, you must go through very many procedures to be cleared, he said.

According to Kakuba, a public hearing session is one of the conditions, where companies have to defend their proposals and the public is free to raise any objections against the companies that have applied for either new license or renewal of license with the aviation body.

He said companies interested to operate in Ugandan must have aircrafts which have a valid certificate of air of worthiness, qualified and competent personnel, regular maintenance records, the economic viability of the operation among other requirements.

The shortlisted companies will give competition to the recently revived government-owned Uganda Airlines in the provision of flight services.

On April 23 two Bombardier CRJ900 jets touched down at Entebbe International Airport, marking the official revival of Uganda’s national carrier, which was grounded in 2001.

Vule Airways

Vule Airways Limited, is a privately owned airline in Uganda. Established in March 2017, the airline expects to begin scheduled commercial flights in November 2017.

According to the company website, the corporate headquarters are at 515 Mbogo Road, Kibuli Hill, Kampala, Uganda.

The airline maintains a sales office in the central business district of Kampala, at 13-15 Kimathi Avenue, and another office in southwest London, in the United Kingdom.

As of August 2017, the company is waiting for the award of an air operator's certificate by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA).

The company plans to hire 60 employees initially and lease 6 aircraft to provide domestic, regional and international passenger and cargo services.

In August 2017, Ch-aviation reported that Vule Airways had secured an Air Services Licence (ASL) from the Ugandan Civil Aviation Authority.

The company's shares are owned by Ugandans (55 percent) and non-Ugandans (45 percent).

Vule Airways expects to start services to 6 domestic airports. Services will then expand to the regional airports, within the countries of the East African Community.

The company also expects to serve Johannesburg, Tunis and London; services will be expanded as demand grows.

According to the company website, the company expects to lease 6 aircraft, including a one 40-seater Bombardier Dash 8-200, one 78 seater Bombardier Dash Q400, three 128-seater Boeing 737-700 and one 300-seater Boeing 777-200ER.

The six-person board of directors includes the following individuals:

- Robert Mwesigwa Nviiri, the Chairman and Managing Director

- Lameck Nsubuga Mukasa, Company Secretary

- Fixon Akonya Okonye, Director Finance and Administration

- Jones Yosiya Kyazze, Director Public Relations

- Margaret Anne Mazzi Wampamba, Director Marketing

- Perpetua Kabaitira Biraaro, Director Internal Audit.


Tourism Observer

AFRICA: Scramble For Africa Hospitality Business Attracts Hilton, Accor, Marriot, Hyatt

Hilton will soon enter the Ugandan market, enhancing the country's growing hospitality industry. The company's representatives on March 22 signed a hotel management agreement with TWED Property Development Company to manage a 23-storey property.

The construction of a 244-guest room property on 1200 sq metres in the upscale Nakasero suburb in central Kampala is already underway.

The complex will comprise several high end meeting and conferencing facilities including a ballroom for up to 500 guests, a 518-car park, spa and fitness centre and outdoor swimming pool.

It will include multiple restaurants offering a wide range of dining outlets to include a destination sports bar and a sky bar with city, golf course and lake views. Guests will be able to choose between upscale guest rooms and a range of suites, including a Presidential Suite.

The Hilton hotel brand is one of the biggest and most luxurious hotel chains in the world, operating over 4,000 hotel facilities in over 113 countries. However, many of these properties are franchised to independent operators and companies.

Its brand portfolio is said to be the highest performing and most-diverse in the industry with 12 brands, over 715,000 hotel rooms and a workforce of over 155,000 worldwide.

In Africa, the hotel chain operates 43 hotels and is embarking on an exciting period of growth, with plans to double its portfolio of hotels on the continent during the next five years.

This will include entering new markets such as Botswana, Ghana, Swaziland, Uganda, Malawi and Rwanda. So far, development of 53 properties is in the pipeline.

Uganda is a country very close to my heart, so I am very proud to have been able to be personally present at the unveiling of this fantastic hotel, said Patrick Fitzgibbon, Hilton's Senior Vice President in charge of development for Europe, Middle East and Africa during the unveiling of the plan.

This development comes as the hotel chain managers plan to open its 96 guest room Hilton Garden Inn Kampala in the coming months.

This is a landmark year for Hilton in Uganda as we prepare to welcome guests for the very first time at our upcoming Hilton Garden Inn Kampala, so no better time for us to be signaling our commitment to the market than by partnering with TWED to bring our flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand to the country.

