Uganda has 10 national parks of which 8 are found in the western region. Most travelers go to the west for safari through Queen Elizabeth, Kibale Forest, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Murchison Falls, Lake Mburo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks. These areas are rich in biodiversity with diverse species of wildlife including mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants, rhinos, lions, buffaloes and tropical birds. Nature and wildlife is one of the main motives for the 1.54 million visitors received in 2019 of which about 350,000 visited the protected areas. According to the New Vision Paper of Jan 15^th 2022, Stephen Masaba Uganda Wildlife Authority’s director of Tourism and Business Development said that due to the Covid 19 pandemic between 2020 – 2021, the arrival numbers reduced to 473000 due to travel related restrictions. However, the restart of tourism in 2022 has seen almost all global restrictions lifted in particular Uganda borders are now open. Visitors arriving at Entebbe international airport don’t need to test for covid-19 but rather present a negative PCR test carried out within 72 prior to arrival. Consequently, the tourism industry is recovering despite challenges and this year’s World Tourism Day theme – “Rethinking Tourism” tells us to take advantage of emerging opportunities and trends to reconsider how we conduct tourism.

Plastic waste production in Uganda

Prevention of plastic pollution in particular seems to be of concern among the tourism fraternity in Uganda given that the number of tourist arrivals is projected to rise again. Recently, East African nations including Rwanda and Kenya decided to outlaw the entry of single-use plastic objects into their protected areas.  In particular, Uganda had pledged to reduce the use in 2017 following the example of her neighbors. But the law hasn’t been implemented due to a disagreement brought on by the plastics manufacturing industry in the country. The 2009 Finance Act’s Section 2 forbids the importation, local manufacture, sale, or use of plastic bags or bags made of polymers of ethene and polyethene.” The proposed ban was directed at stopping polythene papers (Buveera) and alcohol sachets which have turned out to be most items used therefore creating a lot of waste countrywide.

In general, the daily usage volume of plastic waste in Uganda is estimated to be 600 metric tons according to Uganda Biodiversity Fund. This comes from the increasing industrial production of plastics in form of soft drinks and snacks which feeds the traders operating shops both retail and wholesale. Some of the industries such as Kasese distillers are located in Kasese Municipality and Fort Portal city close to the protected areas including Kibale Forest and Queen Elizabeth National Parks. Chances are high that a considerable amount of plastic waste might be entering the parks as locals and tourists transit through which could harm the wildlife.  

Plastic bags take more than 1000 years to decompose yet the public seems to be lacking a sense of responsibility which puts a burden both financially and environmentally on nature. For instance, the Kampala Capital City Authority report indicates that about 10 billion Uganda shillings ($2.7m) is spent annually to remove plastic waste from drainage channels. The reports shows that only 40% of the estimated waste is collected and properly disposed off and the remaining 60% is left to disappear into the soil, lakes, rivers and forests. This puts at risk the wildlife such as fish and also harms the soil fertility in and around Lake Victoria basin.

What the tourism industry wants to be done about single-use plastics

In this regard, the tourism stakeholders in Uganda are calling the government to look at possible ways of stopping plastic waste from entering into the national parks. Tour operators and hoteliers are encouraged try to find substitutes to single-use plastics they use to pack food and beverages for their guests. This something achievable given that the accommodation facilities within the parks that still use straws, plastic forks, silver plates and can apply proper waste management ways to minimize litter. This might not work voluntarily but laws should be enforced to govern the use and storage of some single-use plastics across the tourism industry.

The Uganda Tourism Board quality assurance department has been enforcing laws regarding quality of services and legality amongst the tour operators, hoteliers and transport providers. The same could be done in regard to stopping the plastic objects from accessing the parks through collaboration with the Uganda Wildlife Authority and other stakeholders. The National Environmental Authority (NEMA) which is one of the stakeholders responsible for implementing the single use plastic ban is tasked with encouraging manufacturers to collect and recycle their waste, sensitize the public and monitor the areas that are prone to plastic pollution. The authority indicates that less than 5% of plastic waste is recycled thus calling for interested investors and artists to take advantage especially in Kampala which accounts for large volumes of plastic waste.

