The minister of state for tourism wildlife and antiquities, Martin Muggara, has stepped up efforts to promote marine tourism on Uganda's water bodies. 

During his weekend expedition aboard MV Vanessa on Lake Victoria, minister Muggara noted that several people in the private sector have set up accommodation facilities among other tourism attractions on islands that ought to be promoted.

The minister of state for tourism Martin Muggara being led by Isaiah Rwanyekiro to MV Vanessa for a boat cruise

"We have a Lake Victoria tourism plan where we have mapped the area very well, indicating how we would like to utilise the waterbody," intimated the minister adding that, the plan will help tourism promoters to convince several players and investors to take part in promoting marine tourism. 

Muggara talked of plans to waive taxes off boats among other vessels being imported, as another way to promote water transport and marine tourism.

He lauded the tour operators and the private sector which he said, have managed to soldier on, and withstand the ripple effects of COVID-19. 

Martin Muggara, the minister of tourism wildlife and antiquities addressing some of the tour guides and operators during a boat cruise aboard MV Vanessa over weekend

The minister thanked all Ugandans who managed to tour the country and promote all the local content and products regarding tourism. Meanwhile, several stakeholders in the tourism sector claim that soldiers who monitor activities on the lake, tend to bar revelers from accessing some points of the lake.

In justification, the minister explained that tourists need security and protection along the lake which are key factors for tourism promotion. "Our plan will ensure that we work together so that security forces do not antagonise tourists and the other way round," he added. For two hours while sailing around lake Victoria aboard MV Vanessa, the minister kept interacting with several stakeholders and tourism enthusiasts, sharing ideas about tourism in Uganda and how better to promote the country as a tourism destination.

Acen Petronella (left) and Nyamatte Mariam, the second and first runners up for Miss Uganda, seated with Minister Martin Muggara during the boat cruise

Donna Ayebare, the marketing and communications officer for Nyanza Evergreen, an entity that manages MV Vanessa, said the fam trip intended to reignite tourism on Lake Victoria among other waterbodies in the country. She noted that tour operators have not been including boat cruises on their itineraries, saying, promoting marine tourism will help bridge the information gap between tour operators and boat owners.

Isaiah Rwanyekiro, the chief executive officer for Breathtaking Uganda, a company and collaborative body of tourism stakeholders called upon all tour operators and stakeholders to travel aboard some of the available water vessels in order to have a feel of what they intend to sell, in terms of services to their clients in the tourism sector. He thanked the managers of MV Vanessa and MV Nathalie for taking a lead in promoting Marine tourism in Uganda especially on lake Victoria.

The team posing for a group picture after the boat cruise