We couldn't be happier to be entering the field alongside Hilton, an operator with a strong commitment to the market and 100 years of industry expertise, said Dr Dan Twebaze, the managing director, TWED Property Development Company.

The Hilton Hotel brand could have entered the country's hotel industry much earlier through the management of AYA Property, now known as Pearl of Africa Hotel. Instead, the South African based Sovereign Hotels was granted the management contract.

Tourism industry executives say that Hilton's investment in Uganda is a plus for the tourism industry as it will attract a number of tourists who have been yearning for their services.

Hilton opens Uganda to a different segment of clientele. It is a very positive development for Uganda in terms of international reputation and quality, said Lilly Ajarova, the executive director at the Uganda Tourism Board.

Meanwhile, Marriott International announced recently that Uganda is among several countries where it expects to add nearly 20 properties under its Middle East and Africa portfolio this year.

This follows the acquisition of two properties previously owned by the South Africa-based Protea Hospitality Holding, where it has been operating as Protea Hotel for the past five years.

Marriott management said they plan to open up two more properties in Kampala - Hotel Naguru and Naguru Skyz.

Hilton Garden Inn globally recognized midscale hotel brand, is celebrating strong growth in Africa with four open properties and an additional 14 in the pipeline just three years after opening its first hotel on the continent in 2016.

Many of these properties represent first-in-country openings for Hilton Garden Inn and for the Hilton enterprise as a whole, including Botswana, Zambia and Uganda.

Speaking from Africa’s Travel Indaba, John Greenleaf, global head, Hilton Garden Inn said, We have positioned Hilton Garden Inn for success in Africa with a prototype developed specifically for the region.

This prototype has been curated to meet the expectations of both travelers and owners throughout Africa, while maintaining the brand’s signature light, bright and airy design as well as the consistent, core guest offerings and amenities that the brand is recognized for around the world.

Each hotel is built in the Hilton Garden Inn tradition featuring modern guest rooms perfect for work and comfort. Guests may unwind in a relaxing social setting, enjoying handcrafted cocktails, light bites or dinner.

The Shop, a 24-hour, grab-and-go retail space, offers an upscale mix of healthy, indulgent and fresh foods, varietal beverages and a self-serve specialty coffee bar.

To date, Hilton Garden Inn has four properties and nearly 800 rooms open in Africa, including:

Morocco: Hilton Garden Inn Tanger City Center Opened March 2016 – Hilton Garden Inn’s initial entry into Africa, this property is steps away from the beach and the famed Tanger City Mall with stunning views of the city and Mediterranean Sea

Kenya: Hilton Garden Inn Nairobi Airport Opened February 2018 – Hilton Garden Inn’s first property in Kenya is a welcoming oasis close to Nairobi’s international airport with a rooftop infinity pool

Zambia: Hilton Garden Inn Lusaka Society Business Park Opened August 2018 – Zambia’s first Hilton hotel, this Hilton Garden Inn property is centrally located in the heart of Lusaka City, perfect for business travelers

Botswana: Hilton Garden Inn Gaborone Opened February 2019 – Hilton’s first hotel in the country, this Hilton Garden Inn property is centrally located in the city's new Central Business District

Countries such as Botswana and Uganda are some of the fastest growing economies in the world, with impressive visitor offerings.

The Hilton Garden Inn brand appeals to the rise of middle-class travelers into and across Africa, providing an opportunity for us to open hotels and meet guest demand in key destinations, said Jan Van Der Putten, VP Operations, Africa and Indian Ocean, Hilton.

With 14 hotels and nearly 2,400 rooms in the Africa pipeline, Hilton Garden Inn Kampala in Uganda and Hilton Garden Inn Mbabane in Eswatini are in the pipeline to open this month as first-in-country properties for both Hilton Garden Inn and the Hilton enterprise.

The pipeline also projects Hilton Garden Inn Windhoek in Namibia to open later this year, another first-in-country for Hilton Garden Inn.

Other African countries in the Hilton Garden Inn pipeline include Malawi, Uganda, Ghana, Egypt, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa.

As Hilton Garden Inn expands in Africa, the Hilton enterprise as a whole is also expected to double its footprint across Africa from 44 hotels today to almost 100 over the next several years.

Hilton, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this month, has a rich legacy of hospitality leadership in the region. As shared in The Hilton Effect, Hilton was the first international hotel brand in the newly created capital of Abuja more than 30 years ago.

Hilton produced infrastructure, created sewage and electric systems, built factories, paved roads and recruited Team Members from around the world to quickly teach locals, many of whom had never set foot in a hotel to deliver five-star service to nearly 1,000 government officials.

