UGANDA: Ransom Paid, Kidnapped US Tourist And Guide Released. Minister Blames It On Security Lapse.

KIDNAPPED: Kimberly Sue Endicott
Reports in indicate that Kimberly Sue Endicott, an American who was kidnapped for ransom last week in Queen Elizabeth National Park, has been released safely along with her guide Jean Paul Mirenge.

According to US website ABC7.com, “the release came after a ransom was paid and a negotiated handover was conducted. The two kidnap victims returned to a lodge at Queen Elizabeth National Park on Sunday, according to a spokesperson for Wild Frontiers Uganda

The victims of last week’s kidnapping have been recovered alive, said police spokeswoman Polly Namaye later.

Government spokesman Ofwono Opondo confirmed the development, tweeting that the tourist was actually rescued from the DRC. “#Kidnappedtourists Rescued alive from the DRC and brought back safely to #TheWildfrontiersLodge in Uganda.

We want to thank the joint Uganda security forces for the successful operation, he tweeted.

Ugandan security forces have for the past week scoured dense bush between the park and neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in the hunt for the US tourist and her safari guide who were kidnapped by gunmen.

Mike Walker, manager of Wild Frontiers Safaris, said US tourist Kimberly Endicott and experienced guide Jean-Paul Mirenge, were back safe.

Ransom paid and people exchanged, adding that he didn’t know the precise amount yet.

US President Donald Trump, in a tweet, confirmed the news of Endicott’s released.

Pleased to report that the American tourist and tour guide that were abducted in Uganda have been released. God bless them and their families! Trump tweeted

Four kidnappers stopped a group of tourists at gunpoint around dusk on Tuesday as they drove through the Queen Elizabeth National Park on safari to see wild animals.

Police later identified the American as 35-year-old Endicott, and said the kidnappers had later used her mobile telephone to demand a ransom of $500,000 (445,000 euros) for the release of the pair.

Another held was driver and tour guide Mirenge, a 48-year old safari guide with years of experience.

The gunmen dragged the pair from their safari vehicle, but left behind two other tourists, whom police described as an elderly couple. They managed to raise the alarm from the lodge where they were staying.

Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of the East African nation’s most popular wildlife reserves, runs along the frontier with conflict-wracked regions of DR Congo, bordering its famous Virunga national park, the oldest in Africa.

Two other tourists, whom police described as an elderly couple, were present when the gunmen attacked, but were not abducted or physically harmed. They managed to raise the alarm from the lodge where they were staying.

Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of the East African nation’s most famous wildlife reserves, runs along the frontier with conflict-wracked regions of DR Congo, bordering its famous Virunga national park, the oldest in Africa.

Numerous militia groups and armed gangs roam eastern DR Congo. Virunga suspended all tourism activities last year after a ranger was killed and two British tourists kidnapped. The Britons and their driver were freed two days after the attack. The park reopened in February.

The Ugandan park straddles the equator, covering 1,978 square kilometres (764 square miles) in the country’s south west.

It is also about 150 kilometres (90 miles) north of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, famous among tourists for gorilla trekking. Uganda is home to over half of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas.

In 1999, Rwandan rebels killed eight foreign tourists there, inflicting an enormous blow to Uganda’s tourist industry.

Tourism is a key industry for Uganda, as a major earner of foreign currency. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit each year.

Army spokesman, Brigadier Richard Karemire, insisted the kidnapping was an isolated incident and that Uganda remains safe for tourists.

Tourism Minister Professor Ephraim Kamuntu has confessed that the kidnap of an American tourist and a Ugandan tour guide was a result of a security lapse by officials of the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Kimberly Sue Endicott and her Ugandan tour guide Jean Paul Mirenge were last Tuesday kidnapped at gunpoint during an evening drive on Edward track between Katooke gate and Wilderness Camp in Kanungu district. Their captors demanded a $500,000 (1.8 billion Shillings) ransom.

The two were released on Sunday evening after what the Ugandan government describes as a joint rescue operation by its security agencies.

In a brief to the media in Masaka, Minister Kamuntu said that the kidnap from Queen Elizabeth National Park was due to a management lapse by the Uganda Wildlife Authority-UWA rangers who he says failed to guide the tourists on the appropriate times when such drives are done.

According to Kamuntu, the tourists arrived at the National park late in the evening and accordingly convinced the guides to take a night tour which is against the practices of their operation.

He insisted that by allowing to relax their guidelines, the UWA guides unsuspectingly fell into a trap.

He described this as an isolated incident which should not bother prospective tourists to the country.

Kamuntu has also pleaded with both local and international tourists not to be scared by the incident, saying the national security agencies are ready to jointly provide them with the required security.

Sam Mwandha, the Executive Director of Uganda Wildlife Authority, says they have picked lessons from the incident, which are going to be translated into tasks to further improve the security in the national parks to guarantee the safety of the visitors.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police Martin Okoth Ochola was Monday due to hand over Kimberly to the US embassy in Nsambya.

A convoy of US Embassy vehicles and police directors among others Assistant Inspector General of Police-AIGP, Abbas Byakagaba and Police Chief Political Commissar, Asan Kasingye, arrived at the police headquarters soon after midday.

The convoy parked outside the IGP's wing where Kimberly accompanied by three other officials from the US Embassy proceeded to IGP's office for a meeting.Thereafter the convoy headed to the US Embassy.

Sources at police headquarters said among those waiting to receive Kimberly is an elderly couple, Martin Julius and his wife Barbel who were left stranded in Queen Elizabeth National Park when the kidnappers varnished with keys of the vehicle, which the group was using.

Earlier, Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga denied claims that the kidnappers released Kimbley after receiving ransom from his family.

As police we don't give ransom and if ransom was paid to kidnappers that can be clarified by his family, Enanga said.

Sources said Kimberly's kidnappers received US $30,000 about Shillings 100m. According to sources, after receiving the money, the kidnappers called Wild Frontiers Safaris Uganda and directed its workers where to find Kimberly and Remezo.

However, Enanga insisted that kidnappers released the victims after elite forces resolved to attack their hideout.