Despite all the proposed measure, the responsibility still lies in the hands of individuals. Locals and international visitors are encouraged to take care and avoid poor disposal of plastic waste.

Tips to reducing plastic items from accessing the parks in Uganda

• Properly dispose of your trash and use as little water and energy as possible. Don’t throw rubbish from the window of a car or drop a water bottle anywhere after using it.
• Buy locally made bags to use when shopping instead of taking plastics from the shop to your home.
• Pack light when traveling
• Choose responsible travel operators and accommodations when booking your safari

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwest Uganda has welcomed two more baby gorillas in the previous week. The first of the two births was reported by the Uganda Wildllife Authority (UWA) on May 13 while the second was announced four days later by the same Authority.

According to UWA, the first baby gorilla was born to adult female female Kebirungi of the Nshongi gorilla family in Rushaga sector while the second belonged to the Christmas gorilla family born by adult female Kiiza in the Nkuringo sector.

“Great News! We are excited to announce our newest mountain gorilla baby, born this week in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Adult female Kebirungi of the Nshongi gorilla family was first seen with her healthy newborn baby on 9th May 2022.” UWA tweeted.

“UWA’s field teams have since been trying to get the first images of the first baby, an effort that was concluded yesterday. This new gorilla brings the total number of individuals in the Nshongi family of Bwindi’s Rushaga sector from 12 to 13. We are so glad to also confirm that both Kebirungi and Bweza, the father, are in good health. Like the meaning in her name (“beautiful”), help us wish Kebirungi’s cute baby a ver long and beautiful life.” UWA added.

On the second birth, UWA wrote;

“It’s a mountain gorilla BABY BOOM in Uganda. Meet the newest member of the Christmas family in the Nkuringo sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.”

“Kiiza is a name given to a child who is born after twins. It is heartwarming to see her bring new life to earth, and is a testimony to the excellent work done by our teams, communities, and partners in conserving these iconic species. We wish them a long and healthy life.”

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Natioanal Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is Uganda’s major home to the endangered mountain gorillas. The Park protects almost half of the global population of these gentle and large primates with over 400 of them living within its boundaries. Bwindi is also the leading destination for Uganda gorilla tours with travellers coming from across the globe to trek these elusive species in their natural habitat. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Uganda’s second home of mountain gorillas and the park is also popularly known for protecting the endangered golden monkeys.

To trek gorillas in Bwindi or Mgahinga, each trekker is charged $700 for foreign non residents, $600 for foreign residents and UGX250,000 for East African citizens. Majority of tourists who visit Uganda combine their gorilla trekking safaris with other wildlife experiences like game viewing and primate tracking in large game reserves like Murchison Falls National Park in the northwest, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kibale Forest National Park in the west.

Dry seasons like June to September and December to February are the best seasons for travellers to trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi due to the favourable conditions in the park. Trekking through the thick vegetation and hiking the rugged montane terrain of the park is made much difficult in the rain season due to muddy and slippery conditions. Gorillas are also easily seen during the dry season since they freely move in all sectors of the park.

There is huge excitement at the Uganda-Rwanda border of Gatuna after it was reopened for travellers to cross into either country. The border had been partially reopened at the end of January but only cargo vehicles could be allowed to cross.

Travellers especially from Rwanda had got excited following the announcement of the first reopening but only to be told they could not cross to Uganda due to some diplomatic challenges that were still pending between the two neighbouring countries. However, last week the government of Rwanda announced that the border would be opened this week and all those wishing to travel to Uganda are free to move.

Covid-19 testing at the border

The government of Rwanda emphasised that passengers maybe subjected to random Covid-19 testing upon entry. In addition to this, the government also requires all passengers leaving the country to be fully vaccinated and this also applies to those want to access public places. Those attending events must present negative Covid-19 test results taken within 48 hours before the meeting.