Hilton Garden Inn is part of Hilton Honors®, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton’s 17 distinct hotel brands.

The award-winning Hilton Garden Inn brand provides business and leisure guests upscale, affordable accommodations and unexpected amenities for an experience that is ‘Simply on Another Level.’ The Hilton Garden Inn Promise affirms the brand’s goal to make each guest’s stay better and brighter.

Guaranteed. Team Members at more than 820 hotels in 42 countries around the world ensure today’s busy travelers have a bright and satisfying experience, starting with the first hello.

As a recognized F&B leader, Hilton Garden Inn serves locally-sourced food and beverage at its full-service restaurants and bars, featuring cooked-to-order breakfast, handcrafted cocktails, and on-trend small plates.

Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits.

Over the coming decade, affluent Africans—and visitors to the continent—will have a lot more hotel options to choose from. That’s because some of the world’s largest hotel chains are betting big on expansion plans in Africa.

AccorHotels, the largest hotel operator in Africa with brands like Sofitel, Novotel and Ibis, set the pace back in July with an ambitious partnership with Qatar-based Katara Hospitality for a $1 billion fund to drive expansion in sub-Saharan Africa’s hotel market.

AccorHotels currently operates over 100 hotels on the continent.

Marriott, the chain which currently operates brands in 21 African countries, is doubling down on the continent as well with plans to increase its hotels in Africa by 50% by 2023.

As well as expanding in several markets where it already operates, Marriott is opening in new markets including Benin, Botswana, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Mozambique and Senegal. Marriott’s expansion will boost its Africa presence to 38,000 rooms across 200 hotels.

It’s a total that’s currently much higher than the 41 hotels operating under brands owned by Hilton. But with 53 hotels currently planned, the US-headquartered chain is also looking to double its Africa footprint over the next five years.

Much of its plans come under its Hilton Africa Growth Initiative, a $50 million expansion drive to open 100 new hotels with 20,000 rooms across the continent mainly by converting existing hotels to Hilton brands.

Hilton is also looking to have a footprint in new African countries with debut hotels planned in up to 13 African countries.

Hyatt, a less dominant player in the continent’s hotel space, is also stepping up development plans with nine new hotels expected to open by 2020.

Eyeing a much quicker development pace, Radission Hospitality plans to open 10 new hotels across Africa over the next nine months.

The running theory among hospitality experts is that several Africa countries with growing economies and rapidly developing urban centers are a high-growth market for hotels.

Indeed, hotel chains began ramping up expansion plans in Africa back in 2016. Marriott thinks the continent is still under capacity when it comes to branded hotels.

Some of the demand is seen in growing tourist arrival numbers on the continent: between 1995 and 2014, international tourist arrivals more than doubled, growing at a rate of 6% every year.

Africans are also traveling more around the continent and now account for four in every 10 international visitors on the continent. And with the newly established Single African Air Transport Market expected to result in cheaper flights between African cities, that share could well increase.

But as hotel chains expand, they will also face competition from a now familiar adversary in Airbnb as the hospitality startup gains a stronger foothold on the continent, too.

Since launching in Africa in 2013, Airbnb has notched up over 130,000 listings which have welcomed over 3.5 million guests with around half of those arriving in the past year alone.

Even more, seven African countries recorded over a 100% increase in Airbnb guest arrivals over the past year and the continent now also accounts for three of Airbnb’s eight fastest growing markets globally.


Tourism Observer

UGANDA: Chartered Plane Deliveres 250 Israel Tourists For A 3 Day Tour To Uganda

A chartered plane with over 250 Israeli tourists has today landed in Uganda, for the first time since 1976.

According to the Uganda tourism board’s outgoing executive director Steven Asiimwe, the historic visit comes after negotiations with officials of the Israeli national career to begin regular flights to Entebbe.

The tourists came aboard a direct chartered flight from Israel to Uganda, the ELAL flight; the first direct flight from Israel to Uganda since the 1976 raid on Entebbe.

Commenting on the trip, Ms. Tali Yativ, the organizer and team leader of the group said that this was a first of a kind tour for the group.

This trip is a first of its kind for us and we are looking forward to a great experience in Uganda.

We are mostly pleased to see the tourist site of the Uganda old airport tower where a group of Israelis were held hostage by Uganda’s former president. We however look forward to touring more of Uganda over the next few days, Yativ said.

The group is in the country until Saturday, February 16, 2019 and will be visiting the Murchison Falls National Park, the Jewish community in Mbale and various sights in Jinja including the source of the Nile.

