Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

AIR UGANDA INTRODUCES INCENTIVES FOR TRAVELERS

AIR UGANDA INTRODUCES INCENTIVES FOR TRAVELERS
In an effort to stimulate travel demand and add competitive distance between themselves and other airlines flying the same routes, Air Uganda has now started rewarding their regular travelers by giving them a free ticket after purchasing 15 tickets previously. In addition, to boost their re-introduction of Zanzibar as a destination, they are offering, for a limited period of time, a free ticket for children under 12, one each per paying adult in fact. This is thought to assist in selling more holiday packages to the spice island, as it permits parents to take the kids on a vacation at largely reduced cost during these challenging economic times. Package holidays to Zanzibar are also available through the airline; for more information visit www.air-uganda.com.

UWA EXPLAINS PLANS FOR FORMER PARK HEADQUARTERS
Uganda Wildlife Authorityโ€™s executive director Moses Mapesa recently confirmed that the former park headquarter in Queen Elizabeth National Park, located near the Mweya Safari Lodge on the Mweya peninsula, was to be largely scrapped and the area returned to its former state of wilderness. This, he said, would in particular apply to the staff housing units, the workshops, and yards. Moses Mapesa also confirmed that discussions were ongoing with the owners of the Mweya concession (Marasa Limited) over the partial use of some of the better buildings, like the residences formerly used by researchers and senior staff, but that no final decision had been taken as yet. He also confirmed the possible option that a new concession could be introduced for the use of those buildings, should the board of directors of UWA so decide.

The overall good news, however, is that the park headquarters, while technically still on park land, is now near the main road at the Kazinga Channel bridge in Katunguru, providing substantially better working facilities for the staff and moving the hustle and bustle of the park administration to the very edge of the park, leaving the core park area free for conservation and tourism purposes. Well done.

FLY 540 TO EXPAND TO MORE COUNTRIES
Information received from usually well-informed sources within Fly 540โ€™s African operations head office in Nairobi, indicates that the airline is vigorously pursuing their ambitious expansion plans, which have apparently also been extended to Zimbabwe. For that market, domestic flights are planned, according to the source, and will cover Harare, Bulawayo, and Victoria Falls, before adding regional destinations like Lusaka, Lubumbashi, and Lilongwe, amongst others. A total of 9 African countries are expected to be on line by the end of 2010, including some in west Africa, where the major shareholders LonZim, formerly known as Lonrho, also have other economic interests.
In east Africa, the carrier now operates three separately licensed airlines in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania โ€“ ludicrous from the viewpoint that the east African countries are on the way to closer economic cooperation and yet fiefdom struggles amongst the national civil aviation authorities continues to make separate licensing processes mandatory at a very high cost to the afflicted airlines, while CAA chiefs continue to argue over how to preserve their individual patches. This had led to a stifling of not just greater integration and sharing of the scarce human and material resources amongst the regulators but had also been to the detriment of air travelers who are denied the services of airlines registered, supervised, and operating across the border, which could increase fair competition and make air travel broadly more affordable.

Fly 540 presently has two daily flights from Entebbe to Nairobi, in addition to the operation of regional freight services with a dedicated F27 cargo plane, which is able to carry up to 5.5 tons. The airline is using ATR aircraft, which have a cost advantage on the domestic and regional routes over jet aircraft, although their cruising altitude and speed is slightly below that of jets.

BRUSSELS AIRLINES CHANGES BAGGAGE CONCEPT IN UGANDA
Effective immediately, the Belgian flag carrier changed baggage configurations for passengers from Uganda. Economy-class travelers are permitted a maximum of two checked pieces of baggage, each weighing strictly a maximum of 23 KGs and measuring not more than 158 CM in circumference, while business-class travelers are permitted two pieces of checked baggage weighing up to 32 KGs each. No overweight checked luggage will be permitted. Passengers not meeting these guidelines will have to repack on site at the check-in, maybe even buy another suitcase at an airport shop (for astronomical prices), and then pay between 150-200 Euros in surcharges. Oversized pieces exceeding the limit of 158 CM will also attract a surcharge of 150 Euros. โ€œWeight watchersโ€ have finally arrived in Uganda, even if under the disguise of Brussels Airlines latest baggage containment measures, so travelers now stand warned. If traveling on other carriers, check current baggage regulations to be on the safe side and avoid substantial charges when checking in. It is understood that these measures will be effective for all of SNโ€™s African destinations, including Kigali, Bujumbura, and Nairobi in east Africa.

MADHVANI FOUNDATION INVITES ALUMNI
One of Ugandaโ€™s largest private charitable foundations has invited their alumni for a meeting at Hotel Africana this week to build a strong network of graduates who benefited from the educational programs and scholarships awarded to deserving students. A new Madhvani Alumni Students Association was, in fact, launched during the meeting to facilitate intensified post graduate relations between beneficiaries of the various programs, as well as support them further in their careers.

These now also include students in the tourism and hospitality sectors, which makes it of interest to this column, of course โ€“ always in pursuit of better facilities and opportunities for training, manpower development, and skills transfers. Visit www.madhvanifoundation.com for more details.

33 YEARS AGO โ€“ THE ENTEBBE RAID
Last weekend, coinciding with Americaโ€™s Independence Day, marked the 33rd anniversary of the successful Israeli raid on the old Entebbe Airport. On that day, Israeli elite commandos rescued the hostages held by a group of terrorists, who had hijacked an Air France flight and then kept them at gunpoint with the help of Idi Aminโ€™s goon squads. After freeing the hostages, except one who had been taken to hospital over a medical condition and who subsequently disappeared, the then Ugandan air force lay burning on the tarmac, the hostage takers were killed, and their Ugandan accomplices either scattered, were wounded, or had also died. Notably, the brother of the current Israeli Prime Minister, who was leading the raid at the time, became the only Israeli casualty, which makes Entebbe โ€“ besides these memories โ€“ also a place of remembrance for Benjamin Netanyahu. In todayโ€™s Uganda, these events are now only a distant memory, after the overthrow of Amin and subsequent defeat of the remaining dictatorial regimes by the NRA. Plans to make that area of the present Entebbe airport a proper memorial site and museum have, however, not yet born fruits.

KENYA AIRWAYS FIRST TO RE-CERTIFY
The new East African Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency, in short CASSOA, has started issuing certificates to various airlines, which had to undergo a fresh certification process, besides having to meet national certification requirements, of course. Kenya Airways is reportedly the first of the (mandatory) applicant carriers from the region to be so cleared, followed closely by their sister operation in Tanzania Precision Air, and reportedly Air Uganda, too, has met the criteria, although the airline has not formally confirmed the reports this column gathered from other sources.

GREAT WILDEBEEST MIGRATION IN PROGRESS
Kenyaโ€™s greatest wildlife spectacle is now unfolding as the first of over a million wildebeest are presently arriving from their long journey through the Serengeti at the Mara River, which they are now crossing in tens of thousands. Tourists are treated to one of the greatest spectacles of nature, as the animals first have to jump into the river before swimming across and climbing the escarpment on the other side, while all along avoiding the giant crocodiles lying in wait to ambush them. Leading tour operators in Kenya report good bookings for accommodation in the Masai Mara for the coming months, while the great herds make their way across the game reserve like a giant lawn mower, feeding relentlessly before returning to the Serengeti during the September/October period, making the long journey back to the low-grass plains near the foot of the Ngorongoro crater, where they then give birth in another miracle of nature. Having seen the migration many times before in both Serengeti and the Masai Mara, this correspondent encourages readers to come and visit Kenya at this time of the year, while taking advantage of the special deals on offer right now by airlines and safari operators. Karibuni Kenya, the Masai Mara is expecting you!

NEW FACE AT THE HELM OF KICC
A change has taken place at the top of the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC), which was headed for half a decade by Philip Kisia. Having turned around the fortunes of the formerly run down facility and having positioned KICC as a top pick for MICE business once again, Philip is now heading to the Nairobi City Council as town clerk, the top administrative position at City Hall. This column is wishing Philip all the best as he turns his boundless energy and attention to city affairs and welcomes Ms. Jennifer Opondo, who succeeds Philip as the new managing director of the KICC. Jennifer is, of course, no stranger to the industry after serving for quite a while at the Ministry of Tourism before embarking on a successful spell with KTB, rising eventually to the post of marketing director of the Kenya Tourist Board. She is, therefore, bringing a wealth of contacts with her to the new position. Visit www.kicc.co.ke or write for further information, including subscribing to the KICC news letter, at [email protected].

KENYA CONFIDENT H1N1 IMPACT TO BE MINIMAL
Sources at the heart of the Kenyan tourism industry have confirmed in turn what Ugandan tourism operators have been saying to this column: โ€œWe expect the impact of the H1N1 (swine flu) to be minimal; there are plenty of other reasons why people are presently a little cautious about traveling the world and coming to east Africa and that has to do with the economic and financial crisis fallout, not this flu pandemic.โ€ The person, who wished to remain unnamed, also added: โ€œNo country can shut out this flu unless we all stop to travel and move and stay at home. I remember Mexico tried to halt movements for a few days, and it was not possible. People have to shop and go to work, and children must go to school; there is no way around it. Just as long as we get enough medication for battling this flu type it should be ok. And if at all we in Kenya are victims of this flu being brought to us from abroad, it was not bred here or started in Africa.โ€

Comments attributed to the KTB chairman Jake Grieves Cook, in fact, point to a lack of sufficient airline seats into Kenya as a major constraining factor at present, indicating that the ongoing proactive marketing of Kenya in foreign markets is showing the intended results, a hint for airlines looking at introducing larger aircraft, adding frequencies, or commencing services into Kenya for the first time, that this is the moment to do it.

PRECISION AIR DOUBLES MWANZAโ€“NAIROBI FLIGHTS
Not soon after launching their flights between Mwanza, located on the shores of Lake Victoria and Nairobi, operating four flights per week, Precision Air announced that they will double that number shortly. Precision is Tanzaniaโ€™s premier airline, privately owned between Tanzanian citizen shareholders and Kenya Airways, and now operates the largest fleet of aircraft in the country. They were recently re-certified by CASSOA (see related column item) and are fully compliant with IATAโ€™s e-ticketing directives and its operational safety audits IOSA.

The added flights now give travelers daily options to fly to the eastern part of Tanzania and either do some fishing or enter the Grumeti sector of the Serengeti for their safari, avoiding an otherwise much longer journey via Arusha. In turn, the Mwanza business community can now fly to Nairobi for business on a daily basis, nonstop, compared to requiring connecting flights through Kilimanjaro International Airport.

TAZARA RAILWAY GETS BAIL OUT FROM CHINA
The Chinese-built railway between Dar es Salaam and Lusaka, known as TAZARA, was a gift from China to Africa when it was needed most to create a strategic link between the east African port of Dar es Salaam and the safe haven for the Southern African liberation movements with bases in Zambia. This link was able to provide a supply line for the freedom fighters of Angola, South Africa, and Mozambique, all of whom at the time could rely on the support of both Zambiaโ€™s and Tanzaniaโ€™s governments, with Tanzania, in fact, hosting a number of their training camps in a safe environment, as South Africaโ€™s racist regimeโ€™s secret operations could not reach that far.

Over the decades, however, the โ€œgiftโ€ was badly neglected by the recipient countries โ€“ Tanzania and Zambia โ€“ as the rail line deteriorated and rolling stock and locomotives aged, often beyond their economic lifespan. This caused major problems to keep the line up and running, and the company incurred growing losses over the years. Meanwhile, donor China has reportedly stepped in once more and will provide not just technical assistance but also a financial package of nearly US$40 million to recapitalize the railway company and upgrade the facilities.

RWANDAIR ADDS YET MORE FLIGHTS
Rwandaโ€™s national airline, flying until not too long ago only once a day between Kigali and Entebbe, has earlier this week confirmed that on weekends they are now flying three times a day between the two airports, using either their Bombardier Dash 8 or their CRJ200 regional jet, which has reduced flying time to just over 30 minutes.
It was also confirmed to this column that effective July 15, a 7:00 am flight between Kigali and Nairobi will be introduced, but only on heavy traffic days. Visit www.rwandair.com for more information on their destinations and schedules.

SOUTHERN SUDAN PARLIAMENT FORMALLY REJECTS CENSUS RESULTS
As was predictable, the parliament in Juba has now taken a formal decision to reject what has often been termed as manufactured or doctored census results, which the regime in Khartoum published against the wishes of the southern Sudan leadership. Khartoum intends to use the rigged results to define the new electoral constituencies and the number of seats each region of the Sudan would get for the elections in 2010. This, of course, is a deliberate method of pre-rigging elections by denying people equal voting rights and representations in the national parliament, a move which will further fuel the now overt demands from members of the public and the political elite in the South to vote for independence come the referendum in early 2011. Watch this space as the southern Sudan moves towards this referendum, which will determine if it is to remain part of a united Sudan, under which the birthrights of the southern population continue to be trampled by a militant regime in Khartoum or if the south eventually becomes independent and can join up with the rest of the east African community, whereby the opinion of many, is where they truly belong.

Meanwhile, the just-ended AU summit in Sirte, Libya forced a non-binding resolution down members throats when recommending that the Khartoum regime leader Bashir should not be arrested anywhere on the African continent, casting once again doubts on Africaโ€™s ability to decisively deal internally with crimes against humanity, war crimes, and associated ills. Some countries in Southern Africa, however, are said to be ready to carry out the ICC arrest warrant should Bashir dare to set foot on their soil, even after not openly opposing the AU resolution at the time, although in the aftermath of the summit wide-spread criticism was voiced around the world over the cavalier attitude of the AU towards alleged war criminals โ€“ not Africaโ€™s finest hour!

ANOTHER ANTONOV CRASHES IN SUDAN
Information was received earlier in the week that a UN chartered Antonov 28 cargo aircraft crash landed when the landing gear collapsed upon touchdown. While reports were sketchy, it was confirmed from two sources within the aviation fraternity in the Sudan, that apparently some of the crew got injured, although there were luckily no fatalities this time. Aircraft from the former Soviet Union have for long been a source of concern for the aviation sector in Africa in particular, as โ€“ owing to their cheap prices – Antonovs and Iljushins were widely used before growing fatal accident numbers compelled more and more civil aviation authorities to ban them from their skies.

OBAMA IN AFRICA THIS WEEKEND
Following his first visit to the continent a few weeks ago, when President Obama came to Egypt to address the Arab and Muslim world, this weekend will see him come to Africa proper when he arrives in Ghana. His keynote address is expected to deal largely with US relations in coming years with Africa, and the continent will be listening closely to the new goals and objectives of his administration. There is some disappointment in Kenya, of course, that Obama, whose late father was a Kenyan, would not go there first, but political differences with Kenya seem to have been the main cause of choosing Ghana over the east African nation. It is, however, expected that Kenya is on a future visiting schedule to the continent. Kenya is already benefiting in tourism terms from increased publicity and promotion of Obamaโ€™s roots, and US visitors are an important segment for arrivals to the country and, in fact, the entire region. So for now it is welcome to President Obama to the African continent proper before eventually telling him โ€œKaribu Kenyaโ€ when visiting our region.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

UGANDAN BUDGET READ AT KAMPALA SERENA CONFERENCE CENTRE

UGANDAN BUDGET READ AT KAMPALA SERENA CONFERENCE CENTRE
As demand for visitor and observer seats for the annual budget readings seems to grow every year, and with seats on the visitor gallery in the traditional parliamentary chamber rather limited, this yearโ€™s budget reading was held at the main auditorium of the Kampala Serena Conference Centre. There, the largest of several halls can seat in excess of 2,000 people.

The much-awaited budget in Uganda for the financial year 2009/2010 also brought smiles to the faces of the tourism stakeholders, as import taxes on dedicated tourist vehicles were scrapped and the sector was allocated up to 2 billion Uganda Shillings or about US$930,000 for marketing. While this sum is still considered by industry experts as too little, it is nevertheless an improvement compared to previous years and should help the Uganda Tourist Board to establish a better presence in the market place. The announcement, however, must be taken with a grain of salt, as in the past, allocated sums differed at times widely from the actual funds eventually transferred, so the real impact of this figure remains to be seen as UTB now tailors an action plan around the projected funds and has it cleared by the Ministry of Tourism, Trade, and Industry for implementation.

The main thrust of this yearโ€™s budget in Uganda were, once again, roads, education, health, and agriculture, which were allocated a staggering 49 percent of the overall projected expenditure in 2009/10 from a budget now totalling nearly 7.334 billion Uganda Shillings. This represents a 15 percent increase compared to last year, which considering the present inflation rate announced yesterday of 12.4 percent, indicates a progressive spending trend aimed at fighting the economic downturn. Growth last year still stood at 7 percent across the Ugandan economy in spite of the harsh global environment, which unfolded last year with record fuel prices and the onset of the global financial crisis.

In comparison, the Kenya budget went up by some 25 percent, the Tanzania budget went up by 31 percent, while Rwanda added some 24 percent in budgetary forecasts, well above inflationary trends and also aimed to offset the economic crisis unleashed upon them by the developed world through extra spending.

In Kenya, the tourism sector also managed to breathe a small sigh of relief when dedicated tourist vehicles โ€“ ordinarily 4 x 4s โ€“ were given import tax exemption, while the tourism marketing budget, following a last-ditch effort by KTB, KTF, and other industry stakeholders, was allocated a combined 1.2 billion Kenya Shillings for the tourist board, the Kenya Tourist Development Corporation, and additional one-off marketing activities in 2009/10. It is understood, however, that the private sector, together with the tourist board, will make representations to government to increase the KTB marketing budget in the coming months to at least partly match the massive spending presently underway by both Egypt and South Africa, which will next year, of course, host the FIFA World Cup, an event thought to benefit South Africaโ€™s tourism sector like no other event before. Comments seen from all tourism industry leaders were unanimous that greater funding is required to market the country and calls were renewed to commit a fixed percentage of tourismโ€™s earnings in coming years for marketing purposes if the ambitious projections for arrivals in the coming years are to be met.

Sadly, no data were immediately available from Burundi on their budgetary forecasts, but all efforts will be made to rectify this and to obtain data relevant to the tourism sector and the economy overall.

In a related development in Uganda, it was announced that the dreaded plastic bags would now all be banned by the end of the year 2009, allowing for existing stocks to be utilized until then. Previously, plastic bags were only banned below a certain strength, but their impact on the environment, as predicted way back in the 1990s, could no longer be ignored by government. It is expected that paper bags will have to replace the plastic ones or else one has to go shopping in the future with the traditional baskets and woven bags.

The ban also extends to liquids in plastic bottles, where in particular empty water bottles, are now littering the entire country. No information could be obtained at short notice, however, if water would be exempt or if the producers will have to switch to cartons or reusable glass bottles from 2010 onwards. It is appreciated that clean drinking water is hugely important but the rubbish heaps have been growing exponentially, and there seems no other solution in sight.

The importation of old computers and related equipment, often a disguise in the past to dump desolate goods in the country, was also prohibited with immediate effect, a move also applauded by industry experts, especially as new computers are now duty exempt and, therefore, not just more affordable but also protected by warranty and sure to have legal program contents.

Overall, the tenor of comments of the business fraternity across the eastern African region was a positive one, as there were no significant tax increases and the domestic markets were spared of unpredictable one-off measures aimed to increase revenue for government while hampering economic growth.

BRITISH AIRWAYS TO UP FLIGHTS TO FIVE A WEEK
After years of being in idle mode, BA announced that beginning in late 2009 they will add two more flights a week between London Heathrow and Entebbe, offering a total of 5 connections each week. Travelers have long asked the British airline to add more frequencies, but BA left the growth, until now, to other airlines like Emirates, KLM, Brussels Airlines, and Ethiopian, all of whom kept adding flights or changed to larger aircraft over the past years. BA is the only airline with nonstop connections to the UK, and while more costly for connecting Ugandans due to the added transit Visa cost, it is still popular with travelers. This column will report progress and confirm if indeed the airlineโ€™s plans will materialize. Keep watching this space for updates.

EGYPT AIR ANNOUNCES TERMINAL CHANGE IN CAIRO
The Egyptian national airline has, through their offices in Kampala, confirmed a change of location and terminal at Cairoโ€™s international airport. The airline is now operating out of the new Terminal 3, which is also the new home of all other Star Alliance partners flying in and out of Cairo. The airline expects improved service delivery in the handling of arrivals, departures, and connecting passengers, many of whom come or go to Entebbe in Uganda and to the other airports served in the eastern African region by regular scheduled flights operated by Egypt Air. It was also learned that Egypt Air was eying Lusaka and Douala as new destinations, with flights expected to commence later in the year.

FOREST RANGER KILLED BY LAND HUNGRY MOB
A forest ranger deployed at the Mt. Elgon National Park lost his life over the last weekend when a mob of agitated illegal squatters went on a rampage after they had their weapons confiscated by the park staff. Another ranger was seriously injured when he was hacked with a โ€œpanga,โ€ a common farming implement also used as a weapon by criminals. The park has a notorious history over illegal encroachment, often covertly supported by local politicians, in direct conflict with the existing laws covering the operation of the Uganda Wildlife Authority and in other places such as the National Forest Authority. Some 500 hectares of land are claimed by the lawbreakers, but the most recent redrawing of park boundaries shows the disputed area inside the national park, not outside. The locals involved in the fracas have a history of such murderous activities from as far back as 2002 when they killed rangers in cold blood to underscore their claims. Police and other security organizations are said to be hunting for those responsible, and this column expresses condolences to the family and friends of the deceased ranger.

ANOTHER RAMSAR SITE FOR UGANDA
The Rwenzori Mountain National Park, along the border with Congo DR, was very recently declared a Ramsar site, in view of its importance as a major water catchment area of key importance for the populations living nearby the mountain range and along the Albertine Graben. This is the twelfth such site in Uganda, a remarkable achievement and evidence towards an active conservation policy of government, although some sections of the conservation fraternity will probably dispute this statement due to ongoing inconsistencies in the implementation of such conservation policies and doubtful rulings by NEMA. The new Ramsar site covers nearly 100,000 hectares of area and reaches right up to the mountain tops. Well done Uganda.

MURCHISONS FERRIES GET NEW ENGINES
A source at the Uganda Wildlife Authority has recently confirmed that the main ferry crossing the river Nile at Paraa, Murchisons Falls National Park, has received two brand-new engines, donated by the European Union. This will be good news for users, as the reliability of the ferry crossings can now be improved and down times will be considerably reduced, permitting more crossings for tourists and transit traffic at convenient times.

KTB TO MARKET KENYA IN EASTERN EUROPE
A dedicated marketing blitz will unfold in Russia, Poland, and the Czech Republic next week in order to attract tourist visitors from these countries and establish the possibilities of having inclusive tour charters bring their nationals directly to the Kenya coast or even consider scheduled flights by their respective airlines to Nairobi. Kenyan Tourist Minister Najib Balala will lead the combined public-private sector delegation to underscore the importance of the mission.