Tourism Observer

UGANDA: Uganda Wildlife Authority And Residents Capture Dangerous Man Eating Crocodile

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), working together with residents and other stakeholders have embarked on the hunt-down of man-eating crocodiles on the shores of Lake Victoria on Bukhooli Island in Namayingo District.

Mr Peter Ogwang, the warden in charge of wild animals, on Wednesday said they had been deployed in the strategic areas to get the reptiles and that they had so far captured one.

The captured crocodile weighed about 800 kilogrammes and was about five metres long. It was estimated to be between 45 and 50 years of age.

The captured crocodile is suspected to have attacked the chairperson of Kamwanga Village as she was washing clothes on the shores of Lake Victoria.

But there are also reports that five other people have so far been killed.

He explained that young crocodiles feed on fish, worms and other smaller water creatures but as they grow, they resort to attacking humans who become easy targets.

Mr John Bosco Lukwago, a resident of Mwangoda Village, one of the most affected villages, said there is a sigh of relief for residents since they had started relocating them.

After the capture of one crocodile, these officials are most likely to keep off and return to Kampala leaving more crocodiles at large. We ask that they capture all of them, Mr Lukwago, said.

Mr John Bosco Nyebenza, the LC3 chairperson of Dolwe Sub-county, said: Whenever a resident is attacked by the crocodile, our first check point is a nearby rock where we recover part of the remains of their body parts. So residents here call that rock a crocodile hotel.

Mr Musitafa Muzamiru, a resident of Singila Village, said affected families whose relatives have been killed and several others suffered disabilities should be compensated by the government.

Let government get a special fund to help the families of the victims because many homes have lost bread winners due to these reptiles, which are protected species, he said.

However, Mr Sam Mwandha, the UWA executive director, said there was no law on compensation of crocodile victims.

But soon a Bill on compensation of the victims will be laid in Parliament and if passed into law, a special fund will set aside money to cater for such cases,” he said.

The Namayingo District chairperson, Mr Ronald Sanya, said apart from crocodiles, hippopotami have also destroyed people’s gardens.

He urged government to extend piped water to the affected communities so that residents stop going to the lake to fetch water under risky circumstances.


Tourism Observer

UGANDA: Man-eating Crocodile Captured At Lake Victoria

The Minister for Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities, Hon. Ephraim Kamuntu; Director of Conservation, Mr. John Makombo; and Mr. Stephen Masaba, Director of Tourism and Business Development, together with the Problem Animal Capture Team from the Uganda Wildlife Authority flagged off the relocation for a man-eating crocodile to Murchison falls National Park.

Residents of a tiny hamlet on the shores of Lake Victoria can now breathe a sigh of relief, at least for now.

This after the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) on the night of Tuesday, August 28, captured one of the crocodiles which has reportedly been tormenting residents at Kamwango landing site in Namayingo district as they go about their daily chores to fetch water.

Prof. Kamuntu said that this is a continuing effort of saving communities from deadly crocodiles which so far has 124 being captured.

He observed that coexistence of humans and wildlife is possible, and measures will be put in place to strengthen this coexistence.

He pointed out that some of the interventions include putting in place water pipes and construction of cages.

He encouraged the private sector to invest in crocodile farming.

Traversing 3 East African countries, Lake Victoria is the largest tropical lake in the world, covering 68,000 sq. km.

It is a source of livelihood within the region and of strategic importance as the source of the river Nile.


Tourism Observer

UGANDA: Ivory Smuggling Allegation, Uganda Appologizes To China

Ugandan government has apologised to China after the China rejected allegations that two of its diplomats working in Uganda were involved in the trafficking of ivory.

Early this month, President Yoweri Museveni was reported in the media to have ordered a probe into possible collusion between the country's wildlife agency and the Chinese diplomats after about 1,300 kilogrammes of ivory disappeared from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) stores.

The Chinese Embassy in Uganda dismissed the allegations as totally unfounded.

Now foreign affairs ministry says the ministry regrets the negative impact this incident may have caused to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China after two of the suspects were named as Chinese diplomats.

“Reference is made to recent local and international media reports quoting a leaked letter from H.E the President asking the Inspector General of Government to investigate the alleged “collaboration by some Uganda Wildlife Authority officials with some Chinese by the names of Li Wejin and Yinzhi who are diplomats in the Embassy to export ivory”, among other issues,” read a statement issued by the ministry’s permanent secretary Patrick S. Mugoya.

Mr Mugoya further noted that following a thorough review of its records, the ministry has confirmed that both Mr Li Wejin and Yinzhi are not accredited diplomats with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Uganda.

China and Uganda continue to enjoy very cordial relations. The Government of Uganda reiterates its commitment to strengthening further the relations and bonds of friendship that exist between our two countries, he added.

China announced in December that it would ban all ivory trade and processing by the end of 2017, a move hailed by conservationists as a "game changer" for African elephants.

More than 35,000 elephants are killed across Africa every year for their tusks.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) banned the ivory trade in 1989.

China permits the resale of ivory bought before the 1989 ban and also has a stockpile purchased with CITES approval in 2008, which it releases for sale with certification.

On 31st March 2017 the State Forestry Administration, the Chinese agency that monitors the trade in elephant ivory, closed sixty-seven ivory factories and retail outlets across the country. This was the first phase of a larger plan—announced by the government of China, without fanfare, on December 30, 2016—to end the legal trade of elephant ivory within the nation altogether and thus to close the world’s largest elephant-ivory market.

China accounts for seventy per cent of the market for illegal ivory poached in Africa. Under the government’s plan, the remaining ivory factories and outlets will be closed by the end of 2017.

The effort to control the massacre of elephants has devolved into an escalating war between poachers who are increasingly well armed and often tied to criminal syndicates and conservationists, who, in defense of elephants, routinely deploy mercenaries, automatic weapons, advanced intelligence-gathering techniques, drones, and sniffer dogs.

For all these efforts, the over-all situation of elephants has steadily worsened. August 2016, Paul Allen’s Vulcan Foundation released the results of its Great Elephant Census, which found that the numbers of Africa’s savanna elephants had declined by almost a third between 2007 and 2014, and that only some three hundred and fifty thousand remain.