UTB outgoing CEO Mr. Stephen Asiimwe said that this was a remarkable development in the sector and the results of this trip will be key in increasing the number of Israeli visitors to Uganda.

“We are positive that this visit will attract more visitors from Israel and the rest of the world. The two countries have a shared piece of history and we hope to strengthen our travel trade in order to increase the number of Israeli tourist coming to Uganda,” Asiimwe said.

On a similar note, the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Hon. Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu is leading a delegation from the Uganda Tourism Board and tourism private sector players in Tel Aviv, Israel to participate the (ITTM) International Mediterranean Tourism Market; a key activity aimed to foster travel trade between the Israel and Uganda.

Israel has a population of about 8 million people and a GDP of $400 billion and per capita.

Additionally, a group of Presidents of major American Jewish Organizations are currently in the country as part of a national leadership delegation to Uganda.

They will today be hosted by the Uganda Tourism Board to a cultural experience by Ndere Troupe at the Kampala Serena Hotel.

According to Mr. Stephen Asiimwe, the group has been engaged in dialogue on investment in the tourism sector and also a repeat visit to tour Uganda.

Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) is a statutory organization established in 1994. Its role and mandate was reviewed in the Tourism Act of 2008.

The Board’s mandate is to promote and market Uganda across the region and internationally, promote quality assurance in tourist facilities through training, grading and classification, promote tourism investment, support and act as liaison for the private sector in tourism development.

The broader goals of the Board are to increase the contribution of tourism earnings and GDP; improve Uganda’s competitiveness as an international tourism destination; and increase Uganda’s share of Africa’s and World tourism market.

UTB aims to create inclusive opportunities for the tourism sector through market transformation.


Tourism Observer

UGANDA: Tour Operator Arrested After Failing Or Refusing To Refund Money To A Dutch Tourist

A tour operator in Kabale town has been arrested on fraud charges after he allegedly failed to refund $27,000 erroneously sent to his account by a Dutch tourist for a gorilla trekking trip.

Mr Didan Atukunda from Mamba Gorilla Safari was arrested on Saturday in Kabale town in Western Uganda by Tourism police led by the Kigezi regional commandant, ASP Emmanuel Tinka.

Ms Sandra Natukunda, the senior public relations officer, Uganda Tourism Board said Mr Peter Nickilin from the Netherlands erroneously paid $30,000 instead of $3,000 for a trip to trek Gorillas in October last year but Mr Atukunda declined to make the $27,000 refund; forcing the tourist to contact the Uganda Tourism Board.

Prior attempts by UTB to discuss and agree to a payment plan between Mr Atukunda and the tourist proved futile after he refunded only $12,000 leading to the involvement of Tourism Police in a crackdown for Mr Atukunda's arrest.

UTB has been struggling with a challenge of tourism crime as the country eyes more earnings from the sector.

However, Ms Natukunda says the tourism board through its quality assurance department is taking strong interventions to curb crime in the sector.

According to the UTB, Quality Assurance Manager Mr Samora Semakula, UTB has set up a tourism security committee consisting of Tourism Police, MTWA and representation from the Association of Uganda Tour Operators with the let aim of tactfully handling fraud and any cases reported by tourists.

Tourism is Uganda's number one foreign exchange earner. We can not continue to let rogue operators destabilise the growth that we are seeing in the sector.

Most importantly we want tourists to enjoy their stay in Uganda. Our role is to ensure quality standards are met in the sector, Mr Semakula said.

Atukunda is the second suspected rogue tour operator to be arrested since this year started.

In a separate operation, Tourism Police and UTB arrested Mr Mugerwa Ahebwa who allegedly defrauded American tourists of over $18,000. He is currently detained at Jinja Road police station awaiting to be arraigned in court.

In November last year, over 23 people booked tickets to fly outside Uganda but later realised their tickets were all fake when they got to the airport.

There was a similar case of a Jinja-based travel agent who booked but did not issue tickets to a US family worth $6000.

The tourism industry currently contributes 10 per cent to gross domestic product, making it Uganda’s leading foreign exchange earner.

The industry contributes more than $1.4b annually and is projected to earn about $2.7b by 2020, according to figures from Uganda Tourism Board.


Tourism Observer

UGANDA: Uganda's New Tourist Attraction Is Imbalu, No Escape From Painful Knife

In a small dusty village fringed by brooding blue mountains in eastern Uganda, Sullaih Kyalo is bracing himself as he is about to become a man of the Bamasaaba tribe.