KENYA AIRWAYS NOW ADDS MALABO TO NETWORK
An announcement was received earlier in the week that Kenya Airways will add a twice weekly flight from Nairobi to Malabo / Equatorial Guinea commencing first week of July. The ongoing network expansion to viable destinations across Africa is in line with KQโ€™s strategic plan to eventually cover all commercially important cities across the continent with either direct or nonstop flights from and to Nairobi. Well done KQ, truly the โ€˜Pride of Africaโ€™.

It was also learned that the Seychelles will get a third weekly flight from beginning of July this year, which will make Nairobi an ideal connection point for holidays between Eastern Africa and the island nation.

AIR PASSENGER NUMBERS IN AFRICA DROP BY 7 PERCENT
While below the global average drop experienced by airlines on all continents, the 7 percent figure recently published for the African continent is nevertheless alarming for airlines, as it eats deep into their passenger base and many marginal operations in the east African region and across Africa that are now under threat for financial survival. The big airlines on the continent, notably Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines in east Africa, South African Airways, Egypt Air, and upcoming Royal Air Maroc, seem slightly better off due to their presence in global alliances and their developed hub and spoke connections via their main home airports. In contrast, point-to-point airlines, often poorly capitalized and using aged aircraft, will need all the luck and blessings they can get to survive the present downturn. Demands by ICAO on bringing African aviation into the 21st century and uplifting the below-average safety performance of African airlines, is also thought to cost more money than some airlines have available, leading to a likely further reduction in operating and duly-licensed airlines.

It was also learned that a continent-wide aviation leadership forum will take place in Nairobi later in the year, aimed at further educating the sector and bringing the latest knowledge, skills, and information to the aviation fraternity across eastern Africa.

DELTA TO CUT INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
As the rumor mill is busy at work in Kenya, speculating over the real reasons behind the sudden cancellation of the intended Delta flights from Atlanta to Nairobi a couple of weeks ago, yet more bad news has emerged from Deltaโ€™s head office. The airline intends to make deep cuts in their international schedules in the coming weeks, reaching up to 20 percent in transatlantic traffic, 15 percent across their international network, and overall, including their domestic network, at least 10 percent of all present flights.
Earlier in the year, Delta had already indicated a cut of at least 10 percent across their international network, but this has now gone up significantly โ€“ also shedding new light on their recent decision to delay their Kenya flights still further, at the time blamed on obscure Department of Homeland Security advice.

The bad vibes in Kenya and the region were further fueled when news emerged that Delta was also intent on halting their service to Cape Town in South Africa. This added credibility to the rumors that the so-called advice from Homeland Security was welcomed news for them to stop the Kenya flights before they began, as the economic crisis at home, faced yet again with rising fuel costs, made Delta postpone this venture rather than running deeper into the red on their balance sheets. Watch this space for updates.

MOMBASA FERRIES CAUSE CHAOS AGAIN
Reports reached this correspondent from the Kenyan coast that two of the ferries connecting the Mombasa Island with the south coast, broke down again last weekend, once more causing chaos for departing and arriving tourist and the โ€œwananchi,โ€ a Kiswahili word for โ€œpeopleโ€ who had to miss work or shopping trips into the city. New ferries are being readied in Germany and are expected to arrive in Mombasa later in the year, but meanwhile the aged ferries presently in use keep breaking down ever so often. Reportedly, two smaller ferries, normally operating on a different route, were drafted into service at the main harbor channel crossing by Kenya Ferry Services management, but it proved too little too late as the traffic jam reached for miles on both sides of the channel.
In a commendable development, however, the ferry staff reportedly identified those in the queue who had to meet their flight departure times and apparently guided them on to the ferry, bypassing other less urgent traffic. This commendable situation was, however, also according to reports from Mombasa, met with howling protests of others sitting in the queues, in particular truck drivers. There were no reports this time of tourists actually missing flights, but the bottle-neck situation will remain a constant threat to regular traffic until the new ferries have been delivered to the company in Mombasa.

KENYA BUZZ OFFERS BUSINESS GUIDE
For anyone interested in investing in Kenya, the process has been made easier for newcomers. Kenya Buzz, the countryโ€™s premier e-guide for events, has published a handbook on how to go about setting up a business without running into too much red tape or missing crucial steps along the way. The handbook costs 500 Kenya Shillings. For inquiries from outside Kenya, write to [email protected] or visit their website www.kenyabuzz.com.

KARIBU TRADE FAIR ENDS ON POSITIVE NOTE
East Africaโ€™s main international tourism trade fair, the Karibu Tourism Trade Show in Arusha, closed its doors last week after several successful but reportedly hectic days for exhibitors and visitors. One-hundred-eight delegates at the trade forum came from 18 countries across Africa, Europe, and North America, and also from India and Pakistan. The trade show proper attracted 252 exhibitors, taking up all the available spaces, while leaving others who booked late out in the cold. By the time of closing, it was already recommended that interested parties book spaces very early for next year, when the demand is expected to be up again and when also more space will be availed to cater for growth.

Detailed reports on the trade fair and its participants are available from the organizers, and interested parties can write to [email protected] to be mailed the respective information.

ARUSHAโ€™S MOUNT MERU HOTEL DUE FOR UPGRADE
Once the leading hotel in Arusha, the Mt. Meru Hotel, formerly managed under the French-owned Novotel brand, has gone into decline, compared with the newly-built or more recently refurbished and upgraded rival properties. This anomaly will, however, be corrected as the present owners have signed a US$24 million loan agreement with regional and domestic financial institutions. The funds will be used to completely refurbish and modernize the hotel, which has reportedly been closed for a while now awaiting the commencement of construction. Work should begin in earnest in the very near future and is expected to be finished by the end of 2010. At that stage, the hotel is expected to once again offer 4-star standards across their 200 suites and rooms and will offer enhanced meeting, recreational, and restaurant facilities.

FLY 540 TANZANIA TO OFFER FLIGHTS TO THE SERENGETI
News has been received that the Tanzanian operation of the regional low-cost, high-value carrier Fly540 will commence scheduled daily flights in a few weeks from Kilimanjaro International Airport, near Arusha, to the heart of the Serengeti. It was learned that the airline will use a Cessna Grand Caravan, a very reliable single-engine aircraft able to carry up to 13 passengers. As Fly540 also flies daily from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro, the onward connection into one of the worldโ€™s best-known national parks will undoubtedly add value for passengers.

GRUMETI GETS CONSERVATION INSTITUTE
A private institute was opened earlier in the week in the Grumeti reserve, after completing construction and equipping the school. The new facility will cater to post-secondary school students wishing to undertake courses in environmental topics, which will bring the entire issue of conservation and best environmental practices nearer to the communities living around major national parks and game reserves. It was learned that the courses and course content have all been sanctioned by the relevant governmental bodies, and studies are due to commence soon, once student intake has been completed.

RAILWAY FROM DAR TO RWANDA CLEARED BY THE DONOR COMMUNITY
The proposed railway link from the inland dry port of Isaka to Kigali, and eventually on to Burundi and possibly the eastern Congo, has received the apparent blessing of the combined donor community, which will support the US$3.5 billion project with grants and soft loans. It is expected that the World Bank and the African Development Bank will be major sources of funding, although the private sector, too, is anticipated to help finance this major infrastructure project, which aims to cut transport cost for imports and exports for central eastern Africa. Presently, both Rwanda and Burundi depend on road transport, and a rail link would inject a completely new perspective into these economies. Tapping into the eastern Congolese market would add yet more scope to the project and make it even more viable.

Meanwhile, discussions continue to link the Ugandan rail network into the southern Sudan, while on a wider regional basis, plans are also being studied to establish the feasibility of a new route from Kenya to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. The latter country, in particular, presently relies heavily on imports and exports via Djibouti by road, since relations with Eritrea โ€“ now in possession of the sea harbors since attaining independence from Ethiopia โ€“ have since soured. A link with Kenya would, therefore, be of strategic value besides offering another safe route for imports, exports, and passenger transportation. Watch this space for updates.

RWANDA TO TAKE CHARGE OF UPPER AIRSPACE
In a recent development, it was revealed that, following the installation of state-of-the-art monitoring equipment, the Rwandan authorities are set to take back control of their upper airspace, which was hitherto controlled and administered by neighboring Tanzania under a government-to-government agreement. The new facility extends some 300 nautical miles around Rwanda and is considered sufficient to serve the purpose. The development also means that Rwanda can begin to control and collect their own revenue from aircraft over-flying their airspace, as is provided for under international conventions. Previously, Rwanda only had direct control of aircraft movement under 24,000 feet โ€“ or light level 240 โ€“ while the airspace above was controlled by Tanzanian authorities. It is also understood that Burundiโ€™s air traffic control is working under the same arrangements, whereby Tanzania is looking after the upper airspace.

RWANDAN BORDERS TO OPEN 24/7
While the border posts between Uganda and Rwanda have now been operating for a while around the clock, to the benefit of travelers and trade, news was received earlier in the week that the countryโ€™s borders with Burundi and the eastern Congo will also move towards an around the clock regime beginning in September of this year. For a long time, restrictive border-post opening times hampered free travel and movement of cargo across eastern Africa, but at last this now seems to be coming to an end for the benefit of all.

NEW BOOK ON RWANDAN FLORA LAUNCHED
Last weekend saw the launch of the latest book in Kigali on Rwandan botany titled โ€œLes Plantes Ligneuses du Rwanda,โ€ describing details of over 800 โ€œwoodyโ€ species. Author U. Bloesch recommended the new book, during the launch, for researchers, as well as for visitors to the country to make use of it as it features the widest available descriptions of the flora of the country. Adds this correspondent: seen the book while in Kigali, and it represents excellent value as a nature guide.

BURUNDI TOURIST BOARD ATTENDS AABF MEETING IN KAMPALA
A small delegation from Burundi attended the Kampala Africaโ€“Asia Business Forum earlier in the week, where they also presented new printed material and contact details to the tourism trade from across the region, the wider continent, and the Asian participants. They are now available for answers in the English language, rather than previously only in French, with immediate effect via their main email: [email protected] or by phone via +257 22 224208.

SOUTH SUDAN TO BENEFIT FROM NEW BASA WITH THE UAE
A new and open bilateral air services agreement (BASA) was signed last weekend in Khartoum between the Republic of the Sudan and the United Arab Emirates governing air traffic between the two countries. It is understood that besides the respective Civil Aviation Authorities and governmental representatives, UAE airlines โ€“ like Emirates, Etihad, and Air Arabia โ€“ were represented at the talks. This will make travel in the future easier as capacity restrictions will no longer apply on air traffic between the two countries for either passengers or cargo. Several flights a day presently operate between Juba and Khartoum, making connections to and from the Gulf easier for travelers. However, it must be pointed out that in general, southern Sudanese travelers seem to prefer connecting via Entebbe, Nairobi, or Addis Ababa rather than flying via Khartoum, which many in the south continue to perceive as unfriendly to them.

SUDAN PERMITS AID GROUPS BACK
Care and Save the Children, two globally-renowned aid organizations, were permitted last weekend by the regime in Khartoum to return to the country and begin work again in Darfur from where they were expelled in March this year as an angry reaction to the ICC issuing an arrest warrant for regime leader Bashir. It is also understood that some other aid groups have been allowed back into the Sudan albeit under slightly-changed names, arguably to save face for the regime, which incidentally reacted again with predictable anger and outright denials when this news broke in the global media.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

UGANDAโ€™S FORESTS MAY BE GONE BY 2052

UGANDAโ€™S FORESTS MAY BE GONE BY 2052
Considering the depletion of forests across eastern Africa, and in particular in Uganda, a gloomy picture was painted in the local media last week while commemorating world environment day. Going by the facts, Uganda seems to have suffered of a reduction of forest cover across the country by 80 percent over the past one hundred and twenty or so years, while between 1988 and 2009 a reduction by nearly 50 percent occurred. The present forest cover stands at slightly over 3.2 million hectares, according to recently-published statistics. However, the impact of the reduction of forests is now being widely felt, as many rivers and streams have started drying up outside the rainy season, and flooding, including flash floods, was on the increase in recent years. This is attributed to the soilโ€™s inability to absorb large quantities of rain after being stripped of trees.

Tree planting and reforestation, including commercial plantations, is an expressed governmental policy in Uganda, but there are lingering doubts about the intensity of the commitment and the enforcement against encroachment and illegal logging. The Uganda Wildlife Authority and the National Forest Authority are both faced with having to counter attempts of ever-growing groups of people to settle inside forests under their jurisdiction and off the record often complain that political interference makes their tasks more difficult, especially in parks like Mt. Elgon, amongst others.

As less than 10 percent of Ugandan households have access to electricity, the use of charcoal is widespread, even in the urban centers, contributing heavily to deforestation. Delayed hydro-electric plants in Uganda, producing more affordable electricity, are thought to be one of the root causes for the alarming rate at which forests are encroached and destroyed as the expansion of the national electricity grid and bringing affordable power to the rural populations now lags behind the projected and politically-demanded growth rates. If no serious action is taken by government to arrest and reverse the trends, gloomy forecasts predict that by 2052, no forests at all will remain โ€“ a catastrophic development, if found to be true.

Notably, though, neighboring Rwanda has made remarkable strides towards reforestation, as forests there over the past 15 years have increased by half โ€“ a most commendable effort by this small and hilly eastern central African country.

UWA DISTRIBUTES 100 MILLION SHILLINGS
The revenue share from gate receipts of Kibale National Park, due to the surrounding communities, is estimated to have reached 100 million Uganda Shillings, which UWA is now distributing to nearly 30 parishes bordering the park. Revenue sharing is enshrined in the UWA statute and is a major source of community development around and near the countryโ€™s national parks. Well done UWA.

KAMPALA HOSTING ASIA โ€“ AFRICA BUSINESS FORUM
The Speke Resort and Conference Centre at Munyonyo, near this correspondentโ€™s residence, will be the venue for this prestigious meeting, which brings together potential investors and the business community from Asia and Africa. Set to take place between June 15-17, the high-profile meeting is expected to be formally opened by none other than President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni with the โ€œwhoโ€™s whoโ€ of Ugandaโ€™s business community and relevant government offices expected to be in attendance. Tourism investment opportunities in Uganda are reportedly also high on the agenda, aimed at attracting more funding and cooperation in the industry.

SHERATON NOW TARGETS WEDDINGS
Set in some of the finest gardens in Kampala, the Sheraton Kampala Hotel has long attracted newlywed couples to take wedding and group pictures within the well-manicured grounds. The hotel has now specifically targeted mid-week wedding functions and is offering a substantial 15 percent discount for parties between Monday and Thursday, days normally less popular compared with Friday and Saturday dates. In addition, the hotel is offering a 10 percent discount for wedding parties in 2010, as long as an early booking has been made before the end of 2009 and the required deposit been paid. This applies to functions within the hotel, as well as outside catering provided by the Sheraton. Anyone intending to tie the knot, should visit www.sheraton.com/kampala for more information.

ITโ€™S BUDGET DAY IN EAST AFRICA
True to commitments made under the auspices of the East African Community, the five member states read their annual budgets on June 11, just after this column went into print. The tourism sectors in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania are not exactly holding their combined breaths, as the facilitation for tourism marketing is expected to be far below the sectorโ€™s needs and expectations. While this is a matter of bad habits in Uganda, where the government has rarely lived up to the commitments made verbally to the sector, in Kenya the issue has raised the proverbial temperature in the political arena between private sector and government, when plans emerged most recently to reduce the budget, compared to the previous financial year, by up to 70 percent. In Kenya, however, KTF made concerted and very public efforts to bring their arguments into the public domain, while in other countries the respective industry voices were rather hushed and/or invisible.

In contrast, Rwanda seems the exception in the region as governmental assurances that tourism is indeed a priority sector have, in past years, regularly been followed by adequate budget allocation, lifting the tourism industry rapidly to the near top of the economic performance in the country. In spite of the present global economic crisis, therefore, Rwanda is expecting yet better figures and performances in 2009, arguably at the expense of those other regional countries cutting down in marketing instead of increasing spending and activities.

HOUSTON MARKETING TOURS EASTERN AFRICA
Derek Houston recently visited Kampala, in addition to other east African centers, to update local tourism stakeholders on upcoming trade shows, tourism marketing events, and, of course, the need to participate and take advantage of such opportunities and keep the destination visible in the global marketplace in the midst of a global recession and hard selling by many competing destinations. Particular emphasis during the presentations was paid to MICE business development opportunities. Visit www.houstonmarketing.com for more information.

KENYA BAGS IMEX AWARD
The exhibition manager of the Kenya Tourist Board received global recognition on behalf of KTB when at the recently-concluded IMEX tourism trade fair in Frankfurt, Germany he was handed the prestigious IMEX Academy Award for serving Kenyaโ€™s interests well in promoting meetings and exhibitions. The MICE market is now of major importance in Kenyaโ€™s effort to achieve economic recovery by promoting MICE tourism activities. Congratulations for this achievement to KTB for its second major award in as many months, having recently been crowned Best Tourist Board in Africa by the Good Safari Guide at a ceremony in Durban, South Africa.

MOMBASA AND COAST TOURIST ASSOCIATION GETS NEW BOARD
A new board was elected during the recent annual general meeting of the Kenya coastโ€™s tourism private sector body. Capt. Johnny Cleave is the new chairman of MCTA, assisted by such deputies as Khalid Shapi and Mohamed Harunani, all well known to this correspondent from his days at the Kenyan coast. During the AGM, a change was introduced, when a board trustee was chosen for the first time. Long-serving (now) immediate past chairman Kuldip Sondhi retired during the AGM after heading the MCTA for 8 years and was reportedly given a standing ovation by those present and an award from the Kenyan Minister of Tourism for his achievements and efforts for the tourism industry. This column joins the applause for Kuldip Sondhi for a job well done during some of the most trying years for Kenya tourism after 9/11 and the notorious year 2004/5 and wishes him well in his future endeavours. Asante Sana Bwana.

DELTA AIRLINES WINS COURT RULING
Having gone to court over the alleged infringement of their name rights, the Court of Appeals in Nairobi has now ruled on an interim order that local Delta Connection, formed several years ago (in 2004) when the American Delta Airlines were hardly known in east Africa, must give up the use of the name and find another title. In fact, during the week, the airline re-branded at reportedly substantial cost and launched their new name, D Connection, which will likely again be rubbing the nose of the mightier non-starter Delta Airlines while complying with the court order. Some sources in Nairobi mentioned that amongst the clients of the airline the old name will not die out soon anyway. D Connection flies daily between Nairobi and South Sudanโ€™s capital city of Juba.

The main appeal still remains to be heard, but meanwhile, the airline has moved promptly to strike out Delta from all their stationary, public images, and their regulatory documentation and replace it with a single โ€œD.โ€ In spite of this win in court, Delta Airlines of the United States remains absent from the east African skies after their planned inaugural flight was cancelled last week with hardly enough notice to stop dignitaries from driving to the airport for the welcoming ceremony.

RIVERTREES OPEN AGAIN
Following the annual spring cleaning and work during the low season, Rivertrees, one of Arushaโ€™s premier safari inns located at the Usa River between the international airport and Arusha proper, is now open again for visitors. Visit www.rivertrees.com or write to [email protected] for bookings and related information.

OBAMAโ€™S CAIRO SPEECH HAILED AS GROUND BREAKING
President Obamaโ€™s first visit to the African continent last week had many east Africans glued to their television sets to see and hear the speech โ€œlive.โ€ Indeed, the regional newspapers were full of letters to the editors commenting on and praising the Obama address, which was aimed to engage the US with the Muslim communities and countries around the world but notably also in Africa. Adds this column that the excellent words now need following up with equally excellent action.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

NATIONAL BIRD WATCHING DAY A SUCCESS

NATIONAL BIRD WATCHING DAY A SUCCESS
Fleeing the madhouse in the city caused by the final stage of the Orange Telecom launch, this correspondent enjoyed a more peaceful environment in a forest not too far from Kampala, joining a small but very dedicated group of birders in search of less common or even new birds.

Having chosen to stay away from the main event at the Mabira Forest also proved to be the right decision, as there were no speeches and no โ€œofficialdom,โ€ โ€“ just pure unadulterated joy to search for birds in a pristine forest environment. Instead of having to listen, wanted or not, to blaring music and endure hyped-up crowds during the usual Saturday shopping trip to the city, it was wind rustling the leaves of the trees, bird song, and other natural sounds one can expect in a tropical forest. The results of the national bird-watching day will be released by the organizations involved in the event once all the sighting records have been compiled.

Special recognition, meanwhile, goes to the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the National Forest Authority for granting free entrance to the parks and forests managed by them for the day to encourage larger numbers of visitors for the event and take an interest in bird watching. Uganda is home to about 1,040 species of recorded resident and migratory birds and can boast to be a leading destination for ornithologists from around the world.

MIDSUMMER NIGHT AT THE LAGOON RESORT
The German-based owners of the Lagoon Resort, also described as the โ€œclosest get-away from Kampalaโ€ in Lake Victoria, have opened pre-bookings for June 20-21, when in northern Europe, celebrations traditionally take place to make best use of the longest day and the shortest night of the year. Beyond the Arctic Circle, in fact, the sun does not set that night, but here in eastern Africa, day and night remains relatively constant with only minor variations during the year.

The invitation is aimed at the diplomatic corps and the expatriate community in Kampala used to the concept of partying the short night away. Participation, including safe parking near Munyonyo, boat transport, and a massive buffet, will set revelers back some 60,000 Uganda Shillings or less than US$30 or 20 Euros. Visit www.ug-lagoonresort.com for more details or write to them via [email protected] for bookings and accommodation rates.

ORANGE PAINTS TOWN IN ORANGE
The latest and fifth addition to the mobile networks in Uganda held a street carnival last weekend, concluding its official launch activities. Numerous floats were paraded through large parts of the city before ending up at the Lugogo Cricket Ground for the evening activities and concert. Subsequently, the town was literally painted in their trademark color, and the crowning event was a late evening concert featuring Shaggy, to the delight of the crowds. Orange is a brand of France Telecom and is now available in both Kenya and Uganda.

EMIRATES EXTENDS SPECIAL FARES UNTIL END OF JUNE
The award-winning, Dubai-based airline recently announced that their special fares, mentioned in this column some weeks ago, will remain in place until June 27, when the expected high season starts again. Travel from Entebbe to New York, for instance, will cost US$1,250 plus, of course, an array of regulatory charges imposed by regulators and airports, while flights to India and the far and southeast of Asia are also on offer. Visit www.emirates.com/ug for more details on destinations and available fares, terms, and conditions.

SIMBA TRAVELCARE OFFERS KLM ALL-INCLUSIVE FARES
Unlike most other agents in Kampala, who try to catch a potential travelerโ€™s eye with lower, non-inclusive fares and then load fuel surcharges and regulatory fees on to it once they have their hooks in the client, Simba Travelcare again showed their competitors that honest advertising pays off. They recently advertised excellent fares on KLM to European and North American destinations, inclusive of all the nasty add-ons. The agency also put special packages to South Africa on the market for the famous Blue Train, again inclusive of all the add-on charges, prompting this column to give this agency special recognition for advertising standards now common in Europe but sadly not in our part of the world yet.