Forest elephants, Africa’s other elephant species, are in even worse shape, with perhaps only eighty thousand remaining. Many people began to talk about regional extinction.

While efforts to control poaching within Africa are fundamental to preserving the species, conservationists increasingly agree that the only real way to defeat the massacre of elephants is to control demand. This has proved difficult because China, the end market of most illegal ivory, has been, until recently, reluctant to restrain its domestic ivory market.

In 2007 China listed ivory carving as an intangible cultural heritage. Ivory ownership became an important status symbol for the new middle class. Journalist and activist Hongxiang Huang explained, If you owned an ivory piece, you’d really arrived.

In subsequent years, the price of ivory soared, reaching twenty-one hundred dollars per kilogram, in 2014. But as prices rose the market changed. In recent years, the ivory market in China has been driven not by the upwardly mobile middle class but by speculators betting on the extinction of elephants, which would drive prices still higher.

But, in those same years, China, too, has changed. Xi Jinping, confirmed as President in early 2013, speaks less about ivory as an intangible cultural heritage than about his ambition for China to become an ecological civilization. China’s ivory merchants and the poaching industry they supported were giving the country a bad name. Perhaps especially embarrassing was a report that, during Xi’s inaugural trip to Africa, in 2013, his political and business entourage took advantage of their diplomatic status to load his plane down with thousands of kilograms of illegal ivory.

In 2014 the government publicly destroyed six tons of confiscated ivory, and the next year the government announced that it would curtail the ivory trade, although it did not say when. All this may have been motivated, as Andrea Crosta, the executive director of the Elephant Action League said, less by a love of elephants than by the considerable embarrassment the ivory trade has caused China.

Within China, President Xi’s resolve has already made a difference. Between 2014 and February of this year, the price of ivory in China dropped more than sixty per cent from its 2014 high, down to seven hundred and thirty dollars per kilogram, according to a recent report by Save the Elephants.

After all the noise the government has made, I think they’ll be serious. The government is good at shutting down what it wants to shut down.”

Does the closing of the legal trade in China mean the end of the crisis for Africa’s elephants? Unfortunately, there’s little that’s predictable about the ivory market in China. Richard Leakey, the chairman of the Kenya Wildlife Service,who, in 1993, lost both legs in a suspected act of sabotage by poachers, referred to China’s plan as the “death knell for the ivory trade.”

But other conservationists are not convinced. Legal ivory in China is distributed through government-licensed retail outlets and factories the same ones that the government is now closing. But many of these outlets have, over the years, come to serve as fencing operations for greater quantities of illegal ivory.

As much as ninety per cent of the ivory sold in China each year is thought to be illegal, and much of that flows through the government’s legally sponsored outlets. Conservationists fear that closing the legal outlets could lead illegal sales to migrate elsewhere, including to the Internet, where they would be more difficult to track.

Banning the sale of legal ivory in China could merely lead to a situation in which the illegal ivory that consumers buy will increase from 90 to 100% of the market.

Save The Elephants, said that in Kenya prices of ivory had dropped off substantially but were still high enough to drive poaching. Ivory consumption might be moving out of China to neighboring countries, with Hong Kong in particular being a problem.

Hong Kong is now the world’s largest ivory market and ninety per cent of its customers are reportedly from mainland China. The Hong Kong government has announced that it, too, will shut down its ivory outlets—but not until 2021 and it is only beginning to negotiate details.

The main consuming country is supposed to stop buying ivory by the end of the year, while the main hub serving those consumers is allowed to keep operating for another four years.

But, even if the closing of China’s markets does diminish the pressure on elephants, there are other concerns within Africa. A persistent drought tied to global warming has spread south out of the Sahel, leading to the desertification of large areas of rangeland.

Kenya’s Laikipia Valley, where heavily armed pastoralists drove their herds onto conservation land, killing wildlife as they went. Witnesses reported dead elephants, buffaloes, zebras, and giraffes scattered across the landscape.

In February, the Vatican hosted a conference on biological extinction. Participants noted that one in five of the world’s species already faces extinction, and that proportion could rise to fifty per cent by the end of the century.

Africa’s population is likely to go from roughly one billion now to around four billion. Can you imagine what tensions are going to be there, especially with climate change coming and hitting the continent more than anywhere else?

China thank you for clearing your name in Uganda but stop buying Ivory totally, that is from anywhere in the world.

UGANDA: German Tourists Attacked And Robbed At Mountain Rwenzori National Park

Tourists robbed in Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Police in Kasese are investigating a case in which two German tourists were attacked and robbed of their property in Mountain Rwenzori National Park on Sunday.

The Rwenzori East police public relations officer, Mr Suwed Manshur said on Tuesday said that the incident happened at 2 am on Sunday at Samaria Camp.

Mr Manshur said the tourists are Mr Franz Spanner and his wife Renate who had come to trek the Rwenzoris with the help of Rwenzori Trekkers Tour Company.

“It is true these tourists were attacked by people who were armed with machetes. Two tour guides were cut by the attackers as they tried to defend the tourists and are now nursing wounds at Kilembe Hospital but the tourists were left unhurt” Mr Manshur said.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park is covered by snow on the highest Margarita Peak which is a world heritage and Ramsar site.

Mr Manshur said five people have been arrested including a Kilembe sub-county Police Crime Preventer.

According to Mr Manshur, the couple lost two cameras, two bags that contained clothes, a torch and an unspecified amount of money.

“The attackers were demanding money from the tourists who claimed had not travelled with cash. After the demand for money failed, they had to carry whatever they could find before vanishing,” Mr Manshur said.

He revealed that one camera and one bag have been recovered as an operation to arrest all the suspects continues.

Mr Simplicious Gessa, Uganda Wildlife Authority public relations officer said the incident happened 3,000 meters above sea level on Kilembe Trail.

“We regret the incident but thank God who protected our tourists. We combined efforts with police, army and Uganda Wildlife rangers to track the suspects by the use of a sniffer dog and so far, four suspects have been arrested and are being held at Kasese Regional Central Police Station,” Mr Gessa said.

He said: “Rwenzori is a unique area to the extent that where the [tourists] were attacked is deep in the forest, too cold and nobody can go there without prior notice,” he said.

