Kampala sights and sounds become part of tourism circuit
Aug 09, 2012
Kampala is waking up to harness its tourism potential by offering intending visitors opportunities to walk around some of the city’s cultural treasures. Herbert Byaruhanga, the chairperson of the Uganda Safari Guides Association, said a number of circuits are being developed to provide a unique exp
By Gerald Tenywa and Titus Kakembo
Kampala is waking up to harness its tourism potential by offering intending visitors opportunities to walk around some of the city’s cultural treasures. Herbert Byaruhanga, the chairperson of the Uganda Safari Guides Association, said a number of circuits are being developed to provide a unique experience to visitors.
This, he added, will take visitors around some of Kampala’s landmarks such as the Constitutional Square, the Independence Monument, a statue of former Buganda king Edward Muteesa 11, the Kampala Railway Station and St. Balikuddembe Church, where the first martyr was killed.
“We want to offer visitors coming to Kampala a unique experience,” Byaruhanga said.
“There are people who come to Kampala to attend meetings and do not have time to go to national parks. With the tourism circuits available, the visitors can see the city and have a better experience.”
Two weeks ago, the association went through the circuit after getting a lot of encouragement from people in countries where urban tourism is well developed.
“We did not want to have tourists on the first tour, but a German diplomat came and he made important contributions,” Byaruhanga said.
Every year, Kampala gets about 800,000 visitors. The promoters are targeting 30% of the visitors.
If each tourist pays $20, it would help create employment for fresh graduates who could earn up to $6m a year. So far, 15 guides have been trained.
Asked how they were going to deal with the congestion down town and the lack of walk ways in most parts of the city, Byaruhanga said such experience is part of what the tourists should expect. He added that the walks lasting about four hours will be organised in small groups of six to 12 people.
Also awaiting visitors is the first museum and other old buildings at Makerere University, one of the first universities in the region and where most of the East African presidents studied.
This, according to Byaruhanga, will also take four hours and will offer visitors bird watching opportunities in parts of Makerere University that still have old trees and strips of forest patches.
Also planned in future are city tours that are popular in many modern cities such as Paris and Rio de Janeiro.
The group has already met Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) chief Jennifer Musisi, who promised to appoint a tourism officer to work with the guides.
A KCCA official who did not want to be named said the authority has plans to improve open spaces in the city, construct better walkways and cover open manholes.
Recently, the Uganda Travel Bureau (UTB) director, Cuthbert Baguma, said Kampala should endeavour to regain its status as the most preferred tour destination in the Great Lakes region as it were in the 1960s when the guest list comprised the UK premier Winston Churchill, the US president Roosevelt and an author of international repute Ernest Hemingway.
Baguma was addressing the monthly tourism symposium comprising tour operators, guides and hoteliers at the Uganda Museum in Kampala.
“Kampala City, where every excursion begins, should perfect its act,” he said.
“In the 1960s and early 1970s, Kampala was regarded as the show piece of East Africa, a spacious garden city with a cosmopolitan atmosphere and bustling trade,” he said.
He explained that this was because it had a lush green vegetation, friendly people, spacious streets and Lake Victoria shores.
“Fortunately, those attractions are boosted by chimpanzees in Ngamba Island, bird watching and bungee jumping at the source of River Nile, all within 60 minutes from Kampala City,” Baguma added.
He noted that there is need to ease access to these areas by reducing the menacing traffic jams and avail guests with literature, guides if need be and mementoes of world-class quality.
He asserted that, since Kampala is the starter of every tourist expendition, every service there ought to be put in tip-top shape to create a good first impression.
Kampala attractions
The Uganda Museum was established in 1908. On display are aspects of Uganda history.
Kabalagala, the red district of Kampala, gets vibrant at 6:00pm when charcoal oven roasters start spicing chicken, goat ribs and beef. The air gets wafted with mouthwatering aroma.
National Theatre is a hive of activity every Monday when the musicians’ treat is on. The guitarist picks his instrument and the pianist follows suit.
The Carnivore in Naguru is a diner’s dream come true. One pays sh100,000 and is given a symbolic chimpanzee sitting on its haunches. Then all types of meat are served in rapid succession. Once one has had their fill, the chimp is made to lie on its back. As patrons dine and wine, they are treated to different cultural dances. Comedians often treat guests and audiences to the Uganda humour brands.
Ndere Troupe is a culture tourist’s dream come true. Oral literature is still alive here, with live traditional music and drama keeping audiences on the edges of their seats.
The Bahai Temple is an elegant piece of architecture in Kanyanya, graced with extensive gardens. It is the only one on the African continent.
The Gadaffi Mosque in Old Kampala, which is the biggest in Africa, is a must see. It is a reminder of Uganda’s notorious leader Idi Amin Dada, who initiated the idea of its establishment and his bosom friend Muamar Qaddafi of Libya, who completed its construction.
Mwanga’s Lake was dug in 1888 to link with Lake Victoria, but the project was not completed after Mwanga was driven out by Muslems. Buganda Kingdom authorities are in a cleanup exercise to make it more attractive.
The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre is an orphanage home for animals and birds that cannot fend for themselves in the wild. In store are birds, chimpanzees and reptiles saved from poachers.