AND FULL MOUTHED IT CONTINUES
The Aya Group, known best for their regular public statement acrobatics over the planned Hilton hotel development, felt compelled during the week to hit the public with a full-page, four-color advertisement on the groupโ€™s activities, appropriately titled, โ€œKeeping the Promise โ€“ Delivering on Development.โ€ Looking back, however, over the past years and missed deadlines in regard of the hotel construction and completion dates, they are certainly not shy to re-write history. Watch this space for updates.

SKAL KAMPALA CELEBRATES QUIZ NIGHT
The Centenary BBQ Lounge at the lower Centenary Park was the venue for this monthโ€™s Skal Kampala meeting, again filling the venue to capacity. The clubโ€™s executive promoted the forthcoming annual congress, to be held in Budapest, Hungary later in the year, and Brussels Airlines got a round of applause for offering reduced fare tickets to Skalleagues (AD 75) and spouses (AD 50). Member Marinka Sanc George, a native of Hungary but long-time resident in Uganda, made a passionate appeal to visit her old country and participate in a pre- and post-congress tour put together by her. Skal President Rahul Sood arrived directly from the airport, having only returned from his annual leave shortly prior, a sign of the commitment and drive the new club executive professes towards the club. This correspondentโ€™s table, which also included past president James Rattos of the Sheraton Kampala Hotel and the Austrian Honorary Consul, amongst others, won the top prize for scoring the highest number of correct answers, with each of the winners walking off with a fabulous prize sponsored by the local branch of South Africaโ€™s retail giant Game.

Next monthโ€™s fellowship will take place at Hotel International on June 24, starting at 7:00 pm.

FLY540 CONFIRMS ANGOLA EXPANSION
A Fly540 airline source in Nairobi has recently confirmed that the carrier has finally obtained an air services license in Angola, which has been pending for some time. The company is presently working towards obtaining their Angolan AOC before commencing domestic passenger flights with initially two ATRs. Once their operation has been fully established, a further two ATRs are due to be delivered to Angola to expand routes to both domestic and regional destinations. Fly540 is part owned (49 percent) by Lonrho Africa, a multinational conglomerate with trading, mining, industrial, and agricultural interests across the African continent.

Angola, like some other African countries, has been plagued by poor air safety records, and the arrival of a quality airline will undoubtedly help improve on those statistics and permit safe air travel with modern turboprop aircraft โ€“ not in scary, stone-age aircraft built in the former Soviet Union, which have cost so many lives across the entire continent in recent years, mostly due to lack of competent maintenance and poor training.

SAFARIWIRE NOW โ€œLIVEโ€
As briefly mentioned in the last column, this informative web site about tourism, aviation, hospitality, and a wide range of related issues, is now active under www.safariwire.com. Items from this column will also be featured there on a regular basis, aimed to promote visits to Kenya and the eastern African region, while broadcasting positive news.

KENYA BUZZ NOW ALSO IN PRINT
The Kenyan social news and events website and news broadcast has gone a step further and is, effective immediately, offering a print version โ€“ including advertising โ€“ for their growing readership. A weekly print run of 20,000 copies will be available initially and is free for readers and distributed at key vantage points. Visit them at www.kenyabuzz.com for more information of what is happening in Kenya from the coast via Nairobi to upcountry. Congratulations to them on this ambitious step forward and best of success.

KENYA SEEKS NEW TOURIST BOARD CEO
The Kenyan government has advertised for applications to fill the vacant position of chief executive officer of the Kenya Tourist Board, following the premature departure of Dr. Achieng Ongonga late last year. He is now in court, facing corruption and fraud charges, together with an erstwhile board member and another alleged accomplice in the scheme, the former Ministry of Tourism permanent secretary Rebecca Nabutola. This column has substantially reported on these past events. The adverts were published yesterday, and applications were invited from qualified Kenyans. The board of directors of KTB is headed by Jake Grieves Cook of Gamewatchers and Porini Safari Camps. No decision is expected before a full vetting of applications has taken place and short-listed candidates have been extensively interviewed, to avoid a repeat of Dr. Achiengโ€™s antics while holding the trusted position.

FLY540 READY FOR TANZANIA FLIGHTS
Word from a reliable source has it that Fly540 Tanzaniaโ€™s operation is about to take off, with the first flight between Dar es Salaam and Nairobi due for July 1. The airline will use their traditional ATR turboprop aircraft for the service, a proven performer on the short and medium distances in the region, and only marginally slower in their point-to-point speed compared to the jets commonly used – in particular, the boarding and deplaning is faster and more convenient for passengers and requires no stairs.

The pre-launch activities also include a full-scale presence at the Karibu Travel Fair in Arusha in early June, promoting the flights between Nairobi, Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro and โ€“ soon afterwards โ€“ Dar es Salaam.

Meanwhile, it was also learned that Fly540 Kenya will begin flights from Nairobi to Lodwar in Northern Kenya and, coinciding with the maiden flight, will come with some famine and medical relief donations, which undoubtedly will be much appreciated by the population in the draught-stricken area. A total of 9 free cargo flights on the airlineโ€™s Fokker 27F will be operated to permit the Kenyan Red Cross to deliver much-needed supplies to the area. The daily passenger flights will route from Nairobi via the western Kenyan municipality of Kitale at the foot of Mt. Elgon to Lodwar and then back to Nairobi.

RENOWNED WILDLIFE AUTHOR AND PHOTOGRAPHER DIES
Swiss born photographer and writer David Pluth passed away last weekend at the Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda, while on assignment in the country. David has been a long-time friend and supporter of this central eastern African nation, where in 2003, he produced the first ever national tourism brochure for Rwanda. He was also connected to the National Geographic Society and had his photographs published in several books. His friends in Rwanda and around the world were left stunned by the sad news, and this column expresses sincere condolences to the late Davidโ€™s family and friends.

TED TURNER TRACKS IN RWANDA
Former media mogul and philanthropist โ€“ he gave US$1 billion to a UN Foundation โ€“ Ted Turner last week did a remarkable โ€œtripleโ€ when tracking two different gorilla groups on two subsequent days in the Parc de Virunga before then tracking the Golden Monkey. Turner was on a high-profile, 5-day mission to Rwanda, where the Diane Fossey Gorilla Fund is also a beneficiary of his donations. Before leaving the country, Ted Turner also met with President Paul Kagame in Kigali.

KWITA IZINA NOW REACHES INTO THE REGION
The Rwanda Office for Tourism and National Parks, now part of the Rwanda Development Board, has commenced marketing the Kwita Izina in the wider region, remarkably kicking off the campaign with a full-page color advert in the โ€œEast African,โ€ the EACโ€™s leading business and political weekly newspaper. This marks the start of a period of increased PR activity and sensitizing the regional tourism and conservation bodies on the work done in Rwanda to protect the endangered mountain gorilla, while ensuring that the prized animals pay for their keep through carefully-managed habituation programs and income generated through tracking.

Meanwhile, Ugandan sources have continued to moan over not having habituated enough gorilla groups yet, thus yielding revenue to neighboring countries, a thinly-concealed reference, of course, to Rwandaโ€™s success story. This is indeed a challenge for the Uganda Wildlife Authority to ensure that gorilla groups not yet used for tracking can be gradually habituated to allow for regular rest periods of groups. It also adds numbers as, even in these economically-challenging times, gorilla tracking remains a tourism activity much in demand by the global market place.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

KENYA MAY GET NORTHERN WHITE RHINOS FOR BREEDING

KENYA MAY GET NORTHERN WHITE RHINOS FOR BREEDING
The last population of freely-roaming northern white rhinos was wiped out not too long ago, when the arrogance cum incompetence of the Kinshasa regimeโ€™s minister in charge, brought a relocation to a safe area in Kenya to a halt, all but condemning the rarest of rhino species to extinction in their last wilderness. Their habitat at the Garamba National Park was at the time, and still continues to be, a hiding ground for rebels and terror groups, which Kinshasa tolerated there for a long time, before half-heartedly joining a combined military exercise with the southern Sudan, Uganda and โ€“ another reluctant party โ€“ the UNโ€™s MONUC forces. While in Garamba, the rebels poached elephant and other game to sell the trophies and fill their pockets with cash, and the dozen or so northern white rhinos also fell victim to their disregard for both human and animal lives.

Kenya is now being considered to receive a population of the northern white from the Czech Republic, where several are said to be kept in zoos, with the hope of starting a breeding program, which could eventually lead to more viable numbers than just those remaining 6 or 7 presently still in Europe. Watch this space for further news on progress of this project.

ROAD UPGRADE OPENS OPPORTUNITIES
The much-awaited upgrade and repair of the link road between Katunguru and Ishasha in the Queen Elizabeth National Park has brought sighs of relief to safari operators and private visitors wishing to explore the southern sector of the park. Previously difficult to negotiate due to large sections of the treacherous black cotton soil, the road posed many problems for visitors, and after rains, it often became impassable for days, at times even weeks, when a lorry would be stuck deep in the mud. The road is โ€“ besides leading through the park โ€“ also designated as a public road towards the border post of Ishasha between Uganda and Congo, and cargo traffic has been using the road for a long time, often destroying repaired sections within a short period of time again due to heavy loads and bad driving skills.

A new route is presently being built towards the Ishasha border point, linking from Ntungamo โ€“ along the Mbarara to Kabale highway โ€“ via Rukungiri to Kihihi and the frontier, a project which has already allowed faster access for visits to the Buhoma area of Bwindi National Park. When this road is complete, heavy goods traffic is expected to be banned from the Katunguru to Ishasha section, leaving it then free for tourist traffic, saloon cars, and light-goods vehicles and preserving the repair efforts for longer periods of time.

This correspondent recently visited the area and was delighted to travel the entire stretch of the road, taking less than two hours, including several photo stops and without breaking the speed limit, which applies inside the national park. Not far from the Ishasha area of Queen Elizabeth National Park, where the famous tree climbing lions can be found, is also the Savannah resort, just outside the park boundaries en route to Kihihi, and their private airfield is now a destination for Eagle Air, which serves the field several times a week with their LET 410 aircraft from Entebbe. Visitors, needless to say, can stay at Savannah (and use their hire vehicles to access the nearby parks of Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi) or else stay at the tented safari camp of Wild Frontiers right inside the Ishasha park area.

The Ishasha sector of the Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to a range of wildlife, including chimpanzees, and has according to this correspondentโ€™s own records dating back to the early 90s, at least a population of 260 bird species within the confined area accessible by safari vehicle and permitted walking areas. Good show and good value โ€“ come visit this little treasure cove.

PARK HEADQUARTERS TO LEAVE MWEYA PENINSULA
The long-awaited move of the UWA park headquarters, workshops, and housing units is now imminent and will see a sizeable population shift from the heart of the park to an area near Katunguru where the main road from Mbarara to Kasese (and beyond) crosses the Kazinga Channel. While technically still on park land, as is incidentally the entire village of Katunguru, the new park headquarters are near the main road and generally considered of lesser impact to the park environment than its present location on the Mweya peninsula. There, a clash of sorts has developed over the years between the upgraded Mweya Safari Lodge, which presents itself as a fine example of architecture to arriving visitors, only to be neighbored by a rundown park headquarter area, which has become not only unsightly but an outright eyesore.

Conventional wisdom would dictate that many of the now ramshackle buildings be scrapped and the area restored for wildlife, which in any case freely moves across the area, as sightings of hippos, mongoose, warthogs, kobs, and even elephant prove. Watch this space for updates as we try to establish the intent of the Uganda Wildlife Authority in regard of the old buildings and subsequent restoration of this part of the park. No comment was available from UWA by the time of going to press this week, incidentally also confirmed by other parties interested in this development for various reasons who were equally kept guessing.

CAA FINALLY HOLDS LICENSING HEARING
Some 14 months down the road since the last meeting in 2008, unlike in Kenya where the KCAA holds quarterly licensing hearings, the Uganda CAA finally has, after giving the statutory public notice of the planned hearing in mid-April, held the long-awaited meeting. Out of the 11 applications scheduled for the public hearing, some 6 were for renewals of air service licences and only 5 appear to have been fresh applications to be considered by the board. The applications covered such diversity as cargo operations with a DC10 to air charter operations with small single engine aircraft. No immediate news was available from CAA sources about the outcome, but decisions are due to be communicated to successful applicants within days.

Notably, Skyjet, having been given a one year ASL after the 2008 meeting, also appeared before the licensing committee to get a renewal but had to answer serious questions from the panel over their recent halt of operations and restructuring, which was reported in length in this column. Their representatives did, however, make an effort to respond to the questions and assured the panel and the public that operations were due to start soon again, now that the troublesome previous shareholder cum director has left the airline.

US ENGINEERS BUILD NEW BRIGDE
Supported by engineering personnel from the US armed forces and in conjunction with engineers of the UPDF and the ministry of works and transport, a new bridge was built in recent weeks linking the districts of Gulu with the neighboring districts of Pader and Lira, allowing for an important road link to reopen again. The construction was made possible with funds from the US government to the tune of nearly US$400000, and the hands-on cooperation has impressed not just the local population but Ugandans at large. Asante Sana โ€“ thanks a lot.

UGANDA SHILLING REMAINS DEPRESSED
The ongoing slow devaluation of the Ugandan Shilling has now reached the mid 2,200 range versus one US dollar while a Euro now gets nearly 3,000 UShs when selling to a bank or forex bureau. The devaluation has now reached the 30 percent margin since the onset of the global economic and financial crisis, but while the Ugandan Shilling continues to suffer, as does the Tanzanian Shilling, the Kenya Shilling has made up ground again, trading in the high 76 range from a low point of below the crucial 80 mark. Visitors can hence expect to pay a little less of their hard currency for their locally-procured items like carvings, curios, fabrics, and even local food, although the devaluation is expected to hit home as all imported items, including fuel, have to be paid in US dollars, which are now much dearer to purchase.

Meanwhile, local media in Uganda continue to bemoan the downturn of tourism arrivals and the potential fallout for the sector, without, however, offering solutions and counter measures, unlike in other east African countries like Rwanda and Kenya, both of which proactively tackled the current market conditions and have poured resources into extra marketing efforts. Quo Vadis Team Uganda? Watch this space for updates.

HOTEL TYCOON SERVES CHALLENGE TO PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE
Having been summoned to parliament to appear before the committee on commissions, statutory authorities, and state enterprises, Mr. Sudhir Ruparelia, owner of some of the countryโ€™s top-rated hotels, found himself questioned over the pending demanded audit of the Commonwealth Resort in Munyonyo, in which government continues to hold a 25 percent stake. Rules are not clear at which governmental shareholding level an official auditor generalโ€™s audit (public sector audit body for governmentโ€™s activities and holdings) can be demanded or in fact take place, but there are reliable sources claiming it takes a majority share of at least 51 percent to invoke this provision and that a mere 25 percent is not sufficient. Parliamentarians have for a while been pushing for this audit while some of their other colleagues demanded that government sell the 25 percent share, apparently unable to reconcile the two divergent positions.

In a surprise move, Mr. Sudhir Ruparelia, obviously fed up to his teeth, has now told the committee that he would be happy to offer government his 75 percent shares in the joint venture for purchase, so that they can at last have their audit. He is reported to have said, โ€œI am now offering my shares so that government owns the hotel entirely. This way you can have all the auditors that you want.โ€

There is talk of the honorable members of parliament wanting to eat the proverbial cake and yet still have it. The hotel group owns the Tourist Hotel in downtown Kampala, the Speke Hotel in the business district, the Kabira Country Club, Speke Apartments, and, of course, the Speke Resort and Conference Centre in Munyonyo, a sister property to the Commonwealth Resort on the same large piece of land along the Lake Victoria shores. In addition, dozens of residential and business properties, the Crane Bank and the Goldstar Insurance, plus Radio Sanyu โ€“ a leading FM station and one of the leading flower farms โ€“ are also part of the business empire built over the past 20+ years.

BUS COMPANY LOSES LICENSE
Following two major accidents within days, Gateway Bus Services had their license pulled by government to allow for a full investigation into the road worthiness of their busses and qualification of their drivers. The action follows a series of deadly accidents on Ugandan roads, which caused an outcry from the public and renewed demands that the so called speed governorโ€™ regulations be strictly enforced. These devices limit speeds of busses and trucks to 80 KM an hour, whereas now the vehicles are often found speeding and overtaking at breakneck speeds, blamed for most of the accidents on the roads and responsible for a massive traffic death toll beyond proportions.

MOROTO GETS KARIMOJONG MUSEUM
The north eastern township of Moroto, located enroute from Mbale and Soroti towards the Kidepo Valley National Park, has now opened a dedicated museum honoring the Karimojong culture. Funds for the venture were given by the French Embassy in the form of a grant, supporting the showcasing of local culture and tradition, something both foreign visitors, as well as locals, can now witness in the new facility.

GORILLA MARATHON SET FOR MAY 17 IN JINJA
This sporting event, which also includes a half marathon, will take place in east Africaโ€™s adventure capital of Jinja and is aimed to raise funds for conservation measures towards the endangered mountain gorillas. The event is organized by Nile River Explorers, Jinjaโ€™s leading adventure company, and supported by Ugandaโ€™s leading daily, the New Vision, Nile Breweries, Rwenzori Mineral Water, and a number of other corporate sponsors. Well done!

AIR UGANDA CONSIDERING CHANGE OF AIRCRAFT
Usually reliable sources from within and close to the airline have given the strongest indication yet that the airline, plagued by ongoing losses, may consider reverting to their initial strategy and using the more fuel-efficient Bombardier CRJ, as opposed to their present MD87 aircraft. For some obscure reasons, just a few months prior to their operations start, the airline, at the time, ditched the CRJs in spite of paid-up deposits, and when their own MD 87 were not ready, eventually started up with great grandfather first generation DC9s, exposing them, at the time, to a range of not so favorable comments from the aviation fraternity, travel agents, and passengers.

It was also learned that the airline has halted their twice weekly Zanzibar extension due to low traffic volumes, following the halt of their Khartoum extension from Juba, in conjunction with Marsland Aviation of Sudan, which was also stopped last month. Aircraft utilization now consists of a daily flight to Juba, giving just over 2 block hours, one flight to Nairobi, again just about 2+ block hours, and four flights a week from Entebbe to Dar es Salaam, leaving the two MDs more on the ground than they spend in the air.

Air Uganda only recently let go their second CEO in as many years, a saga which is bound to continue attracting the attention of this column.

SAFARI GUIDE ASSOCIATION TRIES TO CALM TEMPERS
Following the poll results published by the association after a get-together at the Kampala Museum two weeks ago, which as reported in this column last week raised the heat of discussion in the sector, the chairperson of USAGA tried to make amends of sorts in a further mail broadcast. Information received from those companies feeling injured and misrepresented, however, also indicates that they felt the absence of such words like โ€œsorryโ€ or โ€œsincere apologiesโ€ made the mail less than valuable to their purposes and was subsequently called โ€œhollowโ€ and โ€œwithout value for those smeared.โ€ While the good intent of the USAGA chairman himself is not called in doubt, the controversy is nevertheless a sharp reminder of what not to do and say in public email broadcasts.

EMIRATES SWEEPS MORE AWARDS
Information released by the local Emirates office in Kampala confirms that the airline has again swept the board and scooped awards in the annual Business Traveler Middle East awards, being named best airline, best regional airline, and best first class. Their frequent flyer program, Skywards, also won top honors. Emirates flies daily from Dubai via Addis Ababa to Entebbe and back, offering Ugandan travelers the opportunity to sample their award winning services every day.

Meanwhile, another airline source confirmed a 6.5 percent rise in passengers in April, a remarkable achievement in view of the present global economic situation.

KENYA AIRWAYS SPONSORS โ€œEAST AFRICA CLASSIC SAFARI RALLYโ€
KQ has once again dug deep into their pockets to become the lead sponsor for this fourth edition of what has become a magnet for rally enthusiasts. Previous rallies have also visited Uganda and Tanzania, but no details on the route have been obtained yet, other than the starting point being Mombasa, Kenyaโ€™s second city on the Indian Ocean shores.

The East African Safari Rally started initially as the โ€œCoronation Rallyโ€ and was for a very long time a World Championship event, held annually in Kenya over Easter, when volunteers would take time off to help in the organization and support their teams. However, motor sports authorities were unhappy with the different dates every year, as Easter is, of course, a variable holiday, which affected their racing calendar. Eventually, the Kenya Safari Rally was dropped from the World Championship but retained their standing for the African title.

While there is now a prospect of Kenya returning to the world scene (discussions appear to be well underway), the classic safari rally is still the thing to do as it continues to cover not only the full distance but also features the classic safari cars and their drivers of yesteryear. Well done indeed.

KENYA SET TO OPEN TOURIST OFFICE IN DUBAI
Alongside attending this yearโ€™s Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, the east African country is also going to open a tourist information office to promote travel to Kenya. Kenyaโ€™s tourism minister attended the trade fair and officially opened the KTB offices. Kenya Airways and Emirates fly daily from Nairobi to Dubai and vice versa while Air Arabia flies several times a week from Sharjah to Nairobi. Other Middle Eastern airlines like Qatar Airways and Oman Airways also ply the Nairobi route, offering enough seats between the two destinations.

KENYA TOURIST BOARD SCOOPS โ€œGOOD SAFARI GUIDEโ€ AWARD
The Kenya Tourist Board was unveiled last week as the majority choice of the tourism fraternity who participated in voting for the best lodges, resorts, hotels, tour and safari operations, and tourist boards. KTB came in tops of all in Africa and was duly awarded the โ€œbest marketing organizationโ€ prize during the awards ceremony in Durban, South Africa last weekend. Congratulations to chairman Jake Grieves Cook and all the staff at KTB for their determined effort in not just putting the ship back on level keel โ€“ see additional column item โ€“ but, in fact, moving KTB forward to meet the challenges of the economic and financial global crisis head on and winning the favor of their peers. Well done, indeed, and to add one more, Kenya is now set to use the global popularity of her athletes to promote the country, sources at the tourist board have confirmed to this column. The famous Kenyan distance runners have, in the past, swept the board in such disciplines as steeple chase, marathons, the 800-, 1500-, 5000- and 10000-meter competitions, only rivaled by their Ethiopian colleagues and a few others who occasionally break into their domain.

In contrast, the Uganda Tourist Board continues to lack funding to fulfill their objectives and carry out their functions, while at the same time falling victim to a lack of cohesion and togetherness with key industry players, several of whom continue in their private feuds with UTB/Tourism Uganda and their CEO, instead of working harmoniously together to weather the economic storms sweeping the tourism world. It is also understood that the funding mechanism, through a tourism fund development levy, is a long way off to becoming operational, as arguments persist regarding who should collect the funds and administer them. There is fear that if these collected funds would first be received into the general government coffers via the general fund, that only a fraction would find its way to the intended beneficiaries, defeating the purpose of the levy. Watch this space for updates.

DRAKONIAN MEDIA LAW IN KENYA SET TO CHANGE
Journalists hung their heads in disbelief when, last year, President Kibaki assented to a draconian media law, which made government and police almighty indeed and had scribes in fear of court and long sentences when doing their day-to-day work. Simply reporting issues and incurring the wrath of a politician could have resulted in potentially substantial custodial sentences, and the wave of dissent and vocal advocacy against the law was, therefore, only to be expected. Now, however, parliament in Nairobi has done the right thing for once and put forward a range of amendments aimed to take the bull terrier teeth out of the law and permit journalists to do their work again without living in constant fear of prosecution.