Mr Gessa said Rwenzori Mountains National Park is very secure apart from a few isolated incidents which must be dealt with.

UGANDA: European Union Envoy Asks Uganda To Destroty 15 Tons Of Poached Ivory

The European Union has asked Uganda to destroy more than 15 tonnes of ivory impounded, valued at about Shs81 trillion, from illegal traders.

Two weeks ago, local security seized 1,351 Kilogrammes from three West African nationals on transit to foreign markets, one of the biggest consignment held in Uganda’s history.

Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) spokesman Simplicious Gessa said that the authority is waiting for Cabinet decision to dispose of the treasured elephant tasks.

“I commend Uganda government for controlling poaching locally but it should fight being a transit country.

I also call upon local authorities to destroy the ivory to send strong signal to those in the illicit business,” European Union (EU) Ambassador Kristian Schmidt said.

Speaking at the United Nations World Wildlife Day celebrations on Friday at the Uganda Museum, Kampala, Mr Schmidt also called on government to expedite the amendment of the Uganda Wildlife Act that proposes tougher penalties on poachers.

The amended Bill suggests life sentence, a fine of Shs20 million or both unlike the present law which gives a light sentence of three years in jail or a Shs1 million fine or both.

While reading President Yoweri Museveni’s speech at the same event, Tourism minister Ephraim Kamuntu said government is committed to curtailing ivory trade throughout Uganda.

“As we speak, Uganda Wild Life Authority has acquired sniffer dogs, a boost for the institutions performance to detect ivory smuggling. I call upon Ugandan security, the public and partners to conserve our wildlife for sustainable development of our country,” he said.

He added: “We still have a challenge of isolated cases of poaching, ecological research among others but government is committed to address all these challenges.”

UGANDA: Tulambule Drive Goes Wild in Murchison Falls National Park

The State Minister of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities Hon. Kiwanda Suubi kick started Tulambule wild (go visit) local tourism drive at Murchison Falls National Park with a strong call for all Ugandans to visit and know more about the national parks.

The minister who made a grand entrance through Murchison's Kichumbanyobo gate with journalists and locals in tow drummed up support for local tourism. Hon.

Kiwanda was joined by his host the Executive Director of UWA, Dr. Andrew Seguya and Murchison Falls Conservation Area Chief, Assistant Director Tom Okello and his entire team of staff in Murchison. The Tulambule wild launched in Murchison will go around all the national parks till the end of February 2017.

"Uganda Wildlife Authority has kept the habitat intact and ensured that the animal numbers shoot up. Tourism is every one's responsibility and therefore everyone should take keen interest in it," said the minister on arrival. He was impressed with the most recent initiative of the state of art gate currently under construction.

The gate will be a payment point for cashless system, an internet and coffee point for the tourists as well as a visitor center. "This infrastructural development is important not only to make visitors stay longer but also comfortable. Am glad UWA has done its best to upgrade the park facilities to world class," the minister emphasized as he made a brief address to the press.

While in Paraa, the Minister's Tulambule entourage was welcomed by numerous area Political leaders including members of Parliament and LC V chairpersons of the districts surrounding the park who came to show solidarity with the campaign. Hon. Biranwa Steven and Hon. Jalia Bintu both thanked management for being cooperative and proactive in protection of both the interests of the park and people around it. They reaffirmed their support for the domestic tourism drive.

The Tulambule team combed through all pockets of the park's key attractions to draw support and show case the unique features for the community and media team. This massive launch of awareness is intended to show how national parks are affordable and endowed with unique attractions. Dr. Seguya Andrew called on the locals to interest themselves with national parks because they are affordable and unique.

"Our national parks are affordable with low fees for Ugandan nationals reduced considerably from those of foreign nationals. The low budget accommodation costs 20,000/= in the students center for adults while students pay 3,500/=. There also camping facilities available at prior notice," affirmed Dr. Seguya.

UGANDA: Poachers To Be Sentenced To 20 Years Or Finned $60,000

As elephant population rises in Uganda, registering one of the high rising elephant populations in Africa, government is instituting measures to jealously guard these endangered spices.

Among the new ‘tough measures’ to be included in the amended Uganda Wild Life Act are maximum jail terms of up to 20 years and fines ranging up to UGX 200 million (USD 60,000) for poachers.

The Investigator has established that the motion amending the Wild Life Act is ready for tabling on the floor of parliament. Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) Executive Director Dr. Andrew Seguya confirmed that the bill is already at the first Parliamentary Council.

Uganda has been hailed the world over for protection of elephants amidst their decrease in the continent. According to recent statistics of Aerial surveys seen by The Investigator, elephant populations in Uganda’s national parks have shown tremendous increase. The surveys were done across Africa by the Wild Life Conservation Society and the Uganda Wildlife Authority with funding from Paul G Allen as part of the Great Elephant Census.

“It is very encouraging to see elephant numbers increasing in Uganda as a result of effective protection in several parks, despite the rampant poaching and ivory trafficking across much of Africa,” said Dr Paul Elkan, a WCS Senior Conservationist involved in the surveys.

We can report that basing on Paul Elkans’ recommendation, government is not sitting back but strengthening more tight measures for elephant protections. Elikan said after the survey: “The strong Ugandan Government leadership, targeted investment in field based anti-poaching and anti-trafficking action, and trans-boundary elephant protection efforts will be critical to these sustaining efforts and addressing the poaching problems in Queen Elizabeth.” In 2015 Uganda faced one of the highest deaths of elephants in recent years due to poaching with poachers killing 6 elephants in Queen Elizabeth National Park alone.

According to Andrew Seguya, Uganda’s elephant numbers plummeted in the 1970s and 1980s because of widespread poaching and limited resources for the then Uganda National Parks. Elephants became confined to protected areas due to poaching pressures and numbers dropped drastically.

“But with improved protection since the 1990s and the creation of UWA, together with support from Government, donors, and conservation partners, elephant numbers have now increased to over 5,000,” said Seguya. According to the recent aerial surveys, there at close to 2000 elephants in Murchison falls National Park alone while Queen Elizabeth National Park has close to 3000 elephants.