The 19-year-old stands opposite the traditional surgeon, who clutches a 12-centimetre blade.

Sullaih doesn't look at the blade, but into the distance with a trance-like resolve.

Relatives, friends and neighbours surge round, anticipating the centuries-old circumcision ritual.

Sullaih's foreskin will be sliced off without anaesthetic, with the cheering crowd goading him on.

He must endure the pain without tearing, wincing, flinching or falling. To be a Mumasaaba man is to show no weakness.

"My heart is racing," his mother Salima Nesiho says of her first born.

Hundreds of Bamasaaba males between 16 and their early 20s are being initiated into manhood this rainy season, in a time-honoured ceremony called Imbalu, held every second year.

The season begins with a festival of traditional dancing, millet beer, roasted meat and offerings to ancestors.

The candidates and members of their families are smeared in millet paste to protect them from bad spirits.

Each is then paraded from village to village singing, dancing and visiting relatives over three days.

"It is a way of helping this young man to speak in public introducing the gentleman into public life," says James Kangala, a Bamasaaba man and founder of a cultural council based at the nearby town, Mbale.

The ceremony can be traced through records dating back 200 years, though the Bamasaaba believe the ritual predates these by several hundred years, with its origins lost in time.

There have been few concessions to modernity, though fresh blades are now used to prevent the spread of HIV.

Traditional surgeons or bashebi are believed to be appointed by spirits of ancestors to perform the circumcisions.

Robert Nangoye has circumcised hundreds of males over his 15 years in the role.

For a Mumasaba boy to be called a man, you have to pay a debt to the culture. It's our law, he says.

Males who try to escape it are hunted down and circumcised by force.

They'll capture you, even if you go to Europe and back. As long as he's from Bamasaaba, he will have to be circumcised, Mr Nangoye says.

However not all Bamasaaba support the ritual.

Lenard Massa, who was circumcised the traditional way in 1988, says males should have a choice.

If you go through the cultural way they take you through a painful exercise, Mr Massa says.

His young son was circumcised in a hospital, though it means he won't ever be recognised as a Bamasaaba man.

I didn't want him to go through what I did, Mr Massa says.

But for most of the tribe, the ceremony remains deeply significant. They have always been open to outsiders witnessing Imbalu, and are beginning to open up to tourists.

I found the ceremonies fascinating, says Floris Burgers, 22, from the Netherlands, who saw them this season while working in the area.

I can imagine some foreigners might find them a bit scary, but if you know the story behind the practice, there is not much to be afraid of.

The tourist board has begun promoting the opening and closing festivals, along with better known local attractions such as coffee plantations, the waterfalls and hiking at Mount Elgon.

Thousands turned out for the opening festival this year, mostly from surrounding regions.

The Government now hopes to attract international visitors.

It's something that is very young, says Stephen Asiimwe, head of the Uganda Tourism Board.

Attendance fees are being considered to help build a cultural centre celebrating and preserving the tribe's history.

It is a recognition of the importance of this Imbalu for our tribe, Mr Kangala says.

Imbalu culminates on the third day when the male is finally circumcised. If he does not flinch, he's rewarded with money, a phone, livestock and other gifts.

If you are able to face the knife and bear that pain with bravery, you are now ready to face any other situation in life, Mr Kangala says.

For 19-year-old Sullaih and his family, a lot hinges on a successful circumcision.

Any sign of weakness or reluctance could mean he is forcibly circumcised or called a coward for the rest of his life.

As a symbol of family unity and an offering to the spirits of ancestors, a goat's heart and lungs are pitched on a stick over the spot where Sullaih will become a man.

The smell of millet beer is thick in the circle surrounding the 19-year-old as the surgeon readies his blade.

The crowd erupts as he begins to cut. He stands firm, his face unmoving. It is over in seconds.

After hours on his feet, Sullaih is at last allowed to sit at the centre of the crowd.

Blood drips at his feet where money is collecting.

Asked how he feels, Sullaih has only one word: "pain."

But his suffering remains unseen.

UGANDA: Uganda Expects To Earn $700M From Bird Watching Tourists

Uganda, home to more than half of Africa’s bird population, seeks to earn over $700 million from its rich birding variety over the next decade, government officials said during the Africa Birding Expo held in Entebbe from 18-21 November.

The East African nation hosted the event for the first time at Botanical Gardens in Entebbe and hopes to use the show to increase its tourism revenue. Tourism currently contributes about 10 percent of the country’s GDP.

