By Paul Waiswa

Trekking is one of the latest trends in tourism in the world. It is treated primarily as a modern form of adventure tourism and ecotourism.

Back here, tourism enthusiast is set for trek from the Independence Monument in Kampala to Ssezibwa falls, 46 kms away.

For Ivan Luggya, a tourism enthusiast it is not about the adrenaline surge. It is about promoting local tourism.  The project coordinator and events manager of the annual Ekkula Tourism Awards says he started this one-man campaign five years ago, and it is gaining traction.  He is set to walk on Saturday (4 December), in a bid to promote domestic tourism, environmental conservation and sanitization.

Lugya who spoke to this website said that his journey will kick off at 5:30am on Saturday at the Independence monument located in the city centre towards Mukono- Jinja highway with the final stop at Sezzibwa Falls.

According to Lugya, the first walk was on February 13 2016 and his desitination was Ssezibwa falls where he set off from Kampala at 7:30 and walked 46 Kms to Ssezibwa with a stopover at Namawojjolo.

“The reason I delayed was because of the people who had promised to join me for the walk but two hours later, none of them was showing up and there was no communication so I had to go solo” Lugya said.

 He went on to say that he doesn’t walk to and fro but rather when he reaches his destination, he then boards and returns  home.

With his walks taking different direction, he has gone to destinations like Kakooge which was 100Kms from the city center, Kigungu Church in Entebbe through Munyonyo among other destinations.

He reveals that he has decided to always walk alone ever since his first disappointment but once in a while he is joined by his sponsors and well-wishers. “Some of the people who always facilitate my walk in terms of transport back, lunch, refreshment and upkeep usually join me and walk about 2 Kms with me for courtesy” Lugya says.

He goes on to say that by walking, he is creating awareness about different tourism destinations in Uganda, environmental conversation and sanitation.

According to Maryanne Mutagamba the Director of Miss Tourism Uganda and also the daughter of Late Hon Maria Mutagamba who was once the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquitties, it is always good to find people like Luggya whose heart  beat for domestic Tourism.

          “Ever since I joined the tourism business, I have always enjoyed working with Luggya whom I already found in the tourism business and as Miss Tourism Uganda and Lake Basin Tours and travel, we shall always support his walks in one way or the other and urge all tourism bodies to support his cause.