The ‘Explore Uganda the Pearl of Africa’ series is headed East with a campaign dubbed “Explore Busoga” which is scheduled for December 13th to 17th.
This was revealed by the State Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Hon. Martin Mugarra Bahinduka during a plenary session at Parliament on Thursday.
Explore Busoga is the fifth edition of the Explore Uganda series, Uganda’s official destination brand. The previous campaigns are; Explore Bunyoro, Explore North, Explore West and Explore Elgon respectively. The campaigns are aimed at boosting domestic tourism and encouraging local travel among other objectives.
“From the 13th to 17th of December 2023, we will be doing a campaign called Explore Busoga. One of the activities we are going to undertake is the Kagulu Rock climbing Challenge in Buyende District,” the Minister said.
He revealed that the tourism sector is progressing steadily despite the recent attack in Queen Elizabeth National Park and other threats that prompted issuance of travel advisories from the USA and UK warning their nationals against traveling to or attending popular events in Uganda.
“I want to thank Ugandans who have listened to the domestic campaign messages that we have been putting out there and I want to reiterate that there is no one who can market this country better than Ugandans,” the Minister said while speaking to the press at the Uganda Media Center before making the announcement in Parliament.
He noted that the Explore Uganda campaigns also seek to debunk misconceptions surrounding travel and tourism such as it being very expensive or an activity for foreigners.
“Visiting Uganda’s National Parks, for example, is affordable. The entrance fee is less than Shs 30,000 for East African nationals and there are accommodation facilities with varied fare ranges that cater to different budgets,” he added.
The Minister explained that with Uganda’s night life dynamics, people easily spent over Shs 500,000 on a bottle of whiskey, a sum that can sustain one’s visit and stay in a given National Park. He emphasized the need for Ugandans to travel more, noting that they will market Uganda better, publicizing what they have experienced.
Government’s move to promote domestic tourism also aims at buttressing the industry’s resilience and reducing its dependence on foreign tourists.
Tourism stakeholders say a stable domestic tourism component cushions the sector from suffering the adverse effects of disruptions occasioned by unforeseen hinderances like pandemics which halt foreign travel.
The Explore Busoga campaign avails an opportunity for tourists and travel enthusiasts to enjoy Jinja- also referred to as East Africa’s adventure capital which boasts, among other attractions, marine adventure along the Nile. Visiting sites such as the Source of the Nile, Uganda Railway Museum, Busowoko Falls and Bujagali are some of the activities tourists can do in Busoga in addition to immersing themselves in the rich Busoga culture.