Seguya attributes the increase in elephant population in Murchison Falls National Park to increased vigilance by the rangers and tight boundary controls. Uganda was labeled by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) in 2012 as one of the eight countries of primary concern in the ivory trade because of the volume of illegal ivory that had passed through Uganda.

While it is encouraging that elephant numbers are increasing, poaching remains a big challenge in Uganda and there is a need to remain vigilant. The discovery of illegally killed elephants in Queen Elizabeth Park recently means that Uganda is still not completely secure from poaching but the new survey results provide encouragement for conservationists when nearly every other country in Africa is showing drastic declines in numbers of elephants.

Elephants’ biggest enemies are the poachers (illegal hunters) who hunt it for its lucrative ivory. The current Act has weak laws and minimal fines for poachers. Government has through UWA amended the Act to have the poachers deterred due to the tight laws.

Under the new amended Act, poachers (illegal hunters) caught will be sentenced to pro-longed jail terms ranging up to 20 years. While fines will be increased from the current UGX 1 million (USD250) to UGX 200m (USD$60,000)

Stiffer punishments also await those involved in the illegal trade of wildlife products. The Investigator has learnt that under the proposed new wildlife Act any vehicle or cars used in transportation of ivory or wildlife products and any house or building used to keep or store the contraband will be surrendered to the state. Tourism State Minister Godfrey Ssubi Kiwanda acknowledged that the current Act needs amendment to address the poachers.

While meeting district leaders and parliamentarians from districts boarding the Murchison Falls National Park of Masindi, Nwoya, Kiryadongo, Bullisa, Nebbi and Oyam Kiwanda urged the leaders to engage their communities in desisting from poaching and encroaching on gazette park lands.

“As government plans to engage the surrounding park communities into better livelihoods and economic well being, we appeal that you (leaders) talk to them to desist from poaching,” said Kiwanda.

The leaders who included; Buliisa MP Stephen Mukitale Birahwa, Masindi Woman MP Jalia Bintu, Ongiertho Emmanuel (Jonam MP), Byahuka Geofrey Matongo the Bullisa district Vice chairperson and Simon Agaba Kinene the Buliisa district chairperson urged government to improve on the insfrastructure with and outside the parks so as to engage the locals better.

Tourism State Minister Kiwanda appealed to the leaders to sweet-talk the communities to reveal where they get their snares and poaching gears. “We are ready for peace talks. Lets engage the small scale industries making these traps, help us,” said Kiwanda.

UWA boss Dr. Andrew Seguya noted the in three years they (UWA) had seized over 7 tons of snares from poachers in Murchison Falls National Park alone.

“We have over seven tones of illegal gear used to trap wild animals in the park. We shall dispose them off as scrap to metal recycling. Others like wires that cannot be recycled will be cut into small pieces and buried,” said Seguya. He said the confiscation of such a huge volume of poaching gear had led to the reduction of illegal killing of wild animals in the park.

UWA assistant director, Murchison Falls Conservation Area, Tom Obong Okello said after the procurement process has been cleared the seized gears will be escorted to the recycling plants in Jinja by UWA guards to avoid them sneaking back into the community hands.

UGANDA: Accommodation Facilities To Boost Tourism In Murchison Falls National Park

Several companies have bidded for three sites to construct lodges in Murchison Falls National Park to boost tourism.
According to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) executive director, Mr Andrew Gunga Seguya, the initiative is expected to reduce on accommodation fees for more tourists.

"We invited bidders to construct a 40-bed lodge at Karuma Falls, 30-bed at Rwagongo Forest and another 30-bed at Bugungu on the Butyaba escarpment. All this is aimed at providing more accommodation for clients visiting the park," he said.

Speaking to Members of Parliament and journalists after visiting Murchison Falls National Park in a campaign to boost local tourism named tulambule last week, Mr Seguya declined to disclose the number and name of the firms that have bidded.

The Tulambule campaign started on September 23, 2016, at the onset of 2016 World Tourism Day celebrations in Mbarara. It aims at creating awareness about Uganda tour adventures and destinations and calls upon everyone to be part of this initiative by visiting the 10 national parks other game reserves in Uganda.

The Ugandan National Parks include; Bwindi Impenetrable, Kibale, Kidepo Valley, Mount Elgon, Rwenzori Mountains, Lake Mburo, Semuliki, Murchison Falls, Mgahinga Gorilla and Queen Elizabeth.

State minister for Tourism Godfrey Kiwanda, said the initiative would boost revenue to government.

Most of the accommodation in the park is billed in US dollars, something that has discouraged local tourists.
Half of the tourists that visit the park are foreigners charged entrance fee of $40 (Shs150,000) while locals pay Shs10,000.

UGANDA: Important Mountain Gorilla Dies In Accident

Conservationists in Uganda are mourning the death of a 28-year-old gorilla who died Sunday morning after falling off a tree branch in Bwindi impenetrable National Park, Southwest of the country.

Named Ndahura, the gorilla was from a dominant silverback of the Bitukura family of gorillas.

“This morning it was a sad day for Uganda when we lost Ndahura, at a tender age of 28 years, the silverback (dominant male) of the Bitukura family. He fell down when the branch he was sitting on broke,” Said Uganda Wildlife Authority Chief Executive Andrew Seguya

Dr Seguya added that: “We however, believe that his next line, Rukumu will take over the family and keep it together and so if this happens, we don’t expect much effect on tourism,” he added.

Uganda earns about Shs10billion is realized from the sale of gorilla permits annually with every ticket being sold at $600.

UGANDA: Is Roast Roadside Meat Safe?

Roast meat vendors at Kafu, on the Gulu-Kampala highway have demanded an apology from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) for undermining the formerly brisk business.

The traders led by Mr Isma Seninde, their chairman, are demanding that Dr Andrew Seguya, the UWA executive director, retracts the statement he made against them because it has sabotaged their business as travellers no longer stopover to buy roast meat, cassava and soft drinks for fear of being served roast baboon meat.

"For the seven years I have been here, I have never seen a baboon in this area being slaughtered. Wherever [Dr} Suguya got his information from, he must come and explain to us because it has affected our business since the media spread the information widely," he told this newspaper on Wednesday afternoon.