TANZANIA TO RECEIVE THREE BLACK RHINOS
The Czech Republic has graciously donated three of their black rhinos, kept there in a zoo, to be repatriated to Africa as part of the โ€œback to Africaโ€ project. The three rhinos will be sent to the Mkomazi Game Reserve as part of restocking and breeding program and can expect to be given VIP protection around the clock, of course. The three animals are already receiving training towards their long flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport near Arusha, where a team TANAPA staff, vets, and donor representatives will receive them, before embarking on the road transport to the game reserve.

The black rhino species has been poached nearly out of existence in Tanzania, and estimates from reliable sources speak of anywhere between 30 to 50 animals left in the entire country. It is expected that many of those will now be relocated to a safe location to start a rhino breeding program, similar to the successful project in Kenya in the 70s and 80s, which indeed assured the survival of the black rhino in Kenya and has restored viable numbers to conservancies, private and public game reserves, and national parks.
This correspondent, having been closely involved in bringing rhinos back to Uganda, applauds and commends this initiative and hopes for more such projects, including returning the black rhino species to Uganda.

SERENGETI AREA TO GET NEW PRIVATE RESERVE
The Serengeti district council last week apparently approved a joint community initiative to create a wildlife reserve covering some 5,000 hectares near or even adjoining the national park for the purpose of wildlife ranching, photographic safaris, and creating a breeding project for the black rhino, now under serious threat in the country. The council is to benefit from annual royalties and ground rents, and it is of particular interest that it is a locally-rooted initiative, although the new company may at a later stage invite a private co-investor to design and build accommodation and other hospitality facilities.

KWITA IZINA SET FOR JUNE 20
The annual gorilla-naming ceremony and festival in Rwanda is set this year for June 20, when the festivities will kick off in โ€œthe land of a thousand hills.โ€ Some 16 recently-born gorilla babies will be available for sponsorships and subsequent naming. The festival has, over the years, become a major tourism attraction for Rwanda and attracts thousands of spectators, corporate sponsors, and, of course, media attention from around the globe. The 2009 festival will be the fifth since creating the event and will be a week-long series of commemorations and celebrations. In 2007, the name โ€œKwita Izinaโ€ was pronounced as a new brand, aimed at promoting Rwanda as a major tourism destination. This yearโ€™s naming ceremony also coincides with the UNโ€™s International Year of the Gorilla. Visit www.kwitizina.org or www.rwandatourism.com for more information.

This correspondent will be reporting live this year from the event in recognition of the importance of the festivities.

RWANDA HOSTS AFRICAN ENVIRONMENTAL FINANCE MEETING
The finance and environment ministers from a number of African countries met last week in Kigali to discuss financing mechanisms for environmental projects aimed to make Africaโ€™s contribution in the global climate-change debate. Participating governments, NGOs, bi- and multi-lateral donor agencies, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa discussed the impact of climate change to African economies and mitigative measures they could employ to halt the trend and eventually reverse it.

RWANDA IMMIGRATION ENTERS E-AGE
Effective immediately, the immigration department in Rwanda will issue new visa stickers for successful applicants, which can be read by special reader machines installed at the international airport and other key border points. For security purposes, the new stickers will also contain a scanned picture of the visa holder to make identification upon entry easier, while other key data from passports and the application form are also included in the sticker for easy verification on arrival. Visa fees for affected nationalities requiring a visa to enter Rwanda remain unchanged, however.

RWANDA CELEBRATES โ€œWORLD MIGRATORY BIRDS DAYโ€
The executive director of the association for the conservation of nature in Rwanda joined birdwatchers, conservationists, and environmentalists in celebrating the annual event. Rwanda claims to have over 140 species of migratory birds criss-crossing the country during the migration periods, which makes the country a well-worth destination for โ€œbirders.โ€ Ongoing sensitization of the population living near lakes, rivers, and wetlands is ongoing in Rwanda, it was learned, with the aim to protect biodiversity and enrich the tourism potential of the country.

KIGALI GETS AVIATION ACADEMY
Earlier in the week, news reached this column that a private company is set to open an aviation training center at the international airport, aimed to train pilots (fixed-wing and helicopter), as well as offer courses for engineering, cabin crews, air traffic control, and related subjects. Once complete, the center, due to open by end of 2010, is expected to be certified by not only the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority but by the other 4 CAAs in the east African region as well as South Africa. Adds this column: โ€œWhat an investment in the future of local manpower and the aviation sector in the region.โ€

KIVU SERENA HOTEL STAFF INVOLVED IN ROBBERY ATTEMPT
The hotelโ€™s cash transfer to the bank was recently subject to an attempted robbery, when a group of soldiers and hotel staff allegedly conspired to waylay the hotel vehicle and grab the money, telling a story of a robbery in their statements. Subsequently, however, police found the statements of the staff involved differing, prompting further investigations, during which most of the money was recovered, and the culprits are now awaiting trial.

In further and better news, both the Kivu Serena and the Kigali Serena Hotels have been awarded the prestigious SGS International Food Safety and Hygiene certificates following an independent audit of the hotelsโ€™ facilities and operations. No other hotel, resort, or lodge in Rwanda presently holds such certification.

GOMA VOLCANO MAY ERUPT SOON
The volcanoes surrounding the eastern Congolese city of Goma are reportedly getting active again, as seismological surveys appear to reveal. More than half of the city, including parts of the airport, were destroyed and damaged in 2002 when one of the volcanoes erupted and lava flows swept into the city, driving the population into full scale flight. The latest of the mountains stirring now is said to be some 20 or so kilometers from the city center, so an eruption is likely to spare most of the city this time around, should the predictions be true.

SUDAN AIRWAYS RESUMES FLIGHTS
Reports from Khartoum speak of May 24, when the national airline will resume flights between Khartoum and Eritreaโ€™s capital, Asmara, operated by Sudan Airways. The development drew some sharp comments in the southern media from mainly southern Sudanese observers about the cooperation between Khartoum and Eritrea, as well as doubting the carrierโ€™s ability to safely operate, following a string of accidents and subsequent suspension of their AOC last year.

ETHIOPIAN DAM PROJECT UNDER FIRE
As reported previously in this column, the Gibe Dam in southwest Ethiopia has caused a lot of concern to environmental advocates and green campaigners. Some went as far as to blame the upcoming US$1.7 billion dam for causing Lake Turkana in northern Kenya to dry up. The International Rivers Network, a US-based international pressure group, has now also waded into the arguments and projects increased desertification around the Lake Turkana area and famine-like conditions for over 300,000 residents and herdsmen in the area surrounding the lake. IRN has, therefore, appealed to the African Development Bank to review their financial commitment towards the building of the dam, which the Ethiopian government intends to use not only for the domestic electricity market but to also export power into the wider region on a large scale. Amongst other banks, the NGO also appealed to the European Investment Bank to reconsider their financial pledges. IRN claims that ADBโ€™s internal guidelines have been and continue to be violated and that any financing of the project would violate bank policies. They further claim that even Ethiopiaโ€™s own laws and regulations have been pushed aside with impunity since construction began in mid-2006, such as the un-tendered award of the construction work to Italian company Salini, the same company which has incidentally delayed the so-called northern bypass around Kampala by several years and overshot the initial cost estimate by a substantial multiple.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

AIRPORT POLICE COMMANDANT APOLOGIZES TO IRATE TRAVELER

AIRPORT POLICE COMMANDANT APOLOGIZES TO IRATE TRAVELER
In a rather unprecedented but nevertheless courageous and highly-commendable move, the commandant of the Aviation Police at Entebbe International Airport issued a public apology to an angry traveler, printed in the countryโ€™s leading daily โ€œThe New Vision.โ€ Days earlier, another letter to the editor was published complaining about three police officers behaving badly and by insinuation trying to extract a bribe over wrongful parking and other alleged offenses, including โ€œtalking backโ€ to the officers concerned and โ€œnot being repentant.โ€

Senior Superintendent of Police Herman Owomugisha, however, not tolerating such alleged behavior and the subsequent smearing of the image of the aviation police by errant officers, responded publicly, including offering his mobile phone number, which the aggrieved traveler, and others finding themselves in similar situations, should call to provide immediate remedy. This outstanding response deserves to be mentioned as it portrays the efforts the police, especially at the airport, are making to change their image and serve and protect rather than grab and harass.

This correspondentโ€™s experience, founded on regular visits to the airport, is generally positive, except for one single recent case, when a police officer patrolling the parking area demanded to know why I was sitting in my car listening to music rather than standing outside the arrival hall waiting for my passengers. โ€œIt is for security we do not allow people to wait in their cars; they must wait outside arrivals,โ€ I was told, and when I challenged the officer and demanded to see those rules in print or else speak to her superior officer, she beat a hasty retreat.

SKYJET RESTRUCTURES โ€“ AIMS AT COMEBACK
As reported in this columnโ€™s breaking news some weeks ago โ€“ incidentally again beating the established local dailies to the print line โ€“ Skyjet suffered massive differences of opinion between the shareholders and directors, leading to a suspension of flights, a grounding of their aircraft, a halt in the delivery of their second B737, and forced leave for most of their staff.

Seventy-percent, majority shareholder, Mr. Deng Garang of the Alok Group in Juba, had reportedly clashed with minority shareholder Capt. Shawgi who holds 25 percent of the shares and yet tried to impose himself on his fellow directors in a series of shenanigans, which bemused the aviation fraternity to no end, had it not been so serious.

That problem was brought to an end earlier in the week when his shares were finally acquired through consensual sale, giving Mr. Deng a clear 95 percent holding and leaving Mr. Tamale Musoke, a Uganda business man also previously involved in aviation, with the remaining 5 percent.

As could be expected, a mudslinging contest preceded the agreement, and Mr. Musoke could not withstand the temptation to fire a parting shot at his erstwhile partnerโ€™s credentials in the local press, as the sale was certified and documented.

It is not known at this stage when the airline can resume operations, as the aircraft โ€“ having been parked for several weeks โ€“ first needs to undergo a technical check to ascertain its airworthiness status, and market confidence needs to be restored as well, having abruptly halted flights a couple of weeks ago. This left the route to Air Uganda who absorbed the traffic, which will now be a challenge to wrest back from them. This evolving contest over the route will be interesting to watch, especially in view of U7 last week suffering yet another change at the helm and bearing in mind that the Juba route is arguably the most profitable route from Entebbe for any home-based airline. Watch this space to follow the battle of the skies.

KAMPALA SERENA GETS NEW DEPUTY GM
Following the transfer of Daniel Kangu from Kampala to the Nairobi Serena Hotel, Mr. Alan Igambi has now taken up his position as new deputy GM at the Kampala Serena Hotel. Alan previously served as deputy GM at the Mombasa Serena Beach Resort and Spa, attaining years of experience before coming to Kampala. He is joining Killian Lugwe, who has been at the Kampala Serena as general manager prior to the major rebuilding, during the works period and has, of course, since led the hotel with his team from success to success.

The Kampala Serena Hotel is acknowledged to be Ugandaโ€™s finest hotel and the leading contender for the top slot within the Serena Group. Welcome to Alan from this column and many happy and successful years in Kampala.

UGANDA SET TO CANCEL RAILWAY CONCESSION WITH RVR
Rift Valley Railways (RVR), the initially south African-led consortium, which 2 ยฝ years ago won the concession to manage the combined Kenyan and Ugandan railway networks, has been given notice that the Ugandan government is set to cancel the concession for failing to meet agreed performance targets. A major restructuring amongst shareholders saw the controversial South African Sheltam Group being sidelined last year, but legal cases are pending over compensation claims by the former CEO and over other issues.

The Ugandan government has set aside, in spite of the present financial crunch, over US$8 million to provide a financial fallback in case of claims through the court system, although it is understood that government has received legal advice encouraging this decision and dispatching RVRโ€™s management. How the Kenyan government will react in the light of this information will have to be seen, as court cases and injunctions through the Kenyan courts have made a straight-forward decision rather more difficult there. As and when the concession will be formally terminated, this column will update readers.

MWEYA AND PARAA GET NEW VEHICLES
Management of the two lodges, soon to be joined by the Chobi Safari Lodge, have confirmed to this correspondent that they have placed orders for two more vehicles for their popular road safari packages from Kampala to the lodges. The Toyota 4-wheel drive luxury vans offer space for 5 passengers, all with their own window seats and have two large sun roofs to take the occasional pictures for the family photo album when passing some of the vantage view points en route to the national parks. Needless to mention, a DVD system allows passengers to listen to their favourite music or watch a DVD portraying Uganda as a top African destination, which is available from the driver guide. All inclusive package rates, availability details, and bookings for the road safari tours are available via [email protected] .

Meanwhile, these lodges have recently launched dedicated air safari packages, with flights operated by domestic aviation industry leader KAFTC (Kampala Aero Club and Flight Training Centre) in Kajjansi, which will deliver travelers within an hour from the outskirts of Kampala to the airfield nearest to the respective lodge โ€“ in the case of Mweya, just steps away from the lodge entrance. In Murchisons Falls National Park, the Pakuba airfield is being used, which while some 10 plus miles from the Paraa Safari Lodge, already allows a game drive while transiting to the lodge. In both lodges, purpose-built Toyota Landcruisers with large roof hatches are being used for game drives, operated by experienced driver guides well versed with the area and where to find the all important game.

MADHVANI OFFERS MORE SCHOLARSHIPS
The Madhvani family business empire in Uganda has recently advertised for fresh applications to receive scholarships of a wide variety of subjects but notably also for intending students of hotel management and environmental studies. The value of this yearโ€™s scholarships stands at about 500 million Uganda Shillings or nearly US$250,000. The scholarships were launched many decades ago and are administered by the Madhvani Foundation, a duly-registered charitable trust in Uganda. The Madhvani family, besides other business interests, owns and operates Ugandaโ€™s premier safari lodges like Mweya, Paraa, and Chobi, which is due for re-opening later in the year.

EMIRATES GETS 75TH BOEING 777
A source at the Emirates office in Kampala confirmed to this column last weekend that the airline had just taken delivery of their 75th B777, making the airline the biggest operator of this type of aircraft. Several more of these aircraft are due for delivery at the end of the year, but in 2010, the airline is apparently starting to stretch further deliveries until a full economic recovery is visibly underway. Meanwhile, the airline continues to serve Entebbe from Dubai, via Addis Ababa, on a daily basis, offering connections at Dubai International Airport into their global network and also, of course, offering very affordable stopovers for passengers to sample the emirateโ€™s tourism attractions or doing a spot of shopping.

GOVERNMENT GETS SMART ON OIL PRODUCTION
Recent reports in the local media suggest, that one of the licensed oil exploration companies has floated new proposals to government to have a pipeline constructed from the oil wells in Western Uganda along Lake Albert to Mombasaโ€™s existing refinery, instead of โ€“ as initially promised โ€“ build a mini refinery on site first to generate heavy fuel oil and other products before increased production would allow an expansion of the facility. The Ministry of Energy has already made it clear, however, that they absolutely prefer to refine in country and export products to the region, to first meet Ugandaโ€™s own energy requirements before selling surplus to the neighboring countries.

The government has also asked the oil companies to consider using the gas found to produce electricity, an environmentally more friendly method to generate power than using diesel or heavy fuel oil plants, considering the emissions and the vicinity to game reserves, national parks, forests, and neighboring community farms.

While some oil companies are said to be sympathetic to the governmentโ€™s requests and expectations, at least one other is now suspected of holding back with their investments and roll-out plans, endangering the 2010 deadline to have a 50 โ€“ 100 MW facility up and running, which was to feed electricity into the national grid to lessen the overall production shortfall. Unless there is a change in attitude to their blatant attempts to hold the government and the people of Uganda at ransom, expect them to be named and shamed in due course in this column. Watch this space for updates.

AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT SET FOR KAMPALA
News broke earlier in the week that the African Union will hold the summit next year in Kampala. Dates will be availed in due course, as the city and the Entebbe โ€“ Kampala sector will, of course, be fully booked and hotel space likely to be scarce. It is also expected that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will be elected at the summit as the African Union Chairperson, an honor not only well deserved but reflecting Ugandaโ€™s present membership on the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member, representing Africa.

INTERESTED IN โ€œWINGEDโ€ GORILLA TRACKING TRIP?
The Uganda Wildlife Photographic Safari Company has recently advertised for a โ€œwingedโ€ gorilla trip, which uses light aircraft to land travelers at the nearest airstrip to the gorilla national park, adding great comfort and saving valuable time, as access by road, depending on weather and entry point to Mgahinga or Bwindi, can take a full dayโ€™s driving.

The company had also earlier advertised โ€œparticipatoryโ€ safaris, where rounding up game for relocation (duly sanctioned by UWA, one should point out) or in game counts, were well received by the market and the available places sold. Visit www.uganda-wildlife-photographic-safaris.com for more information.

UGANDA SAFARI GUIDES VOTE FOR BEST โ€“ RAISE CONTROVERSY
The Uganda Safari Guide Association has recently sampled their membersโ€™ opinions, and during the International Tourist Guides Day celebrations at the end of April, announced the results (non-scientific and, therefore, not meeting standard polling requirements) of an ad-hoc poll amongst their attending members as follows:

Best Hotel โ€“ Kampala Serena Hotel
Best Lodge and best lodge managers โ€“ Ndali Lodge
Best National Park โ€“ Queen Elizabeth National Park
Best Receptionist โ€“ Mweya Safari Lodge, whose general manager Richard Hodgson was also named as Best Manager

On the downside, the email broadcast also named โ€œthe worst,โ€ and this has, according to information available to this column, brought the lawyers of those named into the fray for โ€œslanderingโ€ their clients, being โ€œunjustified and detrimentalโ€ to the respective businesses and smacking of personal grudges and a hidden agenda.

Predictably, therefore, the poll raised immediate outcries of both fair and foul since the back ground of the poll was not made public, while others in the industry engaged in mudslinging, name calling, and making cuckoo land comments, including offloading broadsides against the general manager of the Uganda Tourist Board, a long-time target for some elements in the tourism sector. Mr. Bahinguza had afforded the Safari Guide Association some well-meant advice over the manner of how the information was sent out and his own concerns over possible litigation, but this only seems to have infuriated some of the stakeholders, using the opportunity to vent their long anger against him.

AYAโ€™S HAMID CHANGES TUNE โ€“ AGAIN
The owners of the Kampala Hilton have excelled once again in changing their tune when they made new announcements for which they have become so famously notorious.

The hotel, when the construction started, was due to be finished for the Commonwealth Summit at the end of 2007, and at the time, the Ayaโ€™s, as the brothers are known in Kampala, proudly pronounced they would finish a floor a week of the proposed 20+ storey structure. Failing to meet the time target several times, ever changing new dates were announced periodically to the bemusement of the general public and the rest of the hospitality industry in Uganda.

Nothing of the sort happened, of course, as history tells, and now, several years into the build, the same man suddenly pronounced that a 5-star hotel takes at least 4 years to build, at last demonstrating some capacity to learn from his previous mistaken utterances. At the same occasion, the announcement was also made that the hotel would now be ready some time in 2010, again a change from earlier statements that the hotel would be finished later in 2009. Watch this space for more changes in the tunes.

IN MEMORIAM: CAPT. ALEX FERNANDES
News reached this column that Capt. Alex Fernandes passed away earlier this week. He was an initial founder member of the Skal Club of Kampala, when he was still actively flying and managing domestic airlines, but later on he moved out of country before eventually coming back and retiring from the cockpits. Alex will be sadly missed by his family, friends, and the aviation fraternity, with whom he continued to interact even in retirement.

COMMON MARKET SIGNATURES DUE IN NOVEMBER
Following the summit of the east African heads of state in Arusha last week, the signing of the common market protocol was finally agreed for November this year, and working groups were instructed by the presidents to take care of the remaining contentious issues. A customs union was incorporated in 2005, and internal EAC tariffs have progressively reduced and are expected to reach zero for trade within the member states as long as nationality production and origin rules are confirmed.

The EAC is, rather too slowly for the taste of many, en route to a full economic union, but several other protocols remain due for implementation, such as permitting the freedom of movement of persons across the region, a common currency, and most difficult โ€“ a full political union. It was notably Tanzania, incidentally also a member of SADC, the Southern African Development Community, which has been slowing things down in the recent past, but mechanisms are now being developed to allow those member states in agreement over issues to press ahead and implement their agreements, while the slower members can then play catch up as and when they are ready. It was also suggested to change the voting to allow majorities to carry the day, which would โ€“ if implemented โ€“ allow consenting members to outvote their dissenting colleagues.

The old and economically fully-integrated East African Community collapsed in 1977 following fundamental disagreements over policy between Kenya and Tanzania, while Uganda was at the time already in free fall as the twilight days of Aminโ€™s dictatorial regime descended upon the Pearl of Africa. Kenya subsequently developed into a fairly prospering economy, while the policies of nationalization and socialism in Tanzania stifled development and drove the economy to ever-lower levels. Only when Founder President โ€œMwalimuโ€ Julius Nyerere finally admitted to having made mistakes, stood down to make way for a new leadership, and allowed Tanzania to gradually navigate towards economic recovery, did change become possible. In particular, the tourism industry has made great strides since the mid 1990s, when initially Kenya-based hospitality groups began to invest in resorts, lodges, and hotels, later followed by international groups, while permitting capable Tanzanians, too, to carve out their market share. Unilateral on tariff barriers, however, which impede free regional air traffic and cross-border safari operations, are still a bone of contention, and the deeply-rooted sentiments often heard in Tanzania, against in particular Kenya, are clearly not helpful to achieve economic and political integration on the fast track. Watch this space for updates.

REGION TO SPEND US$35 BILLION DOLLARS ON NEW RAILWAY NETWORK
New plans have emerged that the regional governments are now truly committed to rehabilitate their aged railway networks, widen the spoor to internationally-accepted standards, and add more connections to facilitate bulk cargo movement to and from the Indian Ocean harbors. Passenger transport is also a laudable goal, of course, providing affordable and safe long-distance transportation, while special carriages or trains can also be used for tourist visitors. The new railway lines include a connection from the Tanzanian inland dry port of Isaka to Kigali and Bujumbura, possibly even connecting into the eastern Congo, while the Ugandan portion of the railway network is also set to expand into the southern Sudan and towards, if not into, the eastern Congo.

According to information received earlier in the week, a ministerial committee and meeting of experts in Arusha recently committed themselves towards the regional development. An added proposal even includes linking Addis Ababa in the future to the network, while inside Tanzania, new routes would also be considered.

The East African Community Secretariat was tasked to fine tune the expertโ€™s plans and seek funding to have this mammoth project come to life, while the respective governments would make provisions in the forthcoming national budgets. Watch this space for updates.

