UGANDA: Another Tour Operator Detained For Conning Tourists

The Chief Executive Director of Gatatu Safaris Limited, Richard Tusasibwe has been arrested for allegedly obtaining money by false pretence from tourists.

Tusasiibwe who runs the tour company based in Kigezi sub region was arrested on Monday at around 10:00AM by heavily armed tourist police officers led by Tourism Police Commander-in-charge of Kigezi Region, Emmanuel Tinka.

He was detained at Kabale police station before being paraded before the Kigezi region police detectives later in the afternoon for about three hours.

Police say Tusasibwe is alleged to have signed a contract worth 2150 US dollars equivalent to about shillings 7.9 million with a tourist identified as Dr. Lentschig Markus Gunter, a German national to facilitate a tour with his four family members in Uganda.

Tusasibwe received the whole amount after signing the contract with Gunter.

The contract also required Tusasibwe to pick the tourists from Entebbe International Airport and drive them to Kisoro town as well as booking them accommodation, trekking permits, Park fees, Gorilla and chimpanzee tracking permit, game and boat drive fees, rhino sanctuaries and taxes among others.

Marcus paid a deposit of USD2000 equivalent to Uganda Shillings 7.4million to Tusasibwe to help him on bookings and cleared the balance on July 25, 2019 when he arrived in Uganda.

However, when the tourists reached Kisoro town, Tusasibwe reportedly abandoned them at Chameleon Hill Hotel, switched off his phones and disappeared.

The tourists were shocked to find that Tusasibwe did not book for them accommodation, despite having received full payment. It is when they reported the matter to police for help that Tusasibwe was tracked.

Elly Maate, police spokesperson for Kigezi region says that Tusasibwe had been on the run until Monday when he was arrested while hiding in Lake Bunyonyi.

Maate says that the suspect will face the law after investigations into the matter are complete.

The case is registered at Kabale Police station under file number CRB 1180/2019.

On July 31, 2019, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni during a press conference on operation wealth creation held at State Lodge Makanga in Kabale district ordered for the the arrest of tour operators who cheat tourists and described them as enemies of the country.

Tusasibwe had earlier said refuting all the allegations saying that they had agreed that he is paid shillings 7.3 million but was paid only shillings 5.5 million after the tourists said that they would book the accommodation themselves.

Tusasibwe also denied abandoning the tourists, but says he separated with them after failing to agree on contract terms and conditions.

In February, Didan Atukunda a resident of Kabale district and a tour operator from Mamba Gorilla Safari was arrested after he failed to refund 99 million shillings that was mistakenly sent to his account by a Dutch tourist for a gorilla trekking trip.

Peter Nickilin from the Netherlands paid 110 million shillings instead of 11 million shillings for a trip to trek Gorillas in October 2017.

Tourism Observer

ARGENTINA: Chubut Is One Of The Largest Patagonian Lands

The province of Chubut is one of the largest Patagonian Lands and its touristic point closest to Buenos Aires is the city of Puerto Madryn, 1.382 Kms distant.

Its maritime coastland is one of the richest sites as far as species diversity is concerned. Bird Watching - mainly penguins - happens to be the preferred choice for many visitors. Sea lions, seals, killer whales and the Southern Right Whale are the other main characters of this natural stage.

Adventure activities are also an option: winter activities at centers like La Hoya, trekking, mountain activities, bike tours, canoeing, rafting or paragliding. For those willing to discover the cultural influences of each region, some towns like Trevelin or Gaiman keep almost intact certain features of the Welsh culture.

The tea ceremony, together with the elaboration of traditional cakes, is an experience worth to be “tasted”.

Its national parks, among which outstands the Los Alerces National Park, are suitable for adventure and ecotourism, mainly the observation and bird watching and the wide variety of their rich flora and fauna species.

Tourists are seduced by the Patagonian ancient expresstrain La Trochita, called that way because of the narrow separation between its rails. Its old wooden wagons are ideal to enjoy the circuit that covers part of the southern lands and permits to unveil the region’s unmistakable charm.