Mr Godfrey Nyakahuma, the Masindi Resident District Commissioner, had to intervene on Tuesday to calm down the traders who were planning to block traffic on the Masindi-Kafu road as well as the Kampala-Gulu high way to explain to the travelers that they sell genuine beef.

When contacted, Mr Nyakahuma confirmed the development. "The information was so damaging for us even as a district because eating baboons causes ebola and that is a security threat," he said, adding that the report by Dr Seguya was false.

Recently, while addressing journalists, Dr Seguya warned the public against eating roast meat at Kafu saying sometimes it is baboon meat sold by poachers.

When this newspaper travelled through Kafu on Wednesday evening, the traders were pratically pleading with passengers to buy their roast meat.

According to Mr Seninde, the UWA statement damaged their business and has seen the number of animals being slaughtered for mchomo from seven cows and 15 goats daily, to just one cow and three goats a day; and sometimes the unsold beef is burnt.

UGANDA: Crocodile Swallows Girl Fetching Water

Residents of Kimengo Sub County in Masindi district have accused the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) of neglecting them when crocodiles on River Kafu are endlessly killing and eating their colleagues.

The latest incident happened in October when a primary five pupil of Kaikanga Primary School and was eaten by a crocodile as she fetched water from River Kafu.

Kimengo Sub county chairman, Mr Robert Musasizi on Monday said they have experienced similar problems for a long time and a number of people and animals have been eaten by the predators.

Musasizi said the most affected villages are Miduma, Kateirwe, Kizinga, Kafu and Kayera all in Kimengo Sub-county.

He accused UWA, whose mandate is to conserve wildlife of giving priority to animals that are wrecking havoc on human beings.

“We are very much concerned because we have been reporting all these incidences to UWA but they have never responded,” he said.

Mr Sunday Musuuli, an elder accused UWA of being irresponsible and concentrating on minor issues leaving serious issues that concern citizens unresolved.

“When UWA hears that residents have killed an antelope, they get concerned but when we report that one of us has been killed by a crocodile, they don’t care at all,” Mr Musuuli said.

UWA sector manager in charge of Murchison Falls conservation area, Mr Richard Muhabwe admitted that he is aware of the dangers caused by crocodiles on River Kafu.

He said they lack personnel to control or repatriate the beasts.

“We are making arrangements to shift all dangerous crocodiles from River Kafu in Kimengo Sub-county,” Mr Muhabwe said.

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.

UGANDA: Kidepo Park Community Receives U.S$42000 From UWA

Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) recently gave out $42000 (Ush143,850,000) to communities adjacent to Kidepo Valley National Park (KVNP) for the financial year 2015/16,to implement livelihood projects.

The funds which were released to the Kaabong district leadership, is 20 percent of the park entry revenue that has accumulated over the last three years. Under Wildlife Act, UWA is mandated to give 20% of the park entrance fees to the district local governments that surround the protected area.

According to the Kidepo Valley Conservation Area Manager (KVCA) Johnson Masereka, the three benefitting sub counties were Karenga, Kawalakol and Kamion. Following a successful vetting of the projects from the beneficiary sub counties, Kaabong District Local Government endorsed the following community projects as part of the district development plan for 2015/15.

In Karenga sub country, 46m/= was approved for construction of a cultural centre at Opot pot while in Kawalakol sub county, 45m/=was endorsed for the construction of a cultural centre at Moruita.

In Kamion sub county, a sum of 21m/ was allocated for solar power system at Lwakwakaramoe primary school. In the same sub county of Kamion, 10m/= was approved for installation of solar power and its accessories at Lwakwakaramoe health centre II while 15m/= will be for the provision of a grinding mill for Morungole parish.

Of the 143,850,000/=a sum of 6,850,000/=will be shared between the district and the sub counties as monitoring and supervision fees as provided for under the revenue sharing guidelines.

At the same function, the management of Kidepo Valley Conservation Area declared a total of 116,362,841/ = due for utilization in the financial year 2016/17.The Conservation Area Manager(CAM) Mr. Masereka asked the district leadership to ensure project proposals for the utilization of the declared funds. He challenged them to also consider projects that will mitigate Human Wildlife conflict.

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Kaabong district Charles Otai applauded UWA management for the transparent manner of disbursing the funds to benefit the communities who co-exist with the wildlife and at times bear the blunt of its destruction in case of crop raids by the animals.

He urged the new leaders at all levels to ensure the right proposals benefitting the communities are put forward and the proper utilization of the funds for maximum benefit and accountability.

He called for a symbiotic relationship between wildlife and the communities where people position themselves strategically to benefit from the sprouting tourism activities.

The chairman Kaabong District, Mark Abuku hailed the cordial relationship between UWA and the district and urged his technical staff to ensure wide publicity of the community benefits from neighbouring the protected area. He said in other areas like Amboseri National Park in Kenya, pastoral communities had been sensitized well to benefit from wildlife on their land through construction of hotels and other facilities to tap into the revenue from the tourists. He also urged government to expedite the amendment of the Wildlife Act to cater for compensation of the victims of wildlife injuries and death.

The chairman promised to intensify the sensitization of the communities neighbouring protected areas to positively change their attitudes towards wildlife as a source of economic development.

UGANDA: Uganda Impounds 4,000 Kgs Of Ivory

The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) have said illegal wildlife trafficking is on the rise as Uganda and the entire East African region remain top transit routes for items heading to Asian countries.

The increase of the vice has been blamed on weak national legislation and lack of cooperation between partner states alongside changing tactics of packaging of the items by the individuals involved in the illicit trade.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a one-week training for enforcement officers currently on-going in Entebbe on Monday, the UWA acting security and law enforcement officer, Ms Margret Kasumba, said about 4 tonnes of ivory were impounded by the URA, UWA and police between 2014 and 2015.

“These include those at the UWA stores and those still in possession of the Police and are still under investigations,” said Ms Kasumba.

“The consignments were disguised in drums as shear butter and were in transit to Singapore. Other items were disguised as aircraft equipment headed to the Netherlands for repair,” she said, adding that the training provided by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) will boost intelligence of the officers in detecting new tactics.