A relief to tourists

Since the border was closed 3 years ago, it has been very difficult for tourists to cross into either country. There are many tourists who cross from Rwanda to Uganda especially those wishing to trek the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is located close to this border. This is basically because the distance from Kigali to Bwindi is shorter compared to that from Kampala and therefore tourists take less time to reach the park when coming from Rwanda. The reopening therefore presents a huge relief to both tourists and tour operators in both countries.

Revamping trade

The volume of trade between Rwanda and Uganda was really high before the closure of the border with the two countries exchanging goods including agricultural products, merchandise and labour. People living near the border from both countries were one of the most affected when trade was halted since it was so easy to do business across the border. The reopening is therefore warmly welcomed by the business community in both countries who are hoping to resume trade and try to compensate for the losses suffered during the closure.

Reconnecting families and friends

Rwanda and Uganda are indeed sister countries with many families having members either side of the border. This is due to historical factors like wars which forced many people to cross especially from Rwanda seeking safety. This included the Rwanda civil war of 1959 and the recent genocide of 1994 which saw millions of Rwandans fleeing into neighbouring countries including Uganda. Since then, many families had settled and multiplied in Uganda while some of their members decided to go back to Rwanda after the genocide had ended. These keep travelling to visit their relatives in either country though the closure of the border had brought such relations to a painful halt. With the reopening, such families are excited to visit their relatives once again and resume their normal relationships.

A positive sign towards normalising political ties

The decision by the government of Rwanda to reopen the Gatuna border with Uganda has brought back hope to the citizens of both countries that political tensions between the two governments are coming to an end. This was the major factor that had led to the closure of the with both governments accusing each other of several political grounds. Rwanda was accusing Uganda of arresting, detaining and torturing its citizens without trail while on the other hand Uganda accused Rwanda of espionage. However, early this year the two governments attempted to bring such tensions to an end with envoys from Uganda government including Lt.Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, a son to President Museveni meeting President Kagame in Kigali. The meetings appeared to have been fruitful when Kigali announced that the Gatuna border would be reopened following the discussions between the leaders.

Archbishop Janani Luwum was a renown human rights activist in addition to his liturgical duties before his mysterious death in 1977. As Uganda marks this day to remember him, the government is under mounting pressure to end torture and other forms of human rights violations that have become rampant in the country.

Who was Janani Luwum and why is he remembered?

Janani Jakaliya Luwum was born in Kitgum, northern Uganda in 1922. He attended Gulu High School and Boroboro Teacher Training college and taught and went on to teach at a primary. He went to Buwalasi Theological College in 1949 after converting to Christianity the previous year.

Luwum started his church services in 1950 when he was attached to St. Phillip’s church in Gulu. In 1953 he was ordained a deacon and then a priest the following year and went to serve in the Upper Nile Diocese of Uganda. He was later transferred to the Diocese of Mbale before being consecrated Bishop of the Diocese of northern Uganda in 1969. In 1974, Luwum was appointed Archbishop of the Metropolitan Province of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga in Zaire. He became the second African to occupy this position.

Arrest and death

On 16 February 1977, Luwum was arrested by authorities after he had issued a note of protest to then president Idi Amin against rampant human rights violations which included arbitrary killings and unexplained disappearances. He was arrested together with two cabinet ministers with whom he was accused of treason. When Idi Amin convened a rally in Kampala, the archbishop was accused of planning to stage a coup and being an agent of former president Milton Obote who had been exiled. After a few days, Luwun and his co-accused were pronounced dead. It was reported on national radio that the three died in an accident when the car transporting them for interrogation collided with another vehicle. The radio added that the accident had occurred when the victims tried to escape by overpowering the driver. However, it was alleged that Luwum was rather murdered after his body was released to his relatives with bullets.

Luwum’s legacy

Archbishop Luwum was survived by his wife Mary Lawinyo Luwum and nine children. He is recognised as a martyr by the Anglican Communion and his statue among the Twelve Century Martyrs at Westminster Abbey in London. He is also honoured on the liturgical calendars of different churches worldwide including England, Wales, Canada, Australia, USA, Brazil, New zealand and Polynesia.

