Mbale to host world tourism week

Sep 04, 2014

BOOM BAAM, BOOM BAMM, BANG, such were the ear sharpening sounds of kadodi drums that Mbale grooved to during last month’s grand circumcision festival at Mutoto grounds.

By Solomon Oleny

BOOM BAAM, BOOM BAMM, BANG, such were the ear sharpening sounds of kadodi drums that Mbale grooved to during last month’s grand circumcision festival at Mutoto grounds.

Better known in their mother tongue Lugisu as Imbalu, the surgery was a 101% nerve wrecking experience-as it entailed braving the wrath of the imbalu knife at the spot that hurts the most.

Worst, after the candidates’ foreskin were slit off them, they were obliged to dance the pain away as opposed to being given pain killers or medical attention.

One of the candidates after circumcision.

Baring this in mind, one would expect any of those whose senses hadn’t gone on leave to chicken out from the act. Shockingly, they didn’t. On the contrary, they bore it all.

In honour of this brevity and a burning argue to share it with all, the Uganda Tourism aboard has picked on Mbale as the lucky host of this year’s World tourism week slated for 20th September to 27th September.

In an interview with New Vision, Edwin Muzahura the Public Relations Officer of the Board, highlighted that due to the great coincidence of the tourism week and September, a climax month in which circumcision goes on from dawn to dawn, tourists will be treated to the biggest circumcision festival of 2014.

‘’As they witness multitudes of candidates paint the streets of Mbale bright with their energetic performances, tourists will have their auditory senses sharpened--as drums get battered shapeless to cheer up candidates into dancing their way to manhood.’’ Muzahura said.

Better still, the fun won’t stop at watching many a soul bid good bye to their foreskins. In its commitment to promote Uganda as a domestic tourism destination to Ugandans, the Uganda Tourism Board has lined up several activities geared towards marketing Bigusi’s tourism attractions.

Views of Mbale as beheld from Wanalehill.

Aside from turning Mutoto grounds (where the tourism week will be hosted)into a fun packed arena where craft sellers hoteliers, safari companies, among many tour operators will showcase their products and services, there will be more to see than can be seen and more to experience than can be experienced in and around Mbale.

Such include mountaineering Elgon-the second tallest Mountain in the country, hiking the Wanale hill to behold awe inspiring views of Bugisu, bull fights, water adventure at Sipi falls.

Crowning all these on international tourism day 27th September will be a showcase of Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities master plan and, a showcase the cream 10 contestants of the Miss Tourism Pageant, a pageant purposed towards promoting Uganda through beauty.

There you have it folks, better ready yourself for the most thrilling world tourism week of the decade.

Sippi falls.

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