Peaceful Kanungu boosts tourism

Gone are the days when Kanungu was a playground for gun totting thugs shuttling between the DR of Congo and Uganda. This was a threat to tourism which the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Kanungu Juuko Kasita says is recovering steadily.

"They hid in what have become cash cows, the heights of the Rwenzori Mountains and in the Queen Elizabeth National Park," stressed Juuko. "Knowing how sensitive tourism is to insecurity, the industry was affected greatly and it takes time to change the global perception created."

Juuko said this during a meeting with minister of state for tourism Godfrey Kiwanda during a Tulambule venture aimed at promoting domestic tourism.

"We have sensitized the local leaders that when security is disturbed, the number of tourists falls," said Juuko. ". And this means lesser revenues from the 20 percent got annually from UWA collections," he added.

 

 "On arrival I saw foreign tourists fishing out dollar notes to take a glance at tree climbing lions," confided Kiwanda. "You should appreciate the peace ushered in by the movement government for the last 30 years. A joint effort with our DRC counterparts, enabled the flashing out of thugs from the Virunga National Park in their midst."

Edgar Byaruhanga the UWA Director Planning did not spare the journalist the barbs when given the microphone.

"You are the eyes and ears of guests destined here," said Byaruhanga. "When they say kodi on social media and you post a health threat like ebola or Marburg, you scare them to other destinations. That is not patriotic. Imagine what you are costing the country as a whole and that individual tour operator, guide and hotel attendant," he cautioned.

Adding that, the dwindling guest numbers mean no job opportunities, low revenue for communities living with in the parks and cancellation of bookings.

 

Summing up the tour minister Kiwanda urged all Ugandans to treasure the wealth of tourist attractions in their midst.

"On Valentine's Day or Easter I would love Ugandans to visit our ten National Parks. They are filled with animals seeking safety from war torn neighboring countries. There are birds, primates and reptiles to interest any member of the family."