Uganda heads to Mbarara in record tourism drive

Sep 24, 2016

State Minister for tourism, Godfrey Kiwanda told New Vision that the drive is intended to make Ugandans love their country in order to promote it to the rest of the world.

PIC: Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga(C) speaks after flagging off ‘Tulambule' drive as State Minister for Tourism Godfrey Kiwanda(R) and the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Patrick Mugoya(L) look on at the CHOGM grounds on September 23, 2016.Photos by Maria Wamala

Ugandans who love discoveries will this weekend head to Mbarara town in Western Uganda in a drive geared at unlocking Uganda's domestic tourism potential.

State Minister for tourism, Godfrey Kiwanda told New Vision that the drive is intended to make Ugandans love their country in order to promote it to the rest of the world.

The drive organized by Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) and Ministry of Tourism is under a programme called Tulambule which literally means " visiting new places".

Kiwanda said Ugandans who will have registered with selected tourism companies in Kampala will travel in a caravan of about 2000 people from Kampala to Mbarara.

New Vision has learnt that while in Mbarara where the tourists will spend two days, they will visit a number of places including game parks.

"Tourism in not only about animals, but also agriculture, culture and religion among other things," Kiwanda said.

He explained that there are people with model farms in western Uganda whose estates the tourists from other parts of the country would want to visit during the trip.

Kiwanda also explained that during the trip educational and cultural tourism in western Uganda will be promoted. New Vision has learnt that each person in the caravan is required to pay sh200,000 to book a ticket for the drive.

The minister said they have also asked lodge owners in western Uganda to cut down the cost of accommodation by a half to make tourists more confortable.

Part of the activities on the drive is a street bash on Saturday night and inter-religious players that will be conducted on Sunday also on the streets.

Gervase Ndyanabo, the deputy Managing Director of New Vision commended the minister for the programme and promised to use the company's media platforms to promote the drive.

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