Uganda’s bad human rights record continue

Despite the efforts undertaken by heroes like Janan Luwum to fight against human rights violations which eventually resulted into their death, Uganda continues to struggles overcome the vice. Human rights violation was listed as one of the factors that forced the NRA fighters under president Museveni to topple the previous regime but the vice has persisted through the years of his regime.

Several cases of human rights violations have continued to be reported and majority of these are committed by security personnel. Such cases include unexplained arrests and disappearances, gruesome torture and long periods of detention without trial. There is a limit on the freedom of speech and association where people have been arrested and detained for what they said or wrote and for gathering for different causes.

The most recent examples of such cases include the arrest, detention and torture of author Kakwenza Rukirabasaija who claims to have been severely tortured by security personnels for criticising president Museveni and his son Muhozi Kainerugaba. Another is Samuel Maseruka, the coordinator for the opposition party, National Unity Platform (NUP) in Kasesse who was also abducted and tortured for weeks. Opposition politicians have also continued to allege that many of their supporters and coordinators are still being detained in prisons without trial while others are missing with no whereabouts. They accuse the government of being behind all these violations though in order to sabotage and silence critics and the opposition and their support.

Opposition protest in parliament

Recently all opposition members of parliament declared a protest at parliament against continued human rights violations. They decided to abandon parliamentary sittings for two weeks while staging routine protest sittings at the entrance of the house as they demand action from government to give justice to those detained and end the torture.

Senegal beat Egypt 4-2 on penalties on Sunday to win the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in their history. The match finished goalless after extra time before Senegal went on to win on penalties with Liverpool star Sadio Mane scoring the decisive spot kick.

The Lions of Teranga finally won their first Afcon final at the third time of asking after previously losing to Cameroon and Algeria in 2002 and 2019 respectively. Sadio Mane had failed to give Senegal a lead after his penalty was saved by Egyptian impressive goalkeeper Gabaski 3 minutes into the game. However, the 29-year old was not to be denied again when he stepped up to take the decisive penalty which handed his country the trophy.

Mane was also voted player of the tournament while his teammate Edouard Mendy won the best goalkeeper award. Cameroon striker Vincent Aboubakar won the golden boot award after scoring 8 goals to top the chat.

Relief for Cisse

Senegal coach Aliou Cisse can finally celebrate after winning his first continental title both as player and coach after failing on several attempts. He was captain of Senegal when they the 2002 final to Cameroon with him missing a penalty during the shootout. In 2019 as a coach he also witnessed Senegal failing to lift the title after losing 1-0 to Algeria. However, his patience and perseverance has finally paid off with Sunday’s victory and he has become the first coach to win Senegal the continental title.

Mane-Salah final drama

The two Liverpool teammates went head-to-head against each other in this hotly contested encounter which was bound to end in joy for one and tears for the other. However, there was early unexpected Drama between the pair when Mohammed Salah appeared to reveal Mane’s penalty secrets to his goalkeeper Gabaski as the Senegalese prepared to take spot kick. After noticing, Mane quickly intervened and appeared to be forcing the goalkeeper back to his goal line something which seemed to upset Salah. Shockingly Gabaski went on to save Mane’s penalty which further proved that Salah had really told him the exact position Mane would put the ball. Salah was also involved in another confrontation with the referee who was seen gesturing to hand him his whistle and cards to officiate the match after several complaints from the Egyptian captain.

Salah’s search for Egypt success continues

It was another disappointing night for Mohammad Salah after seeing his second attempt to win silverware and a trophy for Egypt end in failure. He had hoped for success this time after losing the 2017 final to Cameroon but again it was not meant to be. However, the 29 year will not wait for so long to avenge this loss with Egypt playing Senegal again next month in a play-off for a spot in World Cup. The two sides were drawn against each other as one of the five fixtures which will contest in two-legged playoffs to determine the five teams that will represent Africa in this year’s World in Qatar which kicks off in November.