“We have more birds than U.S. and Europe combined but they earn more than us. We are targeting 100,000 birders who will bring in $700 million a year in the next 10 years,” New Vision quoted Stephen Asiimwe, the chief executive officer of Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), saying.

The event which attracted over 100 exhibitors from Africa and across the world, is organized by UTB and Uganda Safari Guides and funded by the World Bank in efforts to showcase the country’s vast bird heritage.

Uganda has over 1,000 bird species but its tourism numbers are about 500 visitors every year, paltry figures compared to other nations like the U.S., which attracts about 17 million bird watchers every year despite its paltry number of species.

The East African nation has about 10 percent of the world’s bird population.

Some of the most sought-after birds in Africa that are found in Uganda include Shoebill, Fox’s weaver, Black bee-eater, Rwenzori Turaco and the Green-breasted pitta, which are mainly found in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Ichuya Forest and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

Queen Elizabeth National Park, found in the western region of East Africa’s second biggest economy has over 600 species, the highest for any protected area across the continent.

The Ugandan government is increasing its efforts to tap more earnings from this rich bird diversity, through extensive training of its bird guides, developing infrastructure to help tourists access the birds easily and improved marketing of sector as a major tourism attraction product.

UGANDA: Pearl Of Africa Tourism Expo, Please Attend.

The Uganda Tourism Board will be hosting the third PEARL OF AFRICA TOURISM EXPO (POATE 2017) between the 17th to 19th of February 2017 at the Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala, Uganda.

The main aim of hosting POATE is to create a common networking platform for the Ugandan tourism industry but also for stakeholders from the wider region as well as the overseas tourism source markets.

UTB's vision, working with tourism partners, is to develop POATE into one of the most effective networking platforms in the East African Region within the shortest time possible. Towards that end is POATE seeking to invite only those buyers and media personnel that will exceed the expectations of the sellers and guarantee a 'return on investment' for the country.

It was confirmed earlier today that UTB intends to bring in at least a hundred hosted buyers and tourism / travel media from USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Russia, Australia, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic, Spain, Finland, Brazil, Israel, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Japan, India, UAE, Morocco, India, Malaysia, China and as well as South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Nigeria from the African region.

For further information about POATE please get in contact with the:

Pearl of Africa Expo Desk
c/o Uganda Tourism Board
Plot 42 Windsor Crescent, Kololo
P.O. Box 7211 Kampala, Uganda
Tel: +256 414 342 196/7 | Fax: +256 414 342 188

UGANDA: Hospitality And Tour Operators Reject Cosmetic Statistics Created And Fabricated By Tourism Officials

A war of words erupted at the release of the annual Tourism Sector Performance Report for the Financial Year 2015/2016, as operators claimed that the Tourism ministry had been too generous in its views of the sector.

During the AUTO (Association of Uganda Tour Operators) post-Sector Review Forum at Hotel Africana, several tourism sector actors where irked that they had not been consulted to give their views before a final report was made.

The report indicated a 47. 6% room occupancy rate and a 46. 2% bed occupancy rate. However, the percentages were disputed. Some tourism players noted that occupancy rates, especially in the game parks are between 13% and 17%.

Also disputed were reports of a 23% increase in tour operator business in the year 2015/16, an estimation that implied that tour operators enjoyed a growth in sales.

Babra Vanhelleputte, AUTO Board Chairperson said there were several gaps in the report and the AUTO members concurred with her. she said: “The percentages given in the report are questionable. There is a mismatch in the kind of information that is being disseminated and the reality on the ground. The ministry should provide a description of how this percentage was arrived at," Vanhelleputte said speaking about the figures about the growth in business.

"On behalf of private sector and AUTO, we would like to dismiss this report. It is a pity that the final copy of the report was put out before the private sector was given an opportunity to air put their views," Vanhelleputte said.

Vanhelleputte requested for an explanation from UTB on the performance and actual plan for more fair engagements for tour operators with Uganda's PR firms.

"I applaud H.E. President Yoweri Museveni for his directive to scrap Value Added Tax (VAT) on Tourism, and tasked the leaders of Uganda's tourism (the tourism public sector) to follow through the directive and confirm that it is actually implemented in the budget reading for the next financial year," she added.

Civy Tumusiime, managing Director of Pakuba Safari Lodge and an AUTO Committee member says the Ministry needs to be assessment instead of painting a wrong picture.

"Inaccurate statistics paint a wrong image. Statistics from the ministry indicate that business is good and yet in reality, it is not true," Tumusiime said.

