Improve CHOGM preparations
Apr 12, 2007
AT least 4,000 hotel rooms have been identified for November’s Commonwealth Head’s of Government Meeting (CHOGM).<br>These have been classified into high upper, mid upper, mid and budget markets. In addition, some personal houses will be rented out to guests during the duration of the meeting.
AT least 4,000 hotel rooms have been identified for November’s Commonwealth Head’s of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
These have been classified into high upper, mid upper, mid and budget markets. In addition, some personal houses will be rented out to guests during the duration of the meeting.
However, of the 4,000 rooms earmarked for the event, about 1,000 of them are still under construction barely seven months to the event.
In addition, critical tenders like the one for provision of limousines that will be used by the delegates have not been procured.
Members of the CHOGM committee in charge of procuring the 200 cars are keeping their fingers crossed for fear that a disgruntled bidder will tie the process up in court and they fail to have the limousines available in time.
This is the biggest event ever to be held in Uganda in terms of the profiles of the visitors, the scope of the preparations required and the extent of the facilities required to host it.
With the clock ticking away, it is a wonder there is no visible sense of urgency surrounding the preparations.
Other countries that host major events aim to make it an inspiring spectacle and a memorable celebration but we seem satisfied to just get through the ordeal alive. This shows the degree of ambition or lack thereof of our nation.
We are like the student content to just scrape through his exam rather than pass with flying colours.
Apart from the high profile delegates, it is expected that hundreds of journalists will descend on us and their impressions rather than those of their leaders will colour foreign opinion. The organisers of CHOGM should know this if they do not already and treat the event with the importance due it.
Let’s put our best foot forward and show the world there is still hope for this country and by extension, our continent.
These have been classified into high upper, mid upper, mid and budget markets. In addition, some personal houses will be rented out to guests during the duration of the meeting.
However, of the 4,000 rooms earmarked for the event, about 1,000 of them are still under construction barely seven months to the event.
In addition, critical tenders like the one for provision of limousines that will be used by the delegates have not been procured.
Members of the CHOGM committee in charge of procuring the 200 cars are keeping their fingers crossed for fear that a disgruntled bidder will tie the process up in court and they fail to have the limousines available in time.
This is the biggest event ever to be held in Uganda in terms of the profiles of the visitors, the scope of the preparations required and the extent of the facilities required to host it.
With the clock ticking away, it is a wonder there is no visible sense of urgency surrounding the preparations.
Other countries that host major events aim to make it an inspiring spectacle and a memorable celebration but we seem satisfied to just get through the ordeal alive. This shows the degree of ambition or lack thereof of our nation.
We are like the student content to just scrape through his exam rather than pass with flying colours.
Apart from the high profile delegates, it is expected that hundreds of journalists will descend on us and their impressions rather than those of their leaders will colour foreign opinion. The organisers of CHOGM should know this if they do not already and treat the event with the importance due it.
Let’s put our best foot forward and show the world there is still hope for this country and by extension, our continent.