UWA, UTB partner to fundraise for Kabale orphaned girls

Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) have partnered to support 200 orphaned girls accommodated by the Grace Villa Foundation in Kabale.

Yesterday (Tuesday), the chief executive officer UTB Stephen Asiimwe, disclosed that the partnership would work on the principle that adventure seekers are to be taken for four days and three nights to the Kidepo National Valley (The true African wilderness). This supportive activity will kick off  when the 60  people team of tourists will lead way to trek the Kidepo Valley.

Cable News Network(CNN), on its premier travel show, 'CNN Travel' recently highlighted the Kidepo valley as  possibly the most picturesque savannas in Africa.
 
"This initiative looks at tourists giving back while having fun. Proceeds from the tour will go towards education and upkeep of the girls. We believe that every community should benefit from proceeds of tourism," Asiimwe said.

"Tourists will climb mount Morungole while in Karamoja they will explore and learn from the culture and heritage sites of Ik tribe that live there. Most of the tourists are philanthropic and have many connections we believe this will be a chance for them to offer a helping hand to the children," he noted.

Stephen Masaba, a Business Development Manager at UWA, said the initiative would give chance to tourists to explore the dramatic mountain ranges, specular night skies and amazing sunrises and game ranging from lion to leopard and endemic bird species.

Ruth Ndyabahika, the founder of non-governmental organisation Grace Villa Foundation, expressed optimism that though the girls under her care are loved, fed and undergo psychological care, the proceeds would cover for girls' basic needs.


"This initiative which started last year when we visited Muhavura mountain peak, brought together 60 tourists from different continents. We did not gain much but we were able to earn sponsors for of our children," Ndyabahika explained.

 

Fifty years ago Uganda was inaugurated the "Pearl of Africa," by Sir Winston Churchill. According to the tourist board, almost 1.2 million tourists came to Uganda every year.

Recently Uganda was named as the fourth best tourism destination in the World by the Rough Guides, a leading travel publisher.

 

They will  also  visit   the source of the Nile, Murchison Falls, Mountain Gorilla, snow on top of Mountain Rwenzori, among other tourist features.