She added: "This is affecting our funding. We spend more on expenses rather than the dividends we get since there are a number of economic hardships within the country."

Tumusiime called for regulation with the tourism sector, a separate regulatory authority and market Uganda's tourism especially in other natural endowments rather than concentrating on only Gorillas.

Like many other private sector players, Byamugisha reiterated the need for the sector to present statistics that aren't merely made up. She said: "Of the hotels gross monthly revenue, 47% of the gross revenue pays licences, salaries and taxes. It is no wonder that hotels are closing since business is low. This is in addition to employing over 8 workers rather than the 4 that the report states."

"When I saw and heard the statistics, I wanted to shout but refrained from it so as to keep my job. How can we say that Kampala is operating at 47%? This is not what is on ground and yet the data contained in a document is so authoritative. This is absolutely nuts! My goodness, this is not true," stated, Jean Byamugisha, the executive director, Uganda Hotel Owners Association (UHOA).

Alex Asiimwe, the principal policy analyst in the Tourism ministry, said they the ministry should not entirely be blamed since private sector players are sometimes uncooperative in disseminating information.

"Where do you want us to get the statistics from if you dismiss is or give us wrong information? Asiimwe asked?

Stephen Asiimwe, Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) CEO called for statistical man power especially at the borders and within the ministry

"Tourism is a passion. You do not need to polities it. Instead we need to aim at developing it," Asiimwe said.

The tour operators and the tourism ministry resolved to create a statistics collection committee to collect and disseminate accurate tourism data. The meeting also agreed to have a joint marketing committee for tourism with representation from the private sector.

UGANDA: Targeting 100,000 Birders Who Will Bring $700 million A Year In Next 10 Years

Uganda, home to more than half of Africa’s bird population, seeks to earn over $700 million from its rich birding variety over the next decade, government officials said during the Africa Birding Expo held in Entebbe from 18-21 November.

The East African nation hosted the event for the first time at Botanical Gardens in Entebbe and hopes to use the show to increase its tourism revenue. Tourism currently contributes about 10 percent of the country’s GDP.

“We have more birds than U.S. and Europe combined but they earn more than us. We are targeting 100,000 birders who will bring in $700 million a year in the next 10 years,” New Vision quoted Stephen Asiimwe, the chief executive officer of Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), saying.

The event which attracted over 100 exhibitors from Africa and across the world, is organized by UTB and Uganda Safari Guides and funded by the World Bank in efforts to showcase the country’s vast bird heritage.

Uganda has over 1,000 bird species but its tourism numbers are about 500 visitors every year, paltry figures compared to other nations like the U.S., which attracts about 17 million bird watchers every year despite its paltry number of species.

The East African nation has about 10 percent of the world’s bird population.

Some of the most sought-after birds in Africa that are found in Uganda include Shoebill, Fox’s weaver, Black bee-eater, Rwenzori Turaco and the Green-breasted pitta, which are mainly found in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Ichuya Forest and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

Queen Elizabeth National Park, found in the western region of East Africa’s second biggest economy has over 600 species, the highest for any protected area across the continent.

UGANDA: Government Injects Shs 231 billion To Boost Tourism Capacity.

Three government and private tourism agencies have unveiled four Uganda tourism products, costing Shs231 billion to boost the countries tourism capacity.

Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) and Uganda Tourism Association (UTA) in collaboration with Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA) unveiled the new products, including Namugongo Shrine Faith Based Tourism, Uganda National Museum Indigenous Dinner, Uganda Rwenzori Cultural Trail, and Interpretation Capacity Building for Birding on Wednesday at a tourism review workshop in Kampala.

The money will be raised through partnership with local and tourism companies from neighbouring countries such as Kenya and Rwanda, among others, with UTB, UTA and TMEA contributing the biggest percentage.

According to Mr Richard Kawere, UTA's technical coordinator, the funds will be used to construct accommodation structures, cultural museums and marketing of the new products.

"This is just an estimate of the costs that would be incurred in establishment and marketing of new tourism products. The final budget will be established after consultation meetings and site visits," Mr Kawere said.

Mr Wanjiku Kimamo, the TMEA senior programmer, whose organisation has supported the project with Shs1.1b, and Mr Stephen Asiimwe, the chief executive officer, UTB, said the new products will, among other things, enhance tourism institutional capacity and sustainability through building national tourist apex associations; encourage private public dialogue; as well as improve competitiveness and marketability of Uganda tourism products.

"Our partnership is to increase trade for prosperity in the EAC region. We are looking at increasing tourism and export capability of EA countries," Mr Kimamo said.