KENYA AIRWAYS ADDS FLIGHTS TO JOHANNESBURG, BUJUMBURA, AND KIGALI
Kenyaโ€™s national airline, also fondly named the โ€œPride of Africa,โ€ has announced they have added a third daily flight between Nairobi and Johannesburg, reflecting an improved climate between the two countries for trade and tourism and indicating that the airline has left the problems caused by last yearโ€™s rocketing fuel prices behind them. They now also fly thrice a day to Kigali, operated on one of their new Embraer 170 jets, while Bujumbura is now being served twice a day in the morning and evening, also using the new Embraer aircraft. The Bujumbura evening flight arrives there at 11:00 pm โ€“ like the last flight from Nairobi to Entebbe โ€“ and the aircraft and crew then stay overnight to fly the aircraft back to Nairobi very early in the morning, allowing passengers to connect into the entire domestic, regional/continental, and international networkโ€™s morning flights. The Kenyan flag carrier has cemented their lead role in regional aviation by adding new aircraft, destinations, frequencies, and embarking on a vigorous quality-control program aimed at retaining passengers and gaining new market share across the African continent.

KISUMU AIRPORT EXPANSION TO GO AHEAD
After years of arguments between the Kenya Airports Authority and local communities over land belonging to the airport, a compromise appears to have been reached. The dispute goes back to the pre-independence days, when the British colonial administration had acquired the land to build an airport, and when the long-overdue, runway extension came up, the communities used their old claims to extract money from government. This now done, the work is on schedule and 500 meters of the 1-km runway expansion is already completed. Other work and upgrades are also scheduled for Kisumu, which should see aviation in western Kenya take a boost.

Following is another interesting excerpt from the Aero Club of Kenya newsletter, courtesy of Harro Trempenau.

CONSUMER PROTECTION NEWSLETTER PLANNED BY KENYA CAA
The Aviation Consumer Protection Department (ACPD) of the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) is in the process of compiling articles for its inaugural Aviation Consumer News. The newsletter will be distributed electronically nationally, regionally, and internationally. According to Cornel Oguya, head of consumer protection at KCAA, it is the policy of ACPD to present factual and reliable information to aviation consumers, and it is seeking informative articles about aviation issues of concern to stakeholders. Of course, there is no shortage of those and, if genuine, your complaints and discussions about issues will be published without fear or favor. Oguya goes on to say, “The articles are expected to contain pictures and other illustrations to help enhance and enrich the contents.” Many stakeholders are sceptical about the notion of “Consumer Protection” by KCAA, viewing it as tokenistic PR exercise because so few complaints have been seriously addressed by KCAA in the past. It will take time for KCAA to rebuild its credibility with the aviators, and this effort may be a first step towards that goal.

AERO CLUBโ€™S ORLY CLUB HOUSE NOW 70 PERCENT COMPLETE
Not long from now, all Aero Club members will be able to enjoy the view on the valley at Orly Airpark, Kitengela. The long-awaited Club House is nearing completion, and the veranda and bar are receiving the final touches. Orly Airpark recently expanded and now covers 235 acres.

A number of projects are under way, including an airport lounge and toilet/shower facilities. With the NEMA environmental audit in progress, an electric fence has been commissioned around the entire site, and several private cottages and new hangars are under construction. It is planned that the main apron will be covered entirely with Bamburiblox by the end of 2009 and that a staff housing block and a new borehole will be completed this year. KP&L connection is also on target. Those who have not visited this new exciting airfield in the Kitengela (along the “Pipeline Road”) should perhaps take a look. Take a picnic and watch the gyrocopters, micro-lights, skydivers, and other enthusiasts perform.

KEMPINSKI TO REDEVELOP HOTEL 77 IN ARUSHA
When news broke that Kempinski Hotels in Tanzania โ€“ already operating the Kempinski in Dar es Salaam, formerly the Kilimanjaro Hotel; the recently-opened Bilila Lodge in the Serengeti; and the Zamani Beach Resort in Zanzibar โ€“ would develop the site of the Hotel Seventy Seven in Arusha, critics immediately reared their ugly heads again using the old tired argument of Tanzanians have been denied. There seems more than the usual bit of paranoia going on in this east African country about foreigners owning and operating hotels, resorts, and lodges, and a report from fellow eTN columnist Apolinari Tairo last week over racism and apartheid allegations in the Tanzanian hotel industry, has immediately raised the concern and alarm levels amongst foreign investors.
Several sources this column spoke with since then in turn have alleged that in spite of their investments in the countryโ€™s hospitality sector and the jobs they created in the process, they are constantly worried over such issues as work or residence permits and feel they are a convenient target and scapegoat for Tanzanian business individuals who lost out on bidding for new concessions, failed to raise sufficient capital to buy or co-invest in projects, and then seek cheap political publicity with innuendo and both overt and covert bad talk about investors who deny citizens a fair chance. To think that a leading international hotel management company like Kempinski, which employs over 1,000 Tanzanian staff in their present three operations, should be subjected to such miserly talk?

In contrast, foreign investments in the hospitality industry in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda are not only most welcome but actively encouraged (as long as they are serious and not of the Kingdom sort), which has helped to develop the tourism sectors in those countries with greater speed and without, in fact, denying the respective citizens their own chances to engage in the sectorโ€™s opportunities. That said, in those three countries, however, even citizens of the other EAC member states can acquire and own land and develop it, something Tanzania has hitherto denied them in reciprocity as they continue to stall this element in the negotiations of a common market protocol. Do I sense some misguided paranoia there? It is not always the neighbors who are the bad guys, but they are, of course, ideal candidates when scapegoats are needed. Watch this space for updates.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

SHIMONI SCANDAL RAGES ON

SHIMONI SCANDAL RAGES ON
Apparently stung by sustained public criticism expressed in the local media and acid comments made during call-in radio programs, Kingdom Kampala has resorted to taking out a full-page statement in the local newspapers, trying to counter the range of allegations made against them in the recent past.

The rambling statement signed by management โ€“ not giving any specific name, title, or designation โ€“ clearly resents the comments attributed to the immediate former State Minister for Investment and current Ambassador to the UAE, Hon. Prof. Semakula-Kiwanuka, and seems to blame him for initially recommending a partner company ultimately not chosen and then reacting to the new partners, as was reported in last weekโ€™s column. Kingdom also labors on that they have to justify their genuine investment after part of the new set up was called bogus. In closing, the statement offers unsolicited advice to Ugandaโ€™s new Ambassador in the UAE to find allies and, together with the Ministry of Finance and other relevant government officials, to visit their offices located in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai. Meanwhile, the Ugandan government is reported to have formally rejected the new Shimoni partnership following an investigation by the Embassy in Abu Dhabi, UAE over the status of the proposed new partners brought into the fray by Kingdom Hotels. It was also learned at the time, that government โ€“ apparently ignoring legal threats by Kingdomโ€™s local lawyers โ€“ has repossessed the land and will not engage with a new investment group to put up a new development on the site. That new group, as per information given to the media by Ambassador Prof. Semakula-Kiwanuka, has already posted a performance bond, likely to shut out the Kingdom partnership, although a legal case may well unfold now in the Ugandan courts. The dismissive and contemptuous statements subsequently made by a Kingdom partnerships spokesperson against Ugandaโ€™s Ambassador was also received with incredulity and anger and may well backfire on them, as public tirades against government and key officials have rarely achieved the intended purpose. In sections of the media, a power struggle of sorts between different political godfathers was also suggested over the decision that ultimately will develop the 15-acre piece of land, making the story ever more interesting. Stay tuned to this column for updated news, week after week.

24/7 SHOPPING COMES TO KAMPALA
With the new Oasis shopping mall at the lower end of what used to be at one time the Centenary Park, finally launched early this week โ€“ the big event was delayed by ongoing access road works โ€“ a new shopping experience has descended on Kampaleans. Nakumatt, Kenyaโ€™s giant supermarket chain opened their Oasis mega store in the new premises, and large banners on top of the building are promising their shoppers opening hours around the clock, plus a customer loyalty scheme, which will earn them credit points for every shilling spent. This will be a welcome development for many, including this correspondent, as getting up early will allow one to beat the traffic, go to the city, complete the shopping all in one location, and be back home when others only begin to stir in their beds. Even travelers going for the early flights between 3 and 5 am from Entebbe can still pass at an open mall mega store and buy something they had forgotten and still make their departure time, a proposition which will undoubtedly be well received.

On the downside, during the first visit to the new mall, it was discovered that extensive building work is still going on everywhere, making the official opening probably rather premature. The escalators still run rather rough, with several of them at the time of the visit, already under repair or adjustment, as one manager put it, while many shops still sported newspapers taped to the windows, i.e., not yet being in operation. The customer loyalty card of Nakumatt, advertised on site as โ€œavailable instantly today,โ€ also did not materialize, and a waiting period of 8 days was suggested.

MARASA RESERVATIONS OFFICE MOVES
The booking office for Mweya Safari Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, for Paraa Safari Lodge in Murchisonโ€™s Falls National Park, and for Chobi Safari Lodge, due for completion later in the year, has moved last weekend to their own corporate premises in the industrial area, where other Madvhani companies also operate from. Phone and fax contacts remain unchanged and have, of course, already been transferred to the new location. Contact them for further information on bookings and tariffs via [email protected] or visit their websites featuring their lodges: www.mweyalodge.com or www.paraalodge.com .

SKAL KAMPALA CELEBRATED 75TH SKAL ANNIVERSARY AT THE METROPOLE
Some 90+ members and guests attended the monthly Skal meeting at the Metropole Hotel in Kampalaโ€™s fancied Kololo suburb mid week, where โ€“ at least for the evening โ€“ they left behind all talk of the economic crisis and swine flu and rather settled for an evening of good fun amongst good company. The hotelโ€™s management, led by outgoing general manager cum SKAL Club president Rahul Sood and the sponsors, WARID Telecom, went out of their way to create a great evening with food, wine, and gifts โ€“ all sponsored for the night while commemorating the 75th anniversary of SKALโ€™s original founding in Paris, France. The available raffle prices caught everyoneโ€™s attention, comprised of connected mobile phones, WARID gift packs, dinners at some of Kampalaโ€™s finest restaurants, and a return ticket to Nairobi, donated by Fly 540, who were represented by their regional sales and marketing manager Jackie Arkle-Okutoyi. Jackie was in Kampala on airline business and attended the function with their Ugandan management team.

A commemorative cake was also cut on the occasion of SKAL Internationalโ€™s 75th anniversary, by none other than this correspondent in his capacity as founder president of Skal Kampala, and ably assisted by several of the clubโ€™s past presidents in attendance during the evening.

This first Skal function of the current club year gives great promise for the next meetings and get-togethers until the end of the year, as both membership recruitment and surveying for a Young Skal club were also carried out during the evening. SKAL to ALL.

CHANGES AT THE HELM
Skal Kampala President Rahul Sood, by the time of going to press the immediate former general manager of the Metropole Hotel in Kampala, will be joining the Imperial Group of Hotels as area general manager in Entebbe, where he will oversee both the Imperial Resort Beach and the Botanical Beach Hotel. Additional rooms are presently under construction at the Botanical Beach Hotel, which is also undergoing an upgrade.
The Skal fellowship meeting was also the last for Serenaโ€™s Daniel Kangu, deputy general manager at the Kampala Serena Hotel, who will be moving back to Kenya to join the Nairobi Serena Hotel in the same position. Sad to see this gifted young individual leave; this column wishes him all the best in his future career.

METROPOLE HOTEL CHANGES HANDS
One of the more recent additions to the Kampala hotel scene, opened in October 2007 just ahead of the Commonwealth Summit, was sold by owner Karim Somani to the owners of the Golf Course Hotel and the Garden City Mall, and with the transaction effective on May 1, the time is right to break the news. No replacement as general manager was announced as yet, and it is understood that the hotel is still seeking a new man or woman to replace Rahul Sood, who left his position to join another hotel group in the country. The Metropole Hotel, under Rahulโ€™s management, clocked an incredible 88 percent occupancy for the last year, which includes a 60 percent repeat guest situation, a challenge for the new owners to copy in the future. Many guests and patrons of the hotel will be sad to see Rahul move on and will be keenly watching how the new owners will perform in coming months.

AIRLINES NOW JOIN CALL FOR SINGLE VISA
This column has been known to advocate for years now towards the introduction of a single visa for visitors from abroad to the region, to stimulate more traffic and attract more tourist and business travelers to east Africa. Added to this, is the outstanding issue of not charging visa fees to expatriates duly registered in one of the east African member states and allowing unrestricted travel across the region to them and their families, many of whom are now spending their holiday time in places where no visa is required by them.

Airlines in the region have now caught on to this demand, seeking to fill their planes with more passengers, and notably the Uganda country manager of Brussels Airlines Mr. Pierre Declerk is quoted in the media of having, in fact, challenged the scribes to join the cause and demand action from the responsible ministers through their newspapers. Other airline sources, while also supporting the idea, have, however, not gone on public record yet, a situation which ought to change if they want to succeed in having a single visa become a fast reality.

FORMER TOURISM MINISTER ROCKS THE BOAT
In an ill-considered broad side, the former Minister for Tourism, now deployed in the Prime Ministerโ€™s Office for general duties, has admitted that she and her colleagues are not up to the job, demanding capacity building and training to bridge existing skills gaps.

The Prime Minister sensibly declined to comment on the reported gaffe by the Minister, but the outburst still made national headlines and attracted a wide range of comments in radio call-in shows and elsewhere on the streets.

Hon. Janat Mukwayaโ€™s departure from the Tourism Ministry was greeted with widespread relief at the time of her leaving the ministry, and according to several sources this column spoke to at the time, heard sentiments like โ€œthis should have come much earlierโ€ but โ€œwas not a day too soonโ€ and opinions shared by this column without reservations and qualifications.

BRUSSELS AIRLINES OFFERS US$535 FARE TO EUROPE
Destinations in the UK and Brussels, of course, are now available for a limited period of time for a mere US$535 return, and sales are reportedly booming, filling the available seats beyond the airlineโ€™s wildest expectations. However, it must be pointed out that regulatory charges add easily a couple of hundred dollars on top of this, making airport operators and regulators the odd man out in the equation, as โ€“ unlike the airlines โ€“ they seem to stick to their extraordinary fee structures irrespective of the economic situationโ€™s demands for lower fees. Excellent fares to North America are also available until the start of the summer high season in June.

SHERATON INTRODUCES NEW WINE SELECTION
The Sheraton Kampala Hotel has recently presented a new wine selection, all from a fine vineyard in South Africa. The hotelโ€™s F&B team, led by Eric Wendel, director of F&B), and James Rattos, F&B manager, had prepared for this event for a while as they were searching for suitable new wines to offer to the Sheratonโ€™s demanding clientele. A range of 6 red and white wines from the Horse Mountain Estate will now feature in all the hotelโ€™s restaurants, bars, and catering outlets. Visitors to the Sheraton Kampala can sample the new wines with immediate effect.

MINISTERโ€™S COMMENTS ON PRIVATE GAME RESERVES GET MIXED REACTIONS
Comments made by one of the State Ministers in the Ministry of Tourism, Trade, and Industry about the options of privatizing game reserves, opting for a public/private sector partnership or having the private sector opening up new reserves promptly, received a mixed reaction. Concerns were raised on the regulatory set up and oversight, but going by previous experience, the proposition should be taken seriously in order to add new attractions to the tourism sector.

The Rhino Sanctuary on Ziwa Ranch, en route from Kampala to the Murchisons Falls National Park, has developed in recent years from strength to strength, is home to 6 rhinos and a range of other game and many bird species, and has added accommodation over the last 12 to 18 months to permit visitors to stay overnight and enjoy their visit longer. This experiment was the first ever in Uganda, when the Rhino Fund Uganda was given a license a couple of years ago to operate under UWAโ€™s wildlife use rights rules. With land-use rights secured for the long term and funding raised, the sanctuary was then created and equipped at an estimated cost of over US$1 million, while this correspondent was chairperson of the RFU and has since become a success story of sorts. Other such efforts are now also underway in other parts of Uganda, and it is hoped that new ventures will become equally well established.

KINGDOM HOTELS KENYA ALSO UNDER SCRUTINY
Having failed to make any impact in Uganda, where the name is now firmly linked with scandal in Kenya, too, the company has come under the spotlight. Rumors linked to the massive losses Prince Al Waleed sustained with his stock holdings in recent months, have suggested that Kingdom Hotels may in fact sell their Kenyan and Tanzanian properties, after spending mega bucks in first acquiring and then rehabilitating the Kenyan hotels and resorts over the past years. The hotel group is also linked to hotel holdings in London and Singapore, where similar rumors have emerged over the past days to the disdain of the Sheikh and his paid mouthpieces, one of whom in Kenya predictably denied the rumors circulating there.

LAIKIPIA MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE SET FOR JUNE 12-14
A three-day, cross-country, mountain-bike race is set for mid June in the Laikipia district in central Kenya. The participation will cost cycling enthusiasts a US$200 registration fee, or 15,000 Kenya Shillings, for local and regional participants. Simple ad-hoc, tented accommodation will be provided in the grounds of the Ol Gaboli Community Lodge, inclusive of meals, which start with a get-together dinner on the eve of the race. Upgrades to the bandas or other lodge accommodation are possible at a fee, but limited space is available, so first come, first served.

Several entry categories are on offer, and racers will, of course, be provided with water stations along the route, as well as lunch in the field on race days. Distances to be covered daily vary between 50 and 75 kilometers. Transport from the Nanyuki airstrip to the venue with shuttle busses is available with prior notice. For more information, contact the organizers via: www.riftvalleyadventures.com or write to [email protected] .

OL PEJETA SEEKS EXTRA INVESTMENT IN NEW CAMP
The Ol Pejeta Game Reserve last week formally invited proposals for the establishment of a 26-bed permanent tented camp, demanding from prospective investors a high-quality facility. The 90,000-acre conservancy is located in the Laikipia area of central Kenya and was previously a ranch owned by notorious arms dealer and business broker, Adnan Kashoggi, before it was foreclosed over debts owed to Lonrho East Africa at the time. On the sprawling property are already two permanent accommodation units, the Ol Pejeta House, and Sweetwaters Safari Camp, but in view of the expected rise in demand in coming years and the unique location between the Aberdare Mountains (and national park) and Mt. Kenya, the board of the conservancy has decided to act now and seek new investments.

Porini Camps, in conjunction with Gamewatcher Safaris, also operate a small classic tented facility on the conservancy called the Porini Rhino Camp, as do apparently two other operators, while the new camp location now advertised will be a permanent development. Look out for news of the winning bidder as and when the decision will be made.

KWS DROPS SUPPORT FOR CHEETAH ZOO
The Kenya Wildlife Services has finally decided to withdraw their support to a scheme devised by the so-called Cheetah Foundation at the boundary of the Masai Mara Game Reserve. The controversial sanctuary project, according to the latest information received, appears to have aimed at returning young cheetahs, raised in captivity, back into the wild, whereas all previous such attempts failed elsewhere according to the KTF environmental committee chairman Allan Earnshaw. NEMA in Nairobi had initially given a provisional license to the project in mid 2008, but with the KWS support now withdrawn, following further investigations and information received from the conservation and tourism fraternity, it seems more and more unlikely that it can go ahead.
Other issues raised in connection with the project are an apparent bypass around the moratorium against more accommodation units in the area, which leaves NEMA with egg all over their faces, prompting them to suggest foul play on the side of KWS, a rather transparent attempt to whitewash themselves over this and other recent controversies for which NEMA Kenya was dragged into the court of public opinion by the media.

KENYA/UGANDA RAILWAY BACK ON LINE
Repairs on the railway line leading from Nairobi towards the Rift Valley and on to the Ugandan border were carried out in a Nairobi suburb earlier in the week, after security forces provided a safe working environment for the railway staff. Prior to this some, agitated mobs, thought to be the same lot which uprooted the railway line several times last year for political purposes in support of one candidate, had threatened the workers and reportedly chased them away. Traffic in both directions has now resumed catering for imports and exports via the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa.

KENYA AIRWAYS NOW OFFERS SMS FLIGHT DETAILS
In a further innovative measure aimed at making up-to-date flight information available to their passengers, KQ has now introduced feedback to mobile phones by text about available flights, departure, and arrival times. Inquiries can be sent from any mobile, including those of visitors on roaming, to the service center number โ€œ7767โ€ and a response will arrive back momentarily.

KENYA TO PROMOTE TOURISM AT INDABA FAIR
Although individuals have in the past traveled to South Africa to sniff around at the regionโ€™s most important tourism trade fair, the Kenya Tourist Board and companies were hitherto not permitted to officially attend with a stand, as Indaba was restricted to member states of SADC, the Southern African Development Community. However, at the forthcoming Indaba in Durban, Kenya will, for the first time, attend as an exhibitor. Increasing trade and tourism links between the two countries, which include several daily flights by both Kenya Airways and South African Airways between Nairobi and Johannesburg, however, changed the situation in favor of Kenya, and, hopefully, buyers can be attracted at the fair to visit Kenya and the rest of the east African region.
Kenya Airways and the Kenya Tourist Board recently made an extra effort when hosting nearly 200 travel journalists, travel writers, and agents from nearly 20 African countries, in order to widen their market reach across the continent.

South Africa has been under pressure to lift such non-tariff barriers, which have been and are impeding free trade and the promotion of tourism under the pretext of only permitting SADC members access to certain events, and ahead of the FIFA world cup next year in South Africa, further relaxation of such protective measures are expected.

Following are two aviation items from Harro Trumpeneauโ€™s regular Aero Club of Kenya newsletter, which will be of interest to the readers of this column as it demonstrates private sector initiative where the regulators have failed to provide services and answers.

AIRFIELDS DATA BASE MAKING PROGRESS
The airfields data base initiated by the Aero Club of East Africa is taking shape on the club’s web site www.aeroclubea.net . It is effectively a computerized airfields manual, showing mainly Kenyan airfields, including details like coordinates, runway headings and lengths/widths, operator details, and any cautions, as well as photographs. So far some three hundred Kenyan airfields and airports are available online. The service is free.
All pilots are requested to assist in particular with aerial photos of the airfields. Please forward any pictures of the runways and also ground shots to Alexander Galley who is actively assembling the latest airfield data for the manual on behalf of the Aero Club. His email address is: [email protected] .

The Aero Club wishes to acknowledge the kind assistance by Capt. Tad Watts of
Boskovic Air Charters in providing details of many airstrips in Kenya. The hard work of site moderator Daniel Szlapak, and of Alexander Galley, is also greatly appreciated by the Club.

AERO CLUB INVESTIGATES WEBCAM WEATHER REPORTING SYSTEM
One of the greatest problems with aviation in Kenya is the lack of accurate meteorological data and weather forecasting. The Met Department only provides rudimentary information and TAFs, and METARS are only available for HKJK (Jomo Kenyatta International Airports) and HKMO (Moi International Airport. There are some web sites, mostly based in Europe and the USA, which publish medium-range forecasts and also satellite photographs (see “Links” page on the Aero Club web site www.aeroclubea.net ), and recently the “Metmonkey” site began to publish African and Kenyan weather information.