According to Mr Abel Kagumire, the manager enforcement operations at URA, the tax body in joint operations consificated 473kgs of Ivory in June 2012, 832 pcs about 2.9 tonnes seized in October 2013 and 10kgs concealed as bananas seized at Bunagana in 2015.

The other major seizures were at Entebbe International Airport jointly seized by URA and Police.

Mr Kagumire added that about 3.3 tonnes of ivory and rhino horns were seized on January 12, 2015 and they were concealed as telecommunications equipment and one tonne of ivory concealed in 4 drums disguised as shear butter.

“Ivory costs about USD 2700 per kg (Shs9.07m) whereas Rhino horns cost about USD 50000 per kg (Shs168m),” said Mr Kangumire, as he explained why capacity building is necessary to help in curbing the vice conducted in what is known as organised crime networks.

Mr Mohammad Eisayed of IFAW noted that the main challenge to combating wildlife trafficking in the region is the high demand for these products in Asia.

In 2014, an audit revealed that 1,355kgs of ivory worth $1.1 billion (about Shs3 billion) had gone missing from the UWA’s strong room. However, the matter was investigated by the Inspector General of Government and culprits apprehended.

UGANDA: Taxi Operators Urged Not To Cheat Their Clients To Save The Tourism Image

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has told service providers in the hospitality sector that the growth of the tourism sector is hinged on their ethical conduct and honesty.

The UWA director of Tourism Development and Business Services, Mr Raymond Engena, says cheating visitors (tourists) and lack of good customer care undermines the sector. The Authority has embarked on training of service providers on the importance of customer care.

Speaking at a workshop for airport taxi operators at Lido Beach in Entebbe, Mr Engena warned that cheating dents the image on the country. “Even though it’s night time, please maintain the $40 rate (Shs134,800) constant for transport to Kampala so as we maintain the good image of the tourism sector,” he said.

Entebbe International Airport taxi operators are the first contact persons for the tourists as they transport them from the airport to different destinations in Kampala and game parks in the countryside.

Mr Engena said tourism is a major contributor to Uganda’s economy and asked Ugandans to learn from foreigners and protect the wildlife.

“Begin to take conservation seriously because if the wildlife ceases to exist, there will be no tourism thus no jobs,” he said.
Mr Jacob Magala, the chairman of the airport taxi operators, said: “We will play our part as drivers in the promotion of tourism in the country so that customers can get satisfied with our services and come back to Uganda,”

UGANDA: Uganda Confiscates 4,000 Kgs Of Ivory As Trafficking increases

The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) have said illegal wildlife trafficking is on the rise as Uganda and the entire East African region remain top transit routes for items heading to Asian countries.

The increase of the vice has been blamed on weak national legislations and lack of cooperation between partner states alongside changing tactics of packaging of the items by the individuals involved in the illicit trade.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a one-week training for enforcement officers currently on-going in Entebbe on Monday, the UWA acting security and law enforcement officer, Ms Margret Kasumba, said about 4 tonnes of ivory were concealed by the URA, UWA and police between 2014 and 2015.

“These include those at the UWA stores and those still in possession of the Police and are still under investigations,” said Ms Kasumba.

“The consignments were disguised in drums as shear butter and were in transit to Singapore. Other items were disguised as aircraft equipment headed to the Netherlands for repair,” she said, adding that the training provided by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) will boost intelligence of the officers in detecting new tactics.

According to Mr Abel Kagumire, the manager enforcement operations at URA, the tax body in joint operations consificated 473kgs of Ivory in June 2012, 832 pcs about 2.9 tonnes seized in October 2013 and 10kgs concealed as Matooke seized at Bunagana in 2015.
The other major seizures were at Entebbe International Airport jointly seized by URA and Police.

Mr Kagumire added that about 3.3 tonnes of ivory and rhino horns were seized on January 12, 2015 and they were concealed as telecommunications equipment and one tonne of ivory concealed in 4 drums disguised as shear butter.

“Ivory costs about USD 2700 per kg (Shs9.07m) whereas Rhino horns cost about USD 50000 per kg (Shs168m),” said Mr Kangumire, as he explained why capacity building is necessary to help in curbing the vice conducted in what is known as organised crime networks.
Mr Mohammad Eisayed of IFAW noted that the main challenge to combating wildlife trafficking in the region is the high demand for these products in Asia.

In 2014, an audit revealed that 1,355kgs of ivory worth $1.1 billion (about Shs3 billion) had gone missing from the UWA’s strong room. However, the matter was investigated by the Inspector General of Government and culprits apprehended.

UGANDA: Uganda Wildlife Gets New Board

NEW BOARD: Uganda’s Tourism Minister Maria Mutagamba (Front Centre) with the New UWA Board of Trustees

Uganda’s Tourism Minister Maria Mutagamba has inaugurated a New Board of Trustees for Uganda Wildlife Authority retaining Benjamin Otto, a former permanent secretary in the ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry as the Board Chairperson.

Since March last year when the 7th UWA Board tenure ran out, the organ had had to run with little guidance, which was quite a tussle for both the ministry of tourism and its management. The 8th UWA Board was unveiled last week.

Mutagamba said as members of the 8th Board, the Government expects them to govern Uganda Wildlife Authority in an efficient and effective manner and to be able to enable the institution deliver its mandate to the people of Uganda and international community.

“I would like to draw your attention to the following areas which you should prioritize in your tenure of office. Ensure that Uganda Wildlife Authority Strategic Plan, Protected Area General Management Plans, Programmes, Activities and Budgets, are in line with the Uganda Wildlife Policy 2014; National Development Plan, Tourism Sector Investment Plan and The Manifesto,” she told the new board.

Mutagamba also tasked the board to review Protected Area Systems Plan for Uganda and make recommendations to the Ministry on required Protected Area System changes.

“Address human wildlife conflicts in and around Protected Areas and prioritises problem animal management; elimination of encroachment, boundary conflicts, crop raiding and livestock predation.

“Build adequate capacity of Uganda Wildlife Authority to combat poaching, illegal wildlife trade and trafficking in Uganda and adopt zero tolerance to poaching and illegal wildlife trade,” she added.