Mr Kimamo called upon EA governments to take tourism as one of the priority sectors because of its strong participation of enterprises, opportunities to create jobs, increase incomes and contribution to national economies.

Mr Asiimwe said new products will boost tourism earning from $1.4b (about Shs4.9 trillion) to more than $2b in the next two years. He said the products are estimated to attract 100,000 potential visitors annually, spending $250 (about Shs900,000) a night.

"Focusing on visitor's stay and what they spend will translate into increased visitor volumes and value to the economy. If implemented, this will strengthen competitiveness of Uganda as a destination," Mr Asiimwe said.

Mr Bonifence Byamukama, the UTA president, said their 2015 study revealed that many tourists go back with the money because Uganda tourism has been reduced to only wildlife.

"Uganda's tourism has been rotating around guerrillas and other wild animals. We need new spice in the tourism industry," Mr Byamukama said.

Details. The sector's total contribution to Gross Domestic Product in 2015 was 9.9 per cent at Shs6,395.4 billion compared to 7.9 per cent at Shs5,495 billion) in 2013 and 8.8 per cent in 2012 which was Shs4,993.6 billion. Receipts from tourism have also increased from Shs449 million in 2007 to about Shs1.148 billion in 2014.

UGANDA: Uganda Tourism Board Blamed For Not Marketing Uganda

Members of Parliament complained about Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) for failure to promote Uganda as a tourist destination.

UTB officials led by the chief executive officer Stephen Asiimwe and head of marketing Edwin Muzahura appeared before Parliament's committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry on Tuesday to make a presentation on activities and strategies being undertaken by the board.

Asiimwe told the committee that the board has to operate within a budget of only Shs 11.4bn, money he said is inadequate to execute its plans.

He noted that the board needs to carry out training exercises for tour operators, guides and hospitality staff across the country as well as continue with marketing Uganda abroad through foreign public relation agencies.

Asiimwe also criticized the continued levy of 18 percent value added tax (VAT) on hotels upcountry as having a negative toll on the sector.

“There is still a challenge on upcountry accommodation. Government has been charging 18 percent VAT. Now, what happens there, is that, every time a visitor comes to a hotel in an upcountry facility where the majority of the leisure tourists go, the VAT is put on the visitor. Then they pay more money, the experience is more expensive and you become less competitive. The issue of national carrier is still very critical. By last week, getting a ticket to Kenya was $800”, he said.

However, some MPs on the committee dismissed the presentation as merely ‘cosmetic’, containing no concrete and viable strategy to increase tourism revenue. The legislators insisted that funding was not the major setback dogging the board. Moses Balyeku, the Jinja West MP, told UTB officials to be more creative and bring in more money to the country.

“Government can’t keep on giving you money all the time, it is not there. You need to be more enterprising. Get your own money. UWA,Uganda Wildlife Authority, makes its own money. You have a board member here from UWA who sits on your board. What value does he bring on your board. What value does hotel owners does the hotel owners bring on your board? You first market us as Uganda, as a tourist destination and brand us. The reason why we have been singing all these years is, the other time we spent money on CNN that we are marketing Uganda in a wrong way.”, he said.

Dokolo county MP Felix Okot Ogong criticized the board for presenting the same challenges to the committee every year without ever finding solutions.

“I find a problem with the tourism board here. They are into other things but not focusing on what should promote tourism. I think this time, we should do it differently. You have Shs 11bn. Most people don’t have those billions of shillings but how efficiently are you using it? Is it being effectively used to promote what we are saying. The problem actually to me, committee chairman, lies with the board”, he said.

But Asiimwe insisted that Uganda had the best tourism master plan on the continent and stressed that the sector had the potential to fund the nation's entire budget. He however noted that there needed to be a fundamental shift in priorities and attitudes as far as tourism is concerned.

“If you read the UTB tourism master plan, it is a 10-year fantastic paper, countries are clamoring to own it, countries are dying to own it. In terms of what it takes to market this country, we have but we need a fundamental shift in the way we look at its products. And I really insist, this thing needs to be taken beyond just the committee but of course the committee can spearhead this and we fundamentally look at tourism as a very important sector”, Asiimwe said.

Despite underfunding, in FY 2014/15, sector contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased to Shs 6.3 trillion (9 percent of GDP) up from 5.6 trillion (7.9 percent of GDP) the previous year. In the same period, the number of tourists increased from 1,206,334 visitors in 2013 to 1,266, 046 visitors in 2014. UTB attributed this to better marketing strategies.