Hosts Cameroon finish third

Cameroon the hosts finished third following the their elimination by Egypt in Semifinals. They defeated Burkina Faso 5-3 on penalties to clinch the third position. Cameroon had to come from 3 goals down to draw 3-3 after extra time and force the game into penalties. Burkina Faso on the other hand settled for fourth after disappointingly surrendering their 3-goal lead.

Ivory Coast to host Afcon 2023

Ivory Coast were officially handed the flag as the hosts of the next tournament in 2023 during the closing ceremony in Olembe stadium. The Elephants endured a disappointing campaign after their impressive start to the tournament ended at Quarter Final after being eliminated by Egypt on penalties. The 2015 Africa champions will hope to make amends at home next year as the hosts and add to their trophy cabined a third title.

The Uganda-Rwanda border post of Katuna has been finally reopened after nearly 3 years of closure. The border was closed in February 2019 following tensions between the two East African neighbors.

Accusations between the two countries

Rwanda closed its side of the border after accusing Uganda of abducting its citizens as well as torturing them and detaining them without trial. The government in Kigali also accused its counterpart in Kampala of supporting rebel groups seeking to topple President Kagame’s regime.

Uganda on the other hand also accused Rwanda of spying on the Kampala government as well as killing its citizens during an incursion in Uganda’s territory in 2019. However, Kigali vehemently denied these allegations.

Fruitless negotiations

Following the closure of the border, negotiations between the countries started in order to resolve the misunderstandings but they were all futile. There were meetings between presidents Kagame of Rwanda and Museveni of Uganda which were chaired by other heads of state including Felix Tshekedi of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and João Lourenço of Angola but they all turned out fruitless as the closure continued.

A breakthrough finally

Following the visit to Kigali to meet President Kagame by Lt. Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, a son to President Museveni, Rwanda officially announced its plans to reopen the border. This was proceeded by another visit of a special envoy sent by President Museveni to meet Mr. Kagame in Kigali.

It is believed that it was during these crucial visits that major breakthroughs were reached which included Kampala accepting to fulfill demands from Kigali which was the major catalyst in convincing Rwandan to reopen the border.

After the meeting with Lt. Gen Muhoozi, the Ministry of foreign affairs of Rwanda released a statement which announced the intentions to reopen the border.

“Following the visit to Rwanda of Lt. Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations and Commander of Land Forces of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) on 22nd January 2022, the Government of Rwanda has taken note that there a process to solve issues raised by Rwanda, as well as commitments made by the Government of Uganda to address remaining obstacles,” read the statement in part.

“In this regard and in line with the communique of the 4th quadripartite summit held at Gatuna/Katuna on 21st February 2020, the Government of Rwanda wishes to inform the public that the Gatuna borer post between Rwanda and Uganda will be reopened from 31st January 2022.” continued the statement.

It is well documented that both Mr. Museveni and Mr. Kagame were very close friends and supported each other in the 1980s during the battles that brought them to power in their respective countries. However, as time went on, their relationship started to grow sour.

Rwanda Uganda Safaris

The reopening of Rwanda and Uganda border is one way of promoting tourism across the two countries.Apparently, Uganda from Rwanda gorilla tours are common due to the high prices of gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Travelers doing a 1 Day Uganda gorilla trek easily connect from Kigali to Bwindi or Mgahinga Gorilla parks to trek gorillas at a cheaper cost.

Today, the 24th of January 2022, Uganda has officially ended the nationwide lockdown which has been in place for almost two years, becoming one of the longest in the world.

All sectors of the country’s economy have been officially opened to operate at full capacity. Sectors like education, sports, entertainment and transport were the last to be reopened and their stakeholders are now fully engaged in business reopening mode.

Time to recover from lockdown setbacks

Ugandans have warmly welcomed the reopening of the economy with optimism that they will be able to recover from all setbacks which set in during the lockdown. Artists, bar owners, transporters, leisure and entertainment service providers and revellers are among the most excited about the reopening. These are planning to revamp their businesses and recover from all the financial setbacks encountered during the lockdown.