She said the new board must promote sustainable wildlife farming and ensure that the wildlife user rights system is based on sound scientific information that guarantees sustainability of species under user rights regime.

“Develop and implement a management plan for wildlife outside Protected Areas. Promote sustainable tourism development in Wildlife Protected Areas in order to increase revenue generation and community benefits,” she told the new board members.

She said they must ensure that Uganda Wildlife Authority works very well with the Private sector, Local Communities, Local Governments, development and other partners.

Benjamin Otto, who worked as Permanent Secretary (Accounting Officer) from 1980 to 1998 in the Ministry of Education and Sports, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife was retained as the Chairperson. The members are Dr. Pantaleon Kasoma Mukasa Banda, Eng. Batuma Mbabazi, Dr Dianah NALWANGA Wabwire, Leornard Wamakote and Kakuyo Kagumaho.

Amb. Patrick Mugoya, the Ministry of Tourism Permanent Secretary said since March last year, Uganda Wildlife Authority has been operating without a Board which is regrettable.

“The circumstances that led to this delay were entirely beyond the control of the Ministry. Nevertheless, now that the Board is finally here, we are gratified that the Board will now take over the direct supervisory burden from the shoulders of the Minister.”

UGANDA: The Baker Trail

African Explorer and Anthropologist Julian Monroe Fisher, in conjunction with The Uganda Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife & Antiquities, The Uganda Wildlife Authority, the Ministry of Wildlife, Conservation & Tourism for South Sudan, the descendants of the Victorian explorer Sir Samuel White Baker, Rail Riders Adventure Clothing and Costa Del Mar Sunglasses has announced plans to establish The Sir Samuel and Lady Florence Baker Historical Trail.

According to www.thebakertrail.com ,The trail will stretch from Gondokoro, the location of the modern day capital of the new nation of South Sudan to Baker's View overlooking Lake Albert in western Uganda. Fisher will be in Uganda to start placing historical markers at locations where Sir Samuel and Lady Florence Baker camped while on expedition in the Central African region during their two expeditions in the 1860's and 1870's.

In January-February 2013, during Phase Two of The RailRider's 2012-16 Great African Expedition, Fisher and his team that included David Baker, the great-great-grandson of Sir Samuel Baker were accredited with correcting maps of Uganda by establishing the true location of Baker's View, the location where Sir Samuel Baker became the first European to see Lake Albert and to subsequently name the lake for Prince Albert.

The concept for 'The Sir Samuel and Lady Florence Baker Historical Trail' evolved out of Fisher's two year research of Sir Samuel Baker in preparation for Phase One & Two of 'The RailRider's 2012-16 Great African Expedition'.
Quoting David Baker from Chirton, Wiltshire, United Kingdom, "Sir Samuel Baker and Lady Florence Baker's achievements are to be commemorated by the establishment of a trail through South Sudan and northern Uganda to Baker's view of Lake Albert.

The trail follows the shoreline of Lake Albert northwards to the Victoria Nile and the mighty Murchison Falls and up the river to the Karuma Falls. This is the bold vision of Julian Monroe Fisher who, in early 2013, travelled along the trail in the footsteps of Sir Samuel Baker. It will take energy, determination and resources to achieve this; our example is Sir Samuel Baker, so we are sure it will come about!"

Quoting Fisher, "The Bakers are respected in South Sudan and Uganda for their 1860's and 1870's expeditions and their effort to abolish the slave trade. Today South Sudan and parts of northern Uganda are emerging from years of conflict. In South Sudan the population is struggling to clean up the landmines of the conflicts of the past in order to move forward to a bright future. The future of the region lies in the success of projects like 'The Sir Samuel and Lady Florence Baker Historical Trail'.

With the support of Honorable Minister Maria Mutagamba, Executive Director Dr. Andrew Ggunga Seguya the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the Baker Family, Rail Riders Adventure Clothing and Costa Del Mar Sunglasses, the Uganda portion of 'The Sir Samuel and Lady Florence Baker Historical Trail' will be launched in January 2014 to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Baker's expedition. This will be a visual sign of the region, expressing to the world that northern Uganda and South Sudan are "open for business".

During the announcement of the project in Vienna, Austria, Fisher said, "The beauty of the people as well as the landscape should be reasons enough to visit the region sooner than later. 'The Sir Samuel and Lady Florence Baker Historical Trail' provides the adventure traveler a route through a spectacular scenery and to historical places, that can be accessed by 4 x 4's, mountain bike and also by hiking and will some day be recognized similar to the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Trail in the USA.

UGANDA: Caldera Guest House

Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has commissioned a multi-billion shilling accommodation and events facility in Mbale Municipality to supplement tourism revenue from neighbouring Mt. Elgon Conservation Area (MECA).

The facility named CALDERA Guest house after the famous Mount Elgon Caldera known to b the largest in the world, was commissioned by the chairman of the UWA Board of Trustees, Mr. Benjamin Otto flanked by leaders from the districts neighbouring the conservation area.

The Guest house boasts of ten spacious self contained rooms, a modern restaurant, a bar, conference hall, a room for business centre and open gardens for events. It is located in the centre of Mbale town close to the Mt. Elgon National Park offices.

The property was donated to UWA by IUCN in July 2003.It was formerly used as staff accommodation before UWA undertook to renovate it to transform it into a commercial premise. It has been advertised for private management and got a lot of interested bidders who are still being assessed before the successful one is awarded a contract.

Speaking at the commissioning of the facility, the chairman UWA BoT Mr. Otto applauded the management of UWA on their initiative to put up the facility which will supplement revenue from the traditional tourism attractions on top of providing employment opportunities and services to the local communities.

Mr. Charles Tumwesigye the Deputy Director Conservation at UWA who represented the Executive Director, appealed to the business community and development partners to support the guest house as direct clients, agents and promoters. He said UWA has plans to diversify tourism products in MECA to attract more visitors who will in turn boost business in the neighbouring towns.

The function was graced by the Bugisu cultural leaders, Omukhuka, the Mbale District Resident Commissioner Ms Pamela Watua, Dr. Adonia Bintoora the Manager MECA and several local leaders and representatives of the business community. Ms SAMKA contractors were the firm that carried out the renovation.