UNDP, UTB flag-off Cheptegei ahead of Mt. Rwenzori hike

TOURISM | MT. RWENZORI 

In a bid to raise the annual number of tourists who visit and carry out hiking on Mt. Rwenzori, Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), in partnership with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), launched an expedition to the Rwenzori.

To spearhead the hike, Joshua Cheptegei, the 10000m world champion, was paraded before the country during a media flag-off ceremony held at Kampala Serena Hotel on Thursday, December 10.

The hike also comes during the Tourism Konnect conference organized by Uganda Tourism Board in a bid to boost Uganda's tourism sector.

At the official flag-off, UTB Chief Executive Officer, Lilly Ajarova, intimated that Rwenzori is the third most visited mountain in Africa, only third to Kirimanjaro.

She added that the numbers can rise even higher if Ugandans embrace visiting such places.

"With Cheptegei leading the way, we shall extend the Pearl further in Africa and the world at large," Ajarova said.

UNDP's Resident Representative in Uganda, Elsie Attafuah, said that the choice to have Cheptegei as the lead in this hike was spot on because he is a national treasure, and the country should be able to use him and his talent.

Cheptegei avowed his commitment to take on the hike by assuring Ugandans that he has been preparing for a while now.

"When I returned from the World Cross Country Challenge, I took off one month to rest and prepare for this hike. Therefore, I'm more than ready and urge other Ugandans to join me," Cheptegei said.

Also, present at the flag-off ceremony was, Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi, State Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities.

Kiwanda emphasised that this hike is not for only the likes of Cheptegei but all Ugandans.

"As we flag off Cheptegei today and his team, we are flagging off all Ugandans our there to take on the challenge," Kiwanda said.

The hike started on Friday, December 11, with other influential sportsmen like Kickboxing champion, Moses Golola.