A new system, being contemplated by the Aero Club Committee, is a network of webcams placed strategically on cell phone towers throughout Kenya. The photographs taken by the webcams would be updated every two minutes, and users could click on a “Webcam Weather Site” for Kenya to look at the latest weather picture in the general area to which they are flying. A good live example can be found by checking the Rift Valley Academy webcam at Kijabe that shows fresh photos of the Longonot – Rift Valley area every two minutes. Check http://kijabe.org/cgi-bin/longocam.pl .

The photo gives the pilot (with computer access) a pretty good idea what the weather is in the Rift Valley. The concept is to place such webcams in places that are notoriously giving headaches to VFR pilots, such as the Aberdare Corridor, Nairobi’s Ngong Hills, the Mau Escarpment, etc. Costsand modalities have to be discussed first, and you will be kept updated on progress on this project.

PRECISION AIR GETS NEW ATR 72
Tanzaniaโ€™s premier and biggest private airline, Precision Air, has just taken delivery of another brand new ATR 72-500 as part of a large order placed last year with the French manufacturers. Two of the seven aircraft on order had been delivered previously already. The new aircraft, once put into service, is expected to boost capacity on both domestic and regional routes, where Precision Air is now the predominant Tanzanian airline. The carrier is co-owned by Kenya Airways, of course the premier international airline in the east African region, which invested heavily in past years in the Tanzanian carrier and owns the maximum legally permitted 49 percent of the company shares under Tanzanian law.

MKOMA BAY BEACH RESORT PROMOTES IN KAMPALA
Mrs. Lisa Lind, one of the owners of this recent addition to the beach circuit in Tanzania, has been in Kampala during the week, busy promoting holiday packages to this exclusive and secluded beach camp. Located near the Pangani River along the sandy Indian Ocean beaches, the small and exclusive resort offers a Swahili house with 4 bedrooms, ideally suited for families, besides which clients can choose between one of five beach bungalows and 7 spacious self-contained tents. A swimming pool cum bar and lounge and, of course, an airy restaurant, round up the facilities available.

Resort guests have the free use of mountain bikes and kayaks and activities, such as trips up the Pangani River by a traditional dhow, which are on offer in the area and are organized by the owners. Scuba diving and, to a lesser extent, deep-sea fishing, are also available from the resort.

The beach resort can be reached by road from Dar es Salaam, by boat from Zanzibar, and by air from Arusha with Regional Air to Pangani or from Dar via Tanga by Coastal Aviation. Visit their website for more information at www.mkomabay.com .

EXPLOSIONS IN DAR ES SALAAM NO ACT OF TERROR
Several explosions rocked the commercial capital of Tanzania yesterday, when an army base ammunition dump at the outskirts of the city reportedly exploded, causing panic amongst the Dar populations. Large clouds of smoke were seen rising over that part of the city. Wide-spread damage in the immediate vicinity and some more distant areas was reported in the local media, as well as an unspecified number of casualties, filling available hospital beds to the brim. Fleeing residents caused traffic jams, and in the ensuing panic, people were reportedly also trampled and injured. Dar es Salaamโ€™s American Embassy, together with the US Embassy in Nairobi, were bombed by a coordinated and timed Al Qaida attack in 1998, and this unfortunate accident brought back those memories with a vengeance.

RWANDA ATTRACTS NEW SPORTING EVENT
True to their ever-innovative colors, Rwanda has become the host of the Tandem Rally, where mountain bikers use tandems, or two-seaters, to compete in Rwandaโ€™s mountainous terrain thought ideal for the sport. None other than the Deputy CEO of the Rwanda Development Board and head of ORTPN, Mrs. Rosette Ruganda, made the announcement last weekend in Kigali, when she revealed details of the event. The sporting extravaganza is underwritten by European events company Absolute Blue, which will be promoting the race overseas. Hundreds of competitors and spectators are expected to come to Rwanda next year specifically to participate and watch the race, which will spread over several days between January 30 and February 7, 2010. The race will start and end in Kigali and traverse extensively across the country, allowing everyone involved, be it competitor or spectator, to sample the beauty of Rwandaโ€™s landscapes.

Rwanda is thought to have been selected owing partly to her three consecutive Best African Exhibitor awards collected at the ITB in Berlin, which has attracted huge media coverage and raised interest levels from other sectors, like sports, to engage with the โ€œland of a thousand hills.โ€ However, strong governmental political and budgetary support for tourism promotion and the ability by key staff of ORTPN to identify new opportunities and translate them into concrete action in the market place, are the main factors for Rwandaโ€™s ongoing success story, which makes it the envy of many others in the region.

MAYOR NOW BLAMES TECHNICAL ISSUES FOR HOTEL DESTRUCTION
As reported last week, a hotel was partly torn down on instructions of the local mayor, who in the face of rather negative publicity and pressure on her, decided to blame the event on technical issues, while denying that any personal disagreements or dislike between her and the ownerโ€™s wife played any role in making the decision. She dragged the district director of lands into the news conference to sing to her tune, which the man willingly did last weekend. Citing issues related to sewerage, both of them maintained that the hotel extension needed to be destroyed, in addition mentioning obscure security reasons and protecting citizens. Other sources from Kigali reported that a spokesperson for the Rwanda Development Board and the head of ORTPN both expressed their concern and regret over the unfortunate demolition of parts of the hotel, acknowledging that Rwanda needs more hotel rooms, and investment in the country continues to be welcome. One source in particular referred to other known cases where not all permits had been secured in time for building extensions and more facilities, and blamed the vengeful mayoress of being selective in her application of the demolition order, giving credence to the allegations made earlier last week that a personal feud was the underlying factor for the event.

In a further development, the event also attracted an intense debate within Rwanda over the way the mad cap mayoress acted, not allowing valuables to be removed from the site before the demolishing began, and what the implications will be for other investors who come to learn about this sad story.

JUBA CAPITAL MASTER PLAN DEFERRED
Following discussions within the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) and the Government of Central Equatoria State, also located in Juba, the capital city development master plan was halted for the time being, to allow for wider consultations within the various layers of government and civic society in Southern Sudan about the location and subsequent development of a well-structured capital city. Immediately after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed in early 2005, the town of Rumbek was floated as a new capital for the Southern Sudan, but when Gen. Garang died in a helicopter crash in mid 2005, the idea was put on the back burner, and Juba was initially chosen for its existing infrastructure and easy access from neighboring countries as the seat of the Southern Government. The interim constitution of 2005 also suggests that Juba should be the capital city for both GoSS and the state government. However, issues have since then arisen between the state and central governments, which need to be resolved first before making major financial commitments towards a master-plan development of Juba in coming years.

SERIOUS SNUB FOR BASHIR
South Africa has delivered a serious blow to the leader of the Khartoum regime, when making it known publicly that Bashir would not be welcome for the inauguration of president elect Jacob Zuma on May 9. Sections of the media went as far as suggesting that Bashir could, in fact, be arrested on arrival, should he dare to come and visit for the occasion. Unlike some others, South Africa has drawn a line in the sand and put distance between their democratic credentials and the Sudanese pariah leader. Concludes this column that notice has been served to Bashir that not all African countries will tolerate his shenanigans, and a number of African countries are ready to execute the ICC arrest warrant should the opportunity arise.

IVORY BANK MOVES HQ TO JUBA
This indigenous bank, up to now headquartered in Khartoum, has last week moved to Juba where the new head office will be located. The move was applauded by the southern political leadership as a promise fulfilled. Ivory was formed by private interests several years ago to cater to the southern population living in Khartoum at the time and has made a change in banking services when opening a number of branches across the southern Sudan.

Meanwhile, also in Southern Sudan, the Nile Commercial Bank, Ltd. New Sudan is reported to have run out of cash and told customers to wait for withdrawals, as the financial crunch accelerates. Sources in Juba are blaming the regime in Khartoum for not releasing sufficient funds from the oil revenue share agreement, with the objective to destabilize the southern government, leaving the population and businesses there to struggle with the adverse conditions.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

NEW CHOBI LODGE TO OPEN IN NOVEMBER

NEW CHOBI LODGE TO OPEN IN NOVEMBER
The new Chobi Safari Lodge, which is presently being rebuilt from the ground up, is making steady progress towards its completion. Once ready, the lodge, situated right on the banks of the river Nile, will offer a wide range of accommodation. The main building of the lodge will, as in the old days, offer 30 standard twin and double rooms, three suites, and a Honeymoon Suite, all with their own balcony offering spectacular views towards the river. In addition, as part of the new development and expansion, 21 self-contained luxurious tents located along the river bank will complement 6 deluxe rooms, a three-bedroom family house, and a presidential cottage within the lodge grounds. Further facilities are a conference room, also overlooking the river and able to seat up to 70 people, a cascading swimming pool, and, of course, the usual bar and restaurant facilities one comes to expect from a 5-star upmarket lodge. It was the extra work which delayed the completion from initially the middle of the year, towards the end of 2009.

Chobi is located above the main Murchisonโ€™s falls along the strip of river coming from the Karuma falls in the upper part of the national park. Since the old Chobi Lodge was destroyed at the end of the 1970s by troops withdrawing from the liberation forces, this more wooded part of the park was not very accessible, but the forthcoming opening of the lodge has also led to UWA opening up tracks and roads again, with a separate gate serving visitors for ease of access.

The new lodge will cost an estimated US$8 million and adds extra accommodation to a park, which is much in demand by visitors from abroad due to its unique flora and fauna, its landscapes, and, of course, the famous Nile waterfalls.

CLOUDS ON AWARD SHORTLIST
This most recent addition to the Wildplaces Africa stable, located at Nkuringo just outside Bwindi national park, has been put on the shortlist for the prestigious โ€œThe Good Safari Guide Award,โ€ which recognizes every year the best safari lodges, safari camps, beach resorts, and related properties. This information was received during the week from the Mirada Travel Group. โ€œCloudsโ€ was nominated in the best new eco-lodge category, a testimony to the level of quality visitors can expect when coming for gorilla tracking to Uganda. Visit www.wildplacesafrica.com for more details.

No other Ugandan safari properties appear to have made it on the shortlist though, a challenge to change this for the 2010 edition.

SKAL KAMPALA HOLDS FIRST MEETING UNDER NEW PRESIDENT
The Metropole Hotel will be the meeting ground on April 29 for Skalleagues and guests, when the meeting schedule goes underway for the new financial year. Mr. Rahul Sood, the Metropoleโ€™s general manager and also the current club president, will be sponsoring gifts, welcome drinks, and the wine for the night, while WARID Telecom will be underwriting the evening meals from the hotelโ€™s highly-rated Thai restaurant and providing a range of raffle prizes for Skal members to win. Talk about coming into office with the proverbial bang. Skal Kampala meets every last Wednesday of the month (except in December) and convenes at changing venues across the city and its environs.

UWA DECLARES 2009 YEAR OF THE GORILLA
The Uganda Wildlife Authority last week launched their โ€œYear of the Gorilla,โ€ releasing some interesting statistics at the time. Compared to the early 1990s when, of course, no gorilla tracking took place in an organized fashion, UWA took some US$3.3 million in receipts for tracking in 2008, making it the best year ever. The figure constitutes slightly over 50 percent of the revenue generated by UWA through gate receipts and other services available for visitors, as well as from concession fees and royalties. According to the UWA executive director Moses Mapesa, the wildlife management body aims to add more habituated gorilla groups for tracking with a projected income of over US$5 million in coming years, cementing tracking of gorillas and other primates as the most profitable and most sought-after tourism activity in the country.

MAY DAY HASH GOES INTERNATIONAL
The Ugandan chapter of the Hash House Harriers has organized a May Day weekend hash in Kampala, Jinja and Entebbe, for which a sizeable number of hashers from across eastern Africa and the rest of the continent are expected to assemble in Kampala. Main sponsor of the event is none other than MTN who has generously contributed to the organization of the Africa Hash event. Moonberg Breweries is the second major sponsor of the event, and it is expected that their beer will be flowing freely after the hashers have ended their run and worked up some serious thirst. More information about the event can be found at www.africainterhash2009.com or mail your inquiry to the following address: [email protected] .

Kampala Hashers normally run every Monday evening at various venues across the city. Visiting hashers are, of course, always welcome.

SKYJET REMAINS GROUNDED
The squabbles amongst shareholders, which recently caused the upstart airline to halt flight operations, have apparently not yet been resolved. The single B737 remains on the ground on a distant parking position at the old airport side, and the envisaged delivery of a second aircraft is now not likely until the quarreling parties have sorted themselves out first, if at all. Another reason emerging, may be the financial squeeze in southern Sudan, where the majority shareholder operates his other businesses, as presently there is a severe shortage of foreign exchange gripping the economy with little relief in sight.

The main beneficiary of this situation is, of course, Air Uganda, which now enjoys a free run on the route and operates with high average load factors both to and from Juba, although Eagle continues to operate their turboprops LET 410 and B1900 via the southern Sudanese town of Yei to Juba.

KINGDOM UGANDA YIELDS MAJORITY SHARES
The Ugandan misadventure of Kingdom Hotels Sheikh Al Waleed, often reported in this column, has now taken a new twist when investigative Ugandan journalists unearthed their deal with Dubai-based Azure and Kensington Groups for the development of the Shimoni land. Kensington has been diddling in the Ugandan property development market for the past few years and now appears to have taken a sizeable number of shares in the joint venture, knowledge of which the Ugandan government has denied until very recently. A crane has now been erected at the site sporting a kingdom banner, but this has invited both acid, as well as humoured, comments across town. Reports in the Ugandan media speak of the project being stretched over at least three phases before the entire scope has been realized, although new plans are reportedly being drawn up, stretching the process even more. No information was available, however, as to the eventual management company selected to run the hotel when it is finally completed, hopefully โ€œbefore kingdom comes,โ€ as the street humor refers to the project. The projected cost of the project was also reduced to some US$80 million from a previously very different higher figure. Stay tuned to this space for updates.

SHIMONI SCANDAL JUST NOT GOING AWAY
Regular readers will be well acquainted with the scandal surrounding the former Shimoni Primary School and Teachers Training College, which was abruptly demolished to make way for a 5-star luxury hotel, which Prince Al Waleed of Saudi Arabia had proposed to put up for the Commonwealth Summit in 2007. Yet, today nothing of the sort has happened, and while the sheikh donated some US$2 million for the rebuilding of the school and college, he got the land nearly for free. Recent cost estimates suggest that the college alone will cost the government some US$4 million to be built elsewhere. The cost of the school is not included in this figure.

In a more recent column, it was reported that the sheikh, due to a lack of liquid cash and credit, had partnered with a new group to finally start construction, but here comes more breaking news triggered by the former Minister of State for investment and current Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates: Prof. Semakula Kiwanuka and his successor in office had apparently written to the UAE authorities to get clarification on the status and standing of the UAE group peddled as a serious co-investor, and the company in question apparently only exists on paper. The former Minister and current envoy is now quoted in the local media to have said: โ€œCan you imagine a company that comes to do multibillion (sic: Uganda Shillings) investments, when they only have a trade name? That is bogus!โ€ Continue watching this space to stay informed on this never ending story, which has caused huge embarrassment to the government over the years and has become a focal point for opponents of free land giveaways to bogus investors who trick their way into high governmental offices in order to appropriate themselves a piece of Ugandaโ€™s resources.

GREED AND ENVY LOBBY AT IT AGAIN
The usual lot opposed to the contract between the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the Nkuringo community, and a private investor backed by the African Wildlife Foundation and USAID amongst others, have reared their proverbial heads again when recently meeting the new Minister for Tourism, Trade and Industry. There have been some isolated, but nevertheless ugly, racial undercurrents raised over the issue, as the company managing the โ€œCloudsโ€ safari lodge is owned by muzungus โ€“ or whites in Kiswahili. This is a disquieting development in an otherwise racially well-integrated society, free of the regular slurs and innuendo seen elsewhere against minorities. Uganda has generally a fabulous track record in warmly welcoming and integrating foreigners, and these attempts reveal the level of desperation for having failed to get the contract cancelled so far and condemning the Nkuringo community to bystander status, after they gave their land use rights to UWA to expand the habitat of this particular gorilla group. It also pays no attention to the increase in track-able gorilla groups habituated by UWA in the recent past, which has already increased the available daily permits considerably. It is also understood that more habituations are ongoing to further add more capacity into the tourism market, as long as it is sustainable and not harmful in any way to the social fabric of the groups or would impair their breeding patterns.

It was also established that a contract cancellation would inevitably lead to a legal case over breach of contract, which could reach multimillion dollar figures, besides the subsequent negative fallout with AWF and USAID who had designed the project and partly financed it. Hence, the Minister was rather guarded in his response but did promise he would consult with his predecessor in office, who had not yielded to the demands during her time at the helm of the Tourism Ministry.

The โ€œgreed and envyโ€ lobby also had another go at such established companies like the Madvhani Group, which owns and operates some of the countryโ€™s most impressive safari lodges in Queen Elizabeth and Murchisonโ€™s Falls national parks, accusing them, too, of monopolizing the market, a ludicrous suggestion when considering that in each park other accommodation exists both inside, as well as outside, the park boundaries, covering several varied market segments in terms of pricing. The early investors, who came on board in the early and mid 1990s, received a contractual exclusion zone of varying diameters around their lodges, to not only allow them to reach financial sustainability, but to also avoid developmental overcrowding in ecologically-sensitive areas according to approved park management plans. In any case, the previously dominant school of thought to build inside protected areas is now progressively shifting towards building new lodges outside the park boundaries. Those, therefore, now seeking a slice of the cake, i.e., trying to reap where they did not sow, are also conveniently overlooking the fact that companies like the Madvhanis have, for many years, born substantial losses from their lodges when anti-travel advisories and poor market conditions drove the lodges to the brink of financial ruin. Finally, attacking the Madvhani family, as was reported from that meeting, because they are rich, is a dead giveaway for the real motives of that disgruntled lot, aimed at redistributing wealth, almost by force, but certainly at their terms and preferably into their own pockets.

DATES FOR 2011 ELECTIONS OUT
The Uganda Electoral Commission announced last week the proposed dates for the political nominations and subsequent elections in 2011, when civic, parliamentary, and presidential elections will have to take place under the constitution. Mark the following dates in your long-term diary: February 12 until March 13, during which all elections will be conducted across the country.

Visitors planning to come to Uganda over that period of time can be assured, from experience, that the process is generally peaceful and no tourist visitors have ever come to harm in Uganda as a result of campaigning, so no need to change holiday plans.

MORE CHANGES AT THE UCAA
Former UCAA director for air transport and regulatory services, Mr. Kabbs Twijuke, has moved to ICAO in Montreal as Ugandaโ€™s representative and will be serving at least a three-year term, it was learned recently. His successor in office is the former manager air transport, Mr. Sam Muneeza, who is now heading the new and revised directorate overseeing security, safety, and economic regulations. The substantial staffing and organizational changes at the top of the UCAA during the course of the last year have, however, raised concerns amongst the aviation fraternity, as much of the skills base, experience, and personal relations have now gone into retirement or else moved on to greener pastures. It was noted by one usually-more-outspoken member of the fraternity, that no licensing hearing has taken place for over a year, unlike in Kenya where at least four such meetings are held annually, making him raise the question of whether or not the new bosses are up to speed and up to scratch yet in their new assignments โ€“ harsh words, but understandable sentiments, so watch this space for updates.

And in a directly-related development, the next segment is an excerpt from the latest newsletter of the Kenya Aero Club in Nairobi, courtesy of the venerable Harro Trempenau.

KENYA CIVIL AVIATION REGULATIONS CHALLENGED IN COURT
The “Dream of Human Flight,” so highly touted by the Wright brothers, has turned into a nightmare for Kenyan aviators as hapless KCAA staff are overwhelmed trying to enforce the overly-detailed and disorganized KCARS. Formerly routine paperwork is now being subjected to in-depth scrutiny and unnecessary red tape as overburdened inspectors and employees are trying to adhere to performance contracts and make no mistakes. As feared by the stakeholders, micro-control mechanisms have been imposed on Kenyan aviation in 1,400 pages of rules and penalties. Originally intended to appease the ICAO with airtight control of international civil aviation, the drafters of the KCARS made liberal use of the little word “all.” Hundreds of rules begin with “All aircraft shall” or “All aerodromes must,” without any distinction as to size, function, or use. The Boeing 777 is lumped together with the Piper Cub. Small, bush airstrips, used by charter flights, seem to be expected to have the same level of staffing, security, and bureaucracy as the large international airports – manuals, managers, x-ray machines, you name it. To top it off, all aspects of aviation in Kenya have been criminalized, from failure to renew a license, to forgetting to advise a change of address, to not fencing even the smallest bush airstrip, to having a torn windsock. Smoking a cigarette on the apron can land you in jail. And unlike other countries, here the prosecutors are the police and the judges – persons who may have never flown in an aircraft. Frightening thought.

Essentially, east African aviation is now being regulated with a one-size-fits-al’ system. It’s simple to apply, but it’s grinding aviation to a halt. For example, all Kenyan holders of Air Operators Certificates must now be re-certified. That means new manuals, new training methods, and very strict application of all sorts of rules that make sense with airlines like Kenya Airways, but not with operators of small Cessnas or Pipers. The passenger of a Cessna 182 can now relish in the thought that he is now much safer, as the door though which he entered the aircraft is now clearly labeled in English and Swahili: “Emergency Exit,” just like in that Airbus.

KCAA staff has resorted to the “CYAโ€ principle and are interpreting every rule and definition to the letter, avoiding any semblance of lateral thinking. As a result, even the most routine applications for any sort of license, permit, or unusual aviation activity are being shunted around from department to department because now several sections of KCAA must give their OK before a piece of paper is granted. Operators and pilots are unanimous that the bureaucracy created by KCAA is not only unnecessary, but fundamentally fallacious and counter-productive, especially in a day and age where organizations like the FAA and the EASA are offering rewards to those who point out simpler ways of regulating aviation. Unfortunately, the Kenyans fell into the same trap that slowed down economic growth of countries like India and Egypt for a hundred years, before leaders from those countries realized that micro-control of all human activities is counter-productive and hinders development. India, China, Egypt, Russia, and many other countries in which centralized control was practiced before, have all relaxed their systems and are now experiencing above-average economic growth. Kenya is on the other bus.

Kenyan aviation stakeholders have gone to the High Court over the KCARS, pointing out that operators and pilots are not against regulations per se, but that the regulations must be reasonable and not damage their livelihood and injure the economy. The Kenya Association of Air Operators, that lodged the suit, contends that in meetings with the Ministry of Transport in 2008, it was agreed that certain regulations that were injurious to air operations would be given blanket exemptions and extracted from the KCARS. This agreement was simply ignored by KCAA, and the authority steamrolled ahead without regard to the warnings of the stakeholders. The KCARS were gazetted into law in 2008. KCAA, in its defense, keeps pointing to the ICAO as a culprit, saying that Kenya must adhere to international regulations. Stakeholders have retorted many times that ICAO regulations are intended to guide primarily international commercial aviation and also domestic operations for commercial aircraft weighing more than 5,700 kg AUW. Yet, KCAA applies the stringent regulations intended for airliners to even the smallest airplane or airfield.

Meanwhile, the ICAO conducted an audit of the KCAA in late 2008 and concluded that the KCARS, as written, are injurious to general aviation and threaten to suffocate the sector. ICAO recommended relief. KCAA recently approached the stakeholders, and a committee was established to review the KCARS and come up with a set of parallel regulations for domestic operation of aircraft under the AUW of 5,700 kg. The committee, consisting of KCAA, the Kenya Association of Air Operators, and Aero Club delegates, will deliver its report to the AG Director-General Nicholas Bodo in three months. Issues to be included are the operation of gliders, home-built aircraft, microlights, balloons, domestic operations of charter flights, bush airstrips, etc. It is hoped that this will lead to a more reasonable approach toward regulating light aviation in east Africa and bring some hope into the industry.

JETLINK NOW FLIES TWICE A DAY TO JUBA
Following the arrival of two more CRJ aircraft earlier in the year, this privately-owned Kenyan airline started twice daily flights from Nairobi to Juba. It is understood that Jetlink is the only airline flying both early morning and late afternoon, in theory allowing a business traveler to reach Juba, transact business or hold an urgent meeting, and get back home to Nairobi on the same day. The 50-seat, all-economy CRJ is an ideal aircraft for such relatively short flights and permits a quick turnaround on the ground too, as it is self sufficient and does not require much in terms of ground handling and equipment.

It was also learned that Jetlink may, in fact, acquire more of the modern jets in due course, a sure sign that they are satisfied with the operational and financial performance of the Bombardier jets.

DELTA POSTS MASSIVE LOSSES, INSISTS NAIROBI FLIGHTS WILL START
Delta Airlines just announced a massive near US$800 million first-quarter loss back home in the US in a press release earlier in the week. At the same time, announcements were made that every second checked bag on international routes will now attract a US$50 surcharge aimed at making more money from their passengers, a move which will not go down well, however, in the Kenyan market where such exploitative fees have not taken root yet.

The airline will also ground their entire Boeing 747-200 freighter fleet to consolidate, or rather remove, their dedicated cargo operation to save money, while later in the year, nearly 40 more of their aircraft fleet will be retired to cut costs even further. Some 2,500 staff are also reported to have left the airline in recent weeks under a voluntary retirement scheme.

Yet, the office of Delta Airlines in Nairobi continues to make all the right noises that their flights will indeed commence on June 3 of this year, dismissing rumors that their financial situation may lead to the new route being deferred for some time. Watch this space for updates.

PORINI CAMPS GET TWO NOMINATIONS
The Good Safari Guide, published annually by the Mirada Travel Group, has put Porini Camps Kenya on their shortlist for two awards this year โ€“ a remarkable achievement. Several other Kenyan safari properties have also made their way into the final selection, as have some from Tanzania, too. The final decision is due soon and will be reported in this column, always eager to promote top quality on the east African safari circuits.

KENYA AIMS TO BECOME MAJOR INTERNATIONAL FILMING LOCATION
The annual filming location exhibition in Santa Monica will be attended by Kenya once again in order to attract major location business to the country. The Kenya Film Commission has repeatedly attended the trade show, but this year the tourism aspect will be added to the promotional efforts. Kenya has, in the past, had qualified success in attracting location business, but bureaucratic red tape has presented a real breakthrough, while other African destinations, like South Africa, were more proactive, eased restrictions, and granted generous incentives to film makers. Making a major Hollywood movie is thought to bring, at times, millions of dollars into the local economy, a juicy proposition in these days of economic hardships.

RIFT VALLEY RAILWAYS AGAIN VICTIM OF POLITICAL HOOLIGANS
As has happened on several occasions last year, when opponents of President Kibaki uprooted the main railway line from Nairobi to the eastern part of the country and the border with Uganda, the line last week was again disrupted. The same lot of hooligans are suspected to have carried out the act of sabotage, once again, and RVR claims to have lost up to 100 million Kenya Shillings in revenues since then, plus incurring the substantial repair cost. Rail traffic from Nairobi to Kisumu and into Uganda, as well as from upcountry to the coast, has been suspended since then, causing a pile-up of trains and containers further down the line to Mombasa and in the Rift Valley. RVR only recently got a reprieve from having their contract canceled, probably with the government being cognizant of the fact that the rail management company was suffering from unbudgeted repair losses and the economic fall-out after election results were declared in January 2008. Watch this space for updates.

STAKEHOLDERS COMPLAIN ABOUT LIVESTOCK INVASION
A group of tourism stakeholders operating in the Tsavo East National Park area have voiced their concern over a recent invasion of livestock and herders into the park, which they say spoils the expectation of their tourist clients when they see more cattle than wildlife. The Kenya Wildlife Service has acknowledged the problem and deployed extra manpower to the park area to round up and expel the herders and their animals.

Meanwhile, the Director of Tourism at the Ministry head office in Nairobi, Mrs. Wanjiru Munene, has retired from her position, and details of her successor are awaited. Mrs. Munene was reportedly awarded a Presidential recognition, handed over to her by the Minister for Tourism at her farewell party in Nairobi.

PROSECUTE THEM โ€“ DEMANDS KENYA ANTI CORRUPTION BODY
The Kenya Anti Corruption Commission has recommended that the former CEO of the Kenya Tourist Board and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism both be charged in court over the โ€“ reported in this column at the time โ€“ loss of multi-million Kenya Shillings in a clouded deal with a private-sector stakeholder, who was at the time also a member of the KTB board of directors. The deal was made at a time when no board of directors was in office and apparently sanctioned by the Permanent Secretary, but when the new board, under well-known tourism personality Jake Grieves Cook was appointed, it acted swiftly on rumors, investigated the matter, and first suspended and then fired the CEO.

ECO-TOURISM CONFERENCE SET FOR DAR ES SALAAM NEXT WEEK
Over a hundred tourism operators, planners, and policy advisors are expected in Dar es Salaam next week to participate in a dedicated conference dealing with the promotion of eco-friendly business practices in the tourism industry. Participants are expected from across the wider eastern and southern African region, as well as from Norway and Holland. Also on the agenda are issues like sourcing finance and building sustainable businesses in the tourism industry. The meeting is financed and organized by a Norwegian NGO.

ILO BLASTS WORKING CONDITIONS FOR HOSPITALITY STAFF IN TANZANIA
An ILO report, made public in Tanzania last week, is very critical of working conditions of staff employed in the sector, claiming more than 60 percent do not get annual leave and over half of those working in the hospitality industry work more than 50 hours a week. The report also highlights that nearly 20 percent of the workers experience physical violence in their workplace, while some 17 percent complain about abuse and harassment. The report was launched by the regional director of the ILO for Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and Somalia at the beginning of a workshop in Dar es Salaam last week, which was designed to find ways and means to improve working conditions in this and other sectors. The Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism welcomed the findings and stated that government would look into the complaints raised and highlighted in the report, with the objective to improve the circumstances under which hospitality staff have to work.

It is understood, however, after seeking some selected comments, that international hotel management companies are generally acknowledged to be ranked in the top 10 percent of employers giving not only benefits to their staff, but also offering career prospects in the industry through regular training opportunities both in Tanzania and also abroad.

RWANDAIR SIGNS CODE SHARE WITH BRUSSELS AIRLINES
In a development praised by both airlines, the Belgian and Rwandese flag carriers last week implemented an extensive codeshare and cooperation agreement. SN is already flying three times a week between Brussels and Kigali, and the Rwandan airline can now sell tickets on Brussels Airlines to Belgium, tapping into their own market potential. Rwandaโ€™s airline presently only flies into the nearby region and to Johannesburg, and the codeshare will, for the first time, open routes to Europe for them. Later in the year, a fourth flight will be added between the two cities, adding yet greater value to the agreement. For Brussels Airlines, it is a coup of sorts, as during the bidding process for the privatization of Rwandair, the Rwandese suspended the decision at the time when SN was the only remaining party and front runner and then seemingly negotiated with other parties but without much success. The codeshare and cooperation agreement, however, will allow SN greater access to not only the Rwandan market, but will also allow them to tap into the regional air traffic pool extending into eastern Congo, a big market once peace has been restored in the volatile area.

Adds this correspondent, code share and cooperation agreements with Brussels Airlines have become even more attractive and sought after since SN has joined the Lufthansa family, which is about the highest seal of quality approval one can wish for in a partner airline.

It was also learned, at the same time, that Rwandair is apparently in discussion with Bombardier for the acquisition of a CRJ regional jet, an aircraft they already operates under a lease arrangement from Kenyaโ€™s Jetlink. Should the deal go through, it would add an aircraft to the Rwandair fleet, which presently consists of three leased aircraft.

Information also released by the airline indicates that they plan from the summer schedule onwards to fly to Johannesburg via Lusaka, while still eyeing flights to other new destinations.

CHINESE CLASSES LATEST ADDITION AT KIE
The Kigali Institute of Education (KIE) has offered language courses for Rwandans wishing to learn the Chinese language, a development supported by both the Chinese and Rwandan governments. A partnership MOU was signed a while ago between Panda University and KIE, and the Chinese government supported the venture by sponsoring the building of classrooms, offices, and a library at KIE. The initial class is comprised of 30 students, and keen interest was reported by the institute for more courses.

DUTCH ASSIST IN BAMBOO REFORESTATION
The Dutch government has offered financial and technical assistance to re-grow a bamboo forest encroached on by neighboring communities of the Parc de Volcanos, which is home to Rwandaโ€™s greatest tourism attraction, the mountain gorillas. The border-transcending ecosystem, which also extends into Uganda and the eastern Congo, is said to benefit from the project immensely as it aims to restore important buffer zones around the core area of the national park.

MAYOR SNUBS TOURISM GURUS โ€“ ORDERS HOTEL DESTRUCTION
In what can only be referred to as institutional madness, the mayor of Gasabo District ordered the demolition of a new hotel, which started on Wednesday with the destruction of the newly-constructed spa and pool area. It appears that all appeals to common sense and good reason by officials from Kigali, including the Rwanda Development Board and ORTPN, fell on deaf ears, as contractors of the district wrecked the efforts of attracting new investments to Rwanda.

Allegations were made by sources close to the owners that it was because of a personal feud and grudge between the mayor and the wife of the investor, but a district spokesperson cited lack of permits for the construction as the main reason for the demolition. It is, however, understood that some permits for the building had been granted, making the mayorโ€™s action even more dubious. Meetings at a high political level went on at the time of going to press, but no immediate results were available, although it is understood that the demolition was eventually halted when instructions from above reached the mayor. Watch this space for the fall-out of this lunatic action, which can only be described as an out-of-control village chief.

ABYEI CONFLICT BEFORE THE HAGUE
A delegation led by the southern Sudanese Vice President Dr. Riek Machar is now at The Hague to argue the southern case over the state of Abyei before the Permanent Court of Arbitration. It was eventually agreed in 2008, after several outbreaks of violence thought to have been initiated by the northern regime in Khartoum, that the matter was to be handed over to international arbitration and both sides would abide by the outcome. Abyei is an oil-rich state and was, at the time of signing the CPA (comprehensive peace agreements) in early 2005, immediately claimed by the south, together with two other disputed states where the north had tried to change the demographics during the time of their occupation by importing populations from the north to change the equation. This, however, was countered by historical maps, records, and recollections from the tribes living in those areas, and, like Abyei, a solution is still pending. Stay tuned to this space for ongoing news from the southern Sudan.

SUN AIR COMMENCES ABU DHABI FLIGHTS
The privately-owned Sudanese airline, which operates daily in and out of Juba from Khartoum, has now added Abu Dhabi to their international destinations. Travelers from Juba can connect in Khartoum for their onward flight to the capital city of the United Arab Emirates.

Sun Air operates a fleet of Boeing 737s and an Airbus A310-300, which it uses on its domestic, regional, and international flights. Initially, there will be three flights a week with the option to eventually go daily, to cater to VFR and business traffic between the UAE and the Sudan.

DIPLOMATS BOYCOTT ETHIOPIAN STATE DINNER FOR BASHIR
Sudanโ€™s regime leader Bashir, in defiance of an ICC warrant, traveled to Ethiopia earlier in the week and was received by the countryโ€™s leadership, but not as usual and required by diplomatic protocol by many of the accredited ambassadors. In a telling manner, however, the ambassadors of Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, and China were reported in the Addis Ababa media as present. In a further snub, it was also reported that the state dinner hosted for Bashir was again boycotted by diplomats from countries in agreement with the ICC warrant, a slap in the face also for Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi for having hosted the alleged war criminal. Bashir, in a pre-departure press conference, was reported to have scoffed at the warrant, giving a litany of countries he had since visited, all of them, however, known to be in cahoots with opponents of the ICCโ€™s action.

ABYEI CONFLICT BEFORE THE HAGUE
A delegation led by the southern Sudanese Vice President Dr. Riek Machar is now at The Hague to argue the southern case over the state of Abyei before the Permanent Court of Arbitration. It was eventually agreed in 2008, after several outbreaks of violence thought to have been initiated by the northern regime in Khartoum, that the matter was to be handed over to international arbitration and both sides would abide by the outcome. Abyei is an oil-rich state and was, at the time of signing the CPA (comprehensive peace agreements) in early 2005, immediately claimed by the south, together with two other disputed states where the north had tried to change the demographics during the time of their occupation by importing populations from the north to change the equation. This, however, was countered by historical maps, records, and recollections from the tribes living in those areas, and, like Abyei, a solution is still pending. Stay tuned to this space for ongoing news from the southern Sudan.

MADAGASCAR WAIVES VISA FEES FOR TOURISTS
For those still determined to visit Madagascar after a series of violent political events in recent months, some good news emerged last week. The previous visa fee of nearly US$80 was apparently waived, at least until the end of the year, for tourists staying not longer than a month. However, these otherwise commendable efforts need to be supplemented with a calming of the political situation in the country, a sustained marketing campaign in producer markets, and the creation of a new image of Madagascar to reshape public opinion around the world. Tourism has been a major foreign exchange earner for the island state, but income has dropped bottomless in recent weeks as tourists stayed away, warned off by real events and strong anti-travel advisories by their own foreign offices.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

OBAMA DECISION ON RESCUE WIDELY APPLAUDED

OBAMA DECISION ON RESCUE WIDELY APPLAUDED
The decisive action by US Navy personnel to rescue a captured captain from pirates was greeted with relief and applause in particular for President Obama, whose credentials in eastern Africa were strengthened by his courageous and successful decision to allow the mission. Somali pirates have become a menace for ships trying to reach the eastern African ports of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam, even when navigating sea lanes further out into the ocean, as the pirates equally operate hundreds of miles out to sea.

The one off rescue, welcomed as it was, of course, masks the underlying problem that pirates still hold dozens of hostages from many ships now under their control. What is really required is a well-coordinated assault on the safe havens of the pirates to destroy their infrastructure – their so-called โ€œmother shipsโ€ and either capture them and bring them to justice or else. Alliance forces are based in Djibouti, and the veritable assembly of international warships off the Horn of Africa should now provide the means to commence an offensive against the pirates on the sea and on land. Should that not be done very soon, the menace will undoubtedly continue to worsen and affect international shipping through the Suez Canal, the Gulf of Aden, and along the lower east African shorelines, to the detriment of world trade, the affected shipping lines, the crews, and their families. In closing, imagine the scenario of a passenger cruise liner being captured by those terrorist pirates with hundreds of people on board. Will it have to come to a catastrophe first before serious military action is taken? Watch this space for updates.

UK SENDS TWO LIONESSES HOME
The Paradise Wildlife Park in the UK has donated two female lionesses to the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre in Entebbe. The relocation is apparently a first in sending African lions back to Africa from the UK, but they will, of course, never see the African bush for real, having to settle for second best at UWEC for the rest of their lives. The gesture, however, is greatly appreciated and will be an added attraction for visitors.

ENVIRONMENT GETS MORE FUNDS
Two pieces of good news emerged just before Easter for the environmental lobby, when first, a US$200,000 grant was announced by the FAO, the UNโ€™s Food and Agriculture Organization. The money will be used to seed-fund forestry conservation activities for the next year, although more funding will be needed from government to achieve the noble objectives.

In a second and related development, parliament passed a vote to allow for a US$15 million fund allocation by the World Bank for the National Environmental Management Authority, or NEMA in short, to facilitate nationwide tree planting and reforestation to improve forest cover and mitigate environmental impacts by human activities.

UGANDA COMMEMORATES AMIN OVERTHROW
April 11, 1979 saw the eventual overthrow of Ugandaโ€™s most notorious dictator, Idi Amin Dada, take place, when Tanzanian troops and Ugandan exile forces, amongst them none other than President Museveni, took Kampala and forced the remaining troops of Amin out of the capital city. Amin has, meanwhile, of course, passed on, but he remains strongly identified with Uganda, like a lingering cloud, owing to his notoriety for gruesome crimes committed against Ugandaโ€™s citizens and his support for Palestinian terrorists who held a planeload of passengers hostage at Entebbe International Airport (before a successful rescue mission by Israeli commandos). Aminโ€™s regime was then eventually replaced with an almost equally dictatorial second term of Milton Obote, after the rigged and stolen elections of 1981. It was this event which made current President Museveni take to the bush to start a 5-year liberation war, which ended in defeat for the last of Ugandaโ€™s dictators and has since allowed for the emergence of a vibrant democracy and brought economic progress and development to the country.

Oscar winning film, โ€œThe Last King of Scotland,โ€ was filmed on location in Uganda a few years ago and is about the cruel and despotic aspects of life under Amin. The film drew much attention to the new Uganda as an investment and tourism destination.

BRIDGE CONSULTATIONS YIELD RESULTS
The consultative exercise over the planned new bridge across the river Nile in Jinja has brought about first results, when the route was changed, following submissions by affected businesses at the Njeru side of the river where the Nile Breweries are located. A planned multi-million, US-dollar expansion of the brewery was under threat when the initial route of the bridge and road works cut right through the land owned by the brewery and set aside for the expansion. A slightly different route is now being proposed to avoid this clash of interests, but already other businesses located in the vicinity are now complaining, too, that because of their lesser status compared with the brewery, their own presentations were ignored. A final decision is expected soon, and it is hoped that work can commence in the near future to add this very important alternative road link from eastern Uganda crossing the Nile.

AIR ARABIA WINS AWARD
The first ever Gulf-based, low-cost carrier, which flies between Sharjah, UAE and Nairobi on a regular basis, has announced good news. The airline won the prestigious โ€œBest Low Cost Airline in the Middle Eastโ€ designation, when the World Airline Awards 2009 were announced recently. Travelers from eastern Africa to the Gulf, and east African expatriates working in the UAE, have taken to the airline because of their affordable rates. Sharjah is only a few kilometers away from Dubai itself but offers generally more affordable accommodation and, not known to all, affordable shopping, compared to other parts of the United Arab Emirates. In spite of the difficult market conditions, Air Arabia added over 30 percent in passengers in 2008, a sign that their business concept actually works.

WILDMAN KENYA SET FOR APRIL 18 & 19
The Kenyan equivalent to Hawaiiโ€™s โ€œIron Manโ€ will take place over the weekend of April 18-19 in Watamu on the Indian Ocean coast. The triathlon requires participants, depending on the category they entered, to run up to 20 kilometers, cycle up to 80 kilometers, and complete an ocean swim of up to 3 kilometers for the top โ€œUltraโ€ category. The Olympic Triathlon and the Corporate Relay require lesser distances to complete the challenge. Registration costs 4,000 KShs, which is equivalent to about US$50. Also available are kidsโ€™ events covering very small distances and a Community Funathlon.

A contribution of 500 KShs will be made to the Kibera community sport project for each registered participant, spreading the goodies to those in most need. Thanks to Wairimu Kinuthia of KenyaBuzz for the information.

KENYA GOVERNMENT PUTS HOTELS UP FOR SALE
In a last ditch effort to raise much needed cash for the ballooning government expenditure, the Kenyan Ministry of Finance decided to put their shares in more than a dozen hotels and lodges up for sale. Major blocks of shares, estimated to be in between 30 to 40 percent, in such prominent hotels like the Hilton, the Intercontinental, and the Mombasa Beach, will soon be floated, and existing co-share holders are expected to have a first right of refusal for the shares, once the government officially declares their intent to sell to the respective boards.

Several smaller hotels, like the Sunset Hotel in Kisumu โ€“ located near the paternal home of US President Barrack Obama โ€“ and of several safari lodges like Voi and Ngulia in the Tsavo National Park, will also come on the market under the proposed sale. Kenyaโ€™s bloated coalition government has been eating deep into the available financial envelope, and selling the โ€œfamily silver,โ€ now seems one of few options to raise more cash in the face of the current global and financial economic crisis, which has also reached Kenyaโ€™s shores. Watch this space for updates.

KENYAN HOTELWORKERS IGNORE UNIONโ€™S STRIKE CALL
An ill-considered strike call by the Kenya Hotels and Allied Workers Union was defeated by staff turning up for work, after the main rival union declared the strike not necessary. The ill-timed attempted strike action, just ahead of the Easter weekend, could have potentially disrupted the hospitality sector, which, in any case, is already struggling with the fallout of the global economic and financial crisis, a fact conveniently ignored by the union bosses. No disruptions were, in fact, reported from Kenya, where citizens, expatriates, and visitors alike enjoyed a peaceful long holiday weekend.

DELTA CONNECTION LOOSES NAME RIGHTS
In a crushing High Court ruling in Nairobi, locally-incorporated airline, Delta Connection, was ordered to drop the use of the Delta name in all their stationary, tickets, advertising, and related areas of business, stating that it infringed on the rights of Delta Airlines from the United States, which is soon due to commence flights to Nairobi.
The local airline, which was established several years ago, has immediately moved to the Court of Appeals for a stay of execution, citing irreparable loss of business and a likely grounding of the airline should the High Court ruling become final. At the time of forming the airline and registering its name, this similarity was apparently not of any concern to the Registrar of Companies, but with the onset of Delta flights between the US and Kenya, the matter inevitably came to a head. An initial stay of execution of 15 days was granted, which could be extended until the appeal before the court has been heard. As all permits and licenses are presently granted under Delta Connection, the airline clearly needs time, if so ordered, to put their house in order under a different name with the regulators and other bodies, a fact Delta Airlines from the US needs to face up to now, as the next step of their legal battle unfolds.

TANZANIAN PRESIDENT OPENS NEW BEACH RESORT
A new 138-bedroom hotel was opened last weekend by none other then President Kikwete in Bagamoyo, a historic town north of Dar es Salaam. While at the new hotel, the President also called for swift surveys on suitable beaches both north and south of Dar es Salaam to open up new areas for tourism developments. The president also acknowledged in his speech the contributions of the tourism sector towards the Tanzanian economy, while urging Tanzanian nationals to take advantage of the facilities put up in national parks and along the Indian Ocean beaches.

The President, on an earlier occasion, also assured the nation that his government would do all in its power to avoid a repeat of widespread electricity shortages in the light of recent drought predictions, which would impact, once again, all hydro-electric plants, leaving the shortfall to be catered for by expensive thermal plants.

NEW LODGE TO OPEN IN SERENGETI
A new 75-bedroom safari lodge is due to open in June this year in the Serengeti National Park. The information was given by Kempinski Hotels in Dar es Salaam, who will manage the new property on behalf of the UAE-based owners. The Bilila Kempinski Lodge will likely be the last such development in the Serengeti, where environmental concerns are taken seriously over the impact of such fixed places. It is, however, according to usually well-informed sources, possible to erect tented camps in select places, as they are thought to be less damaging to the fragile ecosystem and can more easily be removed.

At the same time, controversy is ongoing in the adjoining Kenyan Masai Mara Game Reserve where an abundance of hospitality businesses are operating. Commented a Kenyan safari operator: โ€œMaybe we have overdone it in the Mara, but when I look at those big spaces in the Serengeti, I think that they are maybe a little too restrictive about a few more lodges, but then again, when one is killing the goose laying the golden eggs with too many beds in a small reserve, that makes you think again.โ€

Conservationists, however, are said to be delighted by Tanapaโ€™s decision to halt any further brick-and-mortar developments in the Serengeti and restrict new lodges to areas immediately outside the national park. Said one of them based in Nairobi to this correspondent: โ€œI hope Kenya takes a leaf from this decision. The Masai Mara moratorium on new lodges has been ignored, and the carrying capacity for lodges and tented camps inside the greater Mara conservation area is literally exhausted. Investors should look at some of the parks and reserves without enough beds and build there, instead of overcrowding the main parks,โ€ – sentiments shared by this column.

TANZANIA HALTS HOTEL GRADING
Citing a lack of adequate funds, the Tanzanian government has stopped all work on the ongoing classification and grading of hotels, lodges, and resorts in the country. The long-overdue exercise is also one of the agreed coordinated actions of the East African Community (EAC), which is due to unfold across the five member states. The objective, of course, is to give tourists and business visitors a level of certainty that the star rating on a hospitality businessโ€™ door indeed reflects the reality on the ground and is comparable with similar establishments anywhere in the EAC. After the work started, some 100 coastal resorts and business hotels along the Indian Ocean beaches and in Dar es Salaam were inspected, but the all important โ€œNorthern Circuitโ€ covering the hotels and lodges from Moshi over Arusha to the national parks of Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro, and Serengeti, remain untouched. This is sad news for the hospitality industry and, indeed, more sad news for east African cooperation.

BURUNDI MEETING MAKES LITTLE PROGRESS FOR EAC
A meeting in preparation for the head of state summit of the East African Community at the end of April took place in Bujumbura last week, discussing a compromise on the slow, and at times painful, march towards economic integration of the EAC. The Common Market Protocol is due to be signed by the heads of state later in the month, but substantial differences emerged once more in the positions of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi versus Tanzania over a range of issues. The four states wish to have their citizens use national identity cards to move freely across the EAC, like in the old days of the first EAC, while Tanzania continues to insist on the use of passports, however, with little compelling arguments offered. Other contentious issues are the ownership of land by citizens of one member state in another member state, again an issue raised by Tanzania, which is reluctant to permit such a blanket right. The third contentious issue remains residency of EAC citizens in any of the other states without formality, where Tanzania again put her foot down and stood in the way of an agreement.

In order to rescue the meeting, it was agreed to exclude these three sticking points from the common communiquรฉ and will probably seek a further meeting before the upcoming Council of Ministers meeting and the subsequent summit in Arusha.

Uganda tried to formulate a compromise during an EAC meeting of ministers in Kampala, with little success, however. So far, a split looms over the three crucial issues. In fact, the all-important tourist industry in eastern Africa would be one of the losers if no solution could be found, as free travel across the region by citizens would undoubtedly encourage more travel by citizens, while a single Visa for tourist and business visitors from abroad would attract such target groups to visit more than one country – now an expensive proposition due to the extra fees and hassles involved. Watch this space for updates.

SOUTHERN SUDAN GETS TOUGH WITH SABOTEURS
The Ugandan and Kenyan business communities have, of late, raised a series of complaints and concerns with their foreign ministries and diplomatic missions in Juba, over being harassed, mistreated, and accosted while doing business in southern Sudan. Both countries hosted large numbers of refugees from southern Sudan and were the springboard for supplies for the SPLA and her allies during the liberation war, but such hospitality seemed often forgotten, going by regular reports in the local media. One of the bullies, however, a self-styled โ€œColonel,โ€ allegedly integrated into the southern Sudan Armed Forces from a former militia formation and was recently arrested when a Kenyan investor in a Juba hotel property found his own representative from Nairobi missing after being arrested by the โ€œColonelโ€™sโ€ contacts for being an alleged imposter.

The matter swiftly made its way up the ranks, however, and top officials from the government and SPLA swooped down on the fellow, picked him up, and put him on remand. Official statements from the government in Juba also reassured Kenya and Uganda of cordial and friendly relations and that the official policy is to welcome investments and business relations between the countries and the south Sudan, while condemning individuals trying to muscle into investments under false pretenses.

THE LUNACY IN CONGO
News has emerged from usually-reliable UN sources in Goma, that the commanders of MONUC on the ground are complaining bitterly over troop levels, promised to them months ago but never delivered. This information gains new light with ongoing news of the Hutu killer militias in eastern Congo being as active again as before the joint Rwanda, Congo, MONUC offensive against them, which was terminated by Congo before the full military objective could be achieved by Rwandese forces, who were asked to leave prematurely. This joint exercise already put the 17,000-strong MONUC forces to their hardest test yet and made all but clear that they cannot succeed without either having direct help from Rwanda or else troop numbers boosted to match the guerrillas. The Hutu militias are, in fact, reported to have issued specific hit lists, targeting alleged collaborators with the Rwandan troops, at the time, and several killings already point towards such assassinations.

The picture darkens in the northeast of the Congo, where again Congo had asked the joint Ugandan force to also leave the area and return home, while the LRA rebels, their leaders wanted by the ICC for crimes against humanity and war crimes, roam freely at will again. Congolese forces are, as usual, hesitant to engage the rebels, and the UN forces lack the manpower and equipment to root out the menace. Border areas inside Congo, from Goma towards the Central African Republic, should, therefore, be avoided by visitors, and in particular adventurers, wishing to track gorillas in the border triangle between Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo and should opt for safe tracking in Uganda and Rwanda for their own safety.

Tracking of gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda is considered safe, and security measures are in place along the common frontier with Congo, to prevent any infiltration of ill-meaning elements.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

KAMPALA SERENA CHEF IN G20 KITCHEN

KAMPALA SERENA CHEF IN G20 KITCHEN
Mr. Ashton Muthai, the deputy to Kampala Serenaโ€™s executive chef, had days of culinary glory while on attachment to the Landmark Hotel in London for a stint of practicing and experience gathering. While in the UK, he had a once-in-a-lifetime chance to participate as a member of the kitchen brigade in Buckingham Palace, where HM the Queen hosted a banquet for the G20 Summit with heads of state, heads of government, and their spouses in attendance. Ashton, a fast-rising star in the already impressive line up of the Kampala Serenaโ€™s kitchen, had been second at the Nile Hotel in Kampala after Serena took over the hotel from the government in 2004 and then returned to the venue ahead of the re-opening of the hotel. Since then, however, Ashton regularly cooked for state dinners held at the Kampala Serena Hotel, including the main banquet of the Commonwealth Summit, which was hosted by HM the Queen at the time. Ashton also provided culinary creations to the many global โ€œWhoโ€™s Whoโ€ from governments, NGOs, the business world, and show-biz community staying at the Serena when in Kampala, and his latest experience will stand him well in years to come as his career continues to blossom. Well done indeed.

SAFARI GUIDES COMPLETE COURSE
The Uganda Safari Guide Association, in conjunction with the Bird Guide Association, has recently completed training courses for driver guides and specialized guides, 6 of whom graduated with the highest possible scores. An additional course for 20 guides will be taking place shortly but requires substantially higher entry criteria for participants. This will help the safari sector to train high-end, high-quality guides who, under the upcoming grading and licensing, will then be part of the top layer of qualified and approved guides. According to USAGA, a separate training course for cultural guides has been scheduled for September of this year. In further information, the Uganda Safari Guide Association has also informed the sector that they are investigating complaints about several member driver guides over a range of allegations. The USAGA disciplinary committee remains committed to root out misfits and will do what they can to have those found guilty of offenses, vis-ร -vis their ethics and standards guidelines, to be banned from entering protected areas or appearing in the membership guide listings.

UGANDA PASSES ANTI SEX TOURISM BILL
Last week saw a long-standing goal of legislation fulfilled, an objective actively supported by this correspondent when still in trade politics, after Parliament passed a law dealing with sex tourism, child trafficking, and related issues. Jail terms of between 15 years and life await convicted offenders found engaging in the disgusting practices. Existing laws already provide for a death sentence for defilers, a category in law which would apply to sexual predators seeking out under-aged children and being found guilty in a court of law. It is for the world to note that Uganda is, therefore, not a place to visit if anyone intends to act out his or her depraved sexual fantasies, as long years in harsh prison conditions would await offenders or at worst a death penalty. Stand warned!

KINGDOM HOTELS IN BAD BOOKS WITH UGANDAN PUBLIC
The saga of this hotel project, which started out like Cinderella, has progressively turned an ugly duckling in the public eye. Ahead of the Commonwealth Summit, the government tried to entice investors to put up sufficient new hotels and meeting facilities to be able to host the meeting, an objective the Uganda government largely achieved. However, the near free gift of about 17 acres of prime land in the city to Saudi Arabian Prince Al Waleed, principal owner of Kingdom Hotels, did not yield the wanted results as construction never started, although over a thousand pupils and their teachers and other staff were hurriedly told to vacate when the Shimoni Primary School and Teachers Training College were demolished. Although Al Waleed reportedly then contributed some US$2 million to build new facilities, this has largely not taken place to date, depriving Ugandans of educational facilities.

In fact, Kingdomโ€™s lawyers in Kampala recently publicly threatened legal action against the government if any attempt was made to repossess the land in question, in spite of their clients not performing their part of the deal, i.e., building a 5-star luxury hotel. Meanwhile, Kingdom Hotels in Kenya invested mega millions to first buy Lonrho Hotels and then refurbish their 5 properties there, a situation appreciated in Kenya but found intolerable here in Uganda.

The latest news now is that Kingdom has brought in a partner to advance the project, a situation the government claimed it was not aware of nor had it sanctioned a new ownership set up for the project. Hence, even if the project, after all the hullabaloo, is going ahead, the Kampala public will harbor grudges galore against the Sheikh for first taking and destroying their school, sitting on his hands for years before then threatening to sue, and finally, altering the set up substantively without apparent knowledge by the government. Watch this space for emerging news.

KENYA WELCOMES TRAVEL AGENTS FROM ACROSS AFRICA
As part of Kenyaโ€™s efforts to get the country on the map, even within Africa, some 150 travel agents were flown to Nairobi from such diverse countries as Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mali, Ethiopia, Morocco, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda. At a grand welcome at the Nairobi Museum hosted by Kenya Airways, the Kenya Tourist Board and the private sector representing safari and lodge operators, participants were given presentations on the destination and urged to sell Kenya holidays in their home markets rather than sending travelers to places outside Africa. Kenya is, of course, east Africaโ€™s leading destination in terms of visitor numbers, but the global economic crisis has now spurred extra activities in markets where, in particular, Kenya Airways is flying to, aiming at attracting travellers from these sources. The one week FAM trip took participants to a range of the Kenyan game parks and also to the coast, showing them the key attractions and allowing them to sample the classic Kenyan hospitality. The joint venture of promoting Kenya across the rest of Africa is said to be worth some 50 million Kenya Shillings, a substantial boost to other activities and budgetary allocations already available. Way to go Kenya!

Meanwhile, the tourism business community has told politicians to get on with their work inside parliament and refrain from calling for mass action on the streets whenever they seemingly cannot agree on a way forward. The tourism sector is a major employer in the country, and key stakeholders are no longer willing to accept having their businesses made to suffer as a result of political issues.

TWO NEW RHINO BABIES AT LEWA DOWNS
Lewa Downs, a globally-renowned conservancy in northern Kenya for rhinos and other endangered African wildlife like the Grevyโ€™s Zebra, has recently announced the birth of two Eastern Black Rhinos, bringing the total number of the rare animals to 64. This remarkable development has made Lewa the home of more than 10 percent of all Eastern Black Rhinos in Kenya, a tribute to decades of committed and often unappreciated work carried out by the owners. The success of breeding and preserving, however, is now pushing Lewa to the brink of its estimated carrying capacity for rhinos, and relocations to other safe areas in coming years are thought to be almost inevitable. Congratulations to Lewa, of course, on this latest success story. Visit www.lewa.org for more information about the work done there and how best to support their efforts in the future.

TANZANIA TO GET MORE RHINOS
Over 30 black rhinos are due to be imported from South Africa and will be relocated into the Serengeti in coming years under a US$4.5 million project. The acquisition of the rhinos will help the park to repopulate the species with a viable additional population, adding to the existing attractions visitors enjoy when traveling to the park. The first rhinos are due to arrive later this year and will, after a brief period of veterinary monitoring, be released into the Grumeti Sector and the wider Serengeti. The relocation may last for up to 5 years before all rhinos are on site.

Training of about 150 specialized game rangers, aimed at giving the extra protection needed by rhinos, has already commenced and is also being supported by the Frankfurt Zoological Society, as well as by the Grumeti Fund, the Grumeti and Ikorongo Game Reserves, and other interested conservation groups and parties. Community support and education programs are operating alongside the main initiative to sensitize communities adjoining the park and reserves in case some of the rhinos may stray outside the protected areas. Watch this space for updates.

RWANDA GENOCIDE REMEMBERED
Ugandan border communities and society at large have joined with their Rwandese neighbors to commemorate the gruesome genocide committed by Hutu militias in 1994, which started this week 15 years ago but is still vividly remembered. Over 10,000 genocide victims have, in fact, been buried on the Ugandan side of the border, and efforts are underway to repatriate the victimโ€™s bodies and inter them at newly-created Genocide Memorial sites inside Rwanda. Well-wishers of the new Rwanda from around the world have traveled to the tiny east African nation to pay their respects to the more than 800,000 victims, participate in memorial services and prayer sessions, and help remind the world of the failings in 1994 and the objective of โ€œnever again.โ€

The main event in Kigali brought more than 25,000 participants into the overflowing city stadium where a candle-light prayer vigil was held in the presence of President Kagame.

RWANDA โ€“ TANZANIA โ€“ BURUNDI RAILWAY FOR 2014
Work on the extension railway line between the proposed inland dry port of Isaka in Northern Tanzania and Kigali, the Rwandan capital city, is due to start later this year following a tripartite meeting in Rwanda last week. The estimated cost of the project is presently standing at some US$2.5 billion but will likely be greater than this when work actually is tendered and contracts awarded. Work is expected to finish by 2014, then giving Rwanda a rail link to the Indian Ocean port of Dar es Salaam for the first time ever. The line from Dar es Salaam to Isaka will, under the project, also be modernized and transformed into an international standard gauge size from the current narrow gauge presently used. The wider rail line will facilitate not only larger loads but, most important, faster speeds, and being new will suffer less line disruptions, currently a major problem for rail operators across the region. The original railways in east Africa were built around the turn of the last century although the Tanzania โ€“ Zambia railway was added later on to provide another rail link to a safe harbor, as was the case when it was built by the Chinese government in support of economic cooperation and development in the region and also to help the liberation movements in southern Africa. Those depended at the time on supplies reaching them via Tanzania and Zambia as Zimbabwe, and in particular South Africa, was still ruled by minority regimes.
In a related development, the extension of the Uganda rail system to southern Sudan is also advancing through the planning stages, but no dates have yet been given, in public or in private, as to the start of works. Watch this space for updates.

SUDAN ELECTIONS POSTPONED UNTIL 2010
Elections were due to take place later in the year across the Sudan, including the southern part of the country, before the south will then embark on a referendum on their future status, i.e., remaining inside the Sudan as an autonomous region or opting for full independence. The preparations of the elections, however, ran into trouble when sharp differences emerged between the north and the south over results of a national census taken last year. The south in particular objected to downsizing the southern population, which would have a substantial impact on the boundaries of constituencies and subsequently would prejudice the eventual distribution of seats in the national parliament. With the census dispute unresolved and ongoing arguments over the integration into the south of three still-disputed states, it was announced in Khartoum that the elections would only take place next year. No comments could be obtained from the reaction of the southern leadership, who had previously expressed their desire to have elections in any case. The development is also keeping the ICC-wanted regime leader Bashir in office for some time longer before, alongside parliamentary polls, presidential elections, too, will take place.

LIVINGSTONE TOURISM ASSOCIATION GETS NEW WEBSITE
Gill Staden from Livingstone / Zambia has informed that the LTA will be getting a new web site shortly, which can, when ready, be accessed via www.livingstonetourism.com
.The site will contain regularly-updated information on a wide range of tourism issues, lists accommodation providers, restaurants, and safari operators and provides the latest news from the Livingstone area for overseas tour operators and would be travelers. Congrats to the LTA and thanks to Gill, of course, for the work she is doing on the new site.

HAPPY EASTER HOLIDAYS TO ALL READERS

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

METROPOLE HOTEL JOINS SMALL ELEGANT HOTELS

METROPOLE HOTEL JOINS SMALL ELEGANT HOTELS
It was learned on occasion at some meetings recently at the Metropole, that the hotel has now joined a global marketing and reservations group aptly named Small Elegant Hotels. The hotelโ€™s general manager Rahul Sood, also the current SKAL Kampala president, informed this column about the development and expressed his delight and pride over meeting the required criteria to join a global group. Amongst those criteria are the size of the hotel โ€“ not more than 200 rooms in total for a member establishment, room furnishingsโ€™ equipment and size, restaurantsโ€™ service standards and food quality, meeting facilities, location, and accessibility amongst others. More information can be found via www.smalleleganthotels.com and of course by checking out www.metropolekampala.com .

SHERATON PARTICIPATES IN EARTH HOUR
The Sheraton Kampala Hotel participated extensively in this yearโ€™s Earth Hour in support of environmental protection and raising awareness for the need of swift and comprehensive action to reduce carbon emissions and hopefully still arrest global warming. The hotel affirmed in their recently released newsletter that restaurants were lit up by candle light and that guests were encouraged to switch off lights and air conditioning in their rooms during Earth Hour. The public areas were lit to a bare minimum to comply with public safety standards and city council regulations, but all outside signage lights and spotlights were turned off for the duration. The Sheraton Kampala Hotel only recently won recognition for their year-round efforts to conserve energy and water, making it an example for others to follow.

Another hotelier โ€“ a phrase often used to upgrade themselves from the financially impressive status of ownership towards a more professional and, therefore, more coveted standing most of the time, although not backed up by vocational training or academic achievements in relevant hospitality institutions โ€“ professed not to know anything about the global event, while yet a third gave himself away by asking this correspondent, โ€œEarth what?โ€ In contrast this correspondentโ€™s residence remained dark for the evening with a single candle on the terrace providing illumination. Congratulations to all participants who heeded the call to be part of this global event.

SINGLE VISA MILES AWAY
Reports emerged earlier in the week that a single tourist Visa for all of east Africa is underway, but a swift investigation revealed that this long-pending goal is still a long way off. The present downturn in tourism arrivals, however, is thought to act as a catalyst to persuade the governments and immigration departments of the EAC member states to act more swiftly now in making this important mechanism a reality. The idea was first floated at an East African Community Committee meeting on Tourism and Wildlife Management in 2001, when the Ugandan delegation put it on the discussion list, but little has happened since then as the respective immigration departments are not keen to forgo revenue and happily make tourist visitors pay extra Visa fees when traveling from one east African country into the next. Commendably, Kenya has at least granted free repeat entry when first entering Kenya on a visit, then traveling to a neighboring EAC country before returning to Kenya, but none of the other countries has followed suit. Kenya has now also halved their charges for a Visa from US$50 to SU$25 per person and is granting children up to the age of 16 free entry altogether, again an action the rest of the EAC countries has yet to follow suit.

A further bone of contention is travel by duly-registered expatriates in any of the 5 EAC member states, who are presently treated as foreign visitors when crossing borders, a situation which, too, must be changed. This target group holds great potential for travel into the region during their local vacation time but presently have to fork out, depending on family size, hundreds of dollars in Visa fees, often opting then for holidays in destinations like the UAE or South Africa, where most of them do not need to purchase a Visa at all.

The comments in the regional media over the single tourist Visa are, therefore, thought to be largely premature and will depend on the implementation of one of the key protocols amongst East African Community members over the freedom of movement, as well as regional immigration agreements. In a more positive move, however, during the ongoing negotiations over the Common Market Protocol, Uganda, too, has joined Rwandaโ€™s position to abolish work permit requirements for east African citizens and will advocate to make this a reality across the region โ€“ again, however, this is some time away from reality although a most commendable move.

EMIRATES STATEMENT ANGERS AGENTSโ€™ ASSOCIATION
Emirates, the award winning airline from Dubai, has apparently caused the emotional temperatures of some travel agents to rise, when the carrier announced last week, and was quoted accordingly in a local daily, that their fares will remain unchanged. In clear text, the airlineโ€™s statement countered pronouncements by the Ugandan travel agents association TUGATA, that all member agencies AND the airlines would now levy a service charge on ticket sales after payments of commissions expired earlier in the year. This correspondent, when purchasing tickets recently from two airlines directly (not Emirates) for flights into the region, was also not charged any such fee, but the quoted ticket cost only. That experience contrasts with an emailed statement obtained quoting TUGATA as having said: โ€œThe opinions expressed in this article are for Emirates Airlines alone. Allow me to reiterate the words in the chairman’s address to all members this morning. The committee has not received information that the market has rejected the new model. On the contrary, it seems the new model is slowly but steadily being accepted by the market. We need to stay stead-fast and united as the model takes root. Please do not allow this and other such negative publicity to de-rail the agreed minimum service fee you all committed to charge as per the TUGATA General Meeting of November 19, 2009. This is ultimately for the good of the industry to ensure that we all remain in business while offering high-quality service to our clients.โ€ Asks this correspondent, are there some perplexed doubts or maybe even a lager mentality emerging or are there indeed elements in quiet but active disagreement opting out through the back door? Related to this development was a comment made by an airline country manager, who clearly said on condition of anonymity, that airlines would not accept to have fees imposed on them by travel agents, and that they were under no obligation to charge the service fees agencies now demand from their clients when selling tickets directly. He also added: โ€œIt is interesting that normally agents criticize airlines for charges added, so why should we now add their inventions on our prices? They can do what they want to do; there are many ways of selling tickets, and nowadays we sell on the Internet with corporate agreements and directly to travelers coming to our offices. It is not cheap to run a big office in town, but it is part of our service and sales strategy.โ€
Emirates has meanwhile extended their special sales period until the end of June for extra low fares purchased directly either online or at the Emirates offices, a move thought to serve a degree of notice to those travel agents who wish to pursue the matter with some vigor, that the airline is quite capable of doing their own things without the consent or approval from third parties.

Meanwhile TUGATA also held an AGM last week, and the entire executive team, less the treasurer who preferred to retire from his office for personal reasons, were re-elected. Congratulations to them all and, of