Revellers gearing up

Revellers across the country have been one of the most affected groups during the lockdown. In addition to suspending all entertainment activities during lockdown, they also face the wrath of security operatives especially the police. In the name of enforcing lockdown measures like curfew, many revellers were arrested, tortured, fined while others were charged and detained in police cells and prisons. The vile of corruption also set in as security operatives started asking for money from those arrested in order to pardon them and spare them from police charges. After going through all this painful, experience, revellers are now gearing up for the forthcoming entertainment events to congratulate themselves upon overcoming one of the most stressful spells in their lives.

A psychological relief

Among the many challenges brought in by the lockdown included psychological issues which has affected many people’s mental health. Several mental health related problems were reported across the country including cases of suicide domestic violence and drug abuse. Majority of the victims in such cases were reportedly heavily affected by the lockdown including losing jobs and income, death of partners, relatives and friends, collapse of businesses, among others. Following the reopening, people are now optimistic that such cases can be overcome with the resumption of relaxing and entertainment activities.

Revellers warned to observe Covid-19 control measures

As the country reopens and revellers excited to begin partying, the government through the Ministry of Health has called upon them to observe all the established measures to control the spread of Covid-19. Managers and owners of bars and other entertainment places have been encouraged to ensure that all the set measures are enforced at their premises.

This week schools in Uganda finally reopened officially after being closed for almost two years following the outbreak of Covid-19. Schools were closed in March 2020 after the country had confirmed a few cases of Covi-19 and the partial reopening last year lasted for just a month due to the surge in cases fuelled by the Delta variant.

In November 2021, during his national address, President Museveni announced that schools will be reopened at the beginning of this year. He added that this would be followed by the reopening of the remaining sectors of the economy including transport and performing arts.

Students to be promoted to the next class

The 2-year school closure means that students have lost two years without progressing academically. However, as part of the plans to reopen schools the Ministry of Education and Sports has taken that into account.

The Ministry has issued a few measures to guide the schools on the reopening including promoting each student to the next class in this new academic year. School administrators were also warned not to increase school fees but to maintain the amounts at previous rates in order not to overwhelm parents whose incomes have been heavily affected by the pandemic. The Ministry also called upon schools to strictly observe Covid-19 control measures at all times to avoid another surge of cases among students which may prompt another closure.

Schools reopen amidst tough challenges

Although schools have been finally reopened, there are a lot of challenges facing schools, parents as well as students themselves;

High number of dropouts

The Ministry of Education and Sports predicts that about 30% of students will not be able to return to school due to a number of challenges which set in during lockdown. These include girls who got pregnant and those who are gave birth and unable to return to school due to parenting responsibilities. On the other hand, many boys have opted to get involved in income-generating activities and have refused to return to school.

Some schools unable to reopen completely

On the side of schools, many of them are unable to reopen due to financial difficulties majorly. Many, especially those that were financed by loans from creditors have been taken over due to failure to pay while others simply don’t have enough funds to facilitate the reopening. Many private school owners have confessed they have run out of money to rehabilitate their facilities and to buy the necessary equipment for the smooth reopening.

Exodus of teachers

The long closure of schools which rendered teachers jobless has forced may of them to quit the profession in favour of other fields to get some income. Many of them have resorted to other economic activities like farming and trade while a good number has also gone to look for jobs abroad especially in the Middle East.

However, according to the Ministry, they have already found a solution to this problem by recruiting new teachers to fill the gaps left behind by those who have quit especially in government-aided schools.

Parents stuck with students at home

Although schools have been officially reopened, many parents are still stuck with their children at home due to luck of funds to take them back to school. These claim that they don’t have the initial funds required by the schools to readmit the students.

Many schools are asking parents to pay at least half of the school fees as they bring back their children to school in order to facilitate the smooth running of school activities. However, this has proved to be a big stumbling block to parents whose incomes were heavily hit by the pandemic. Consequently, many parents have decided to remain with their kids at least until they get the required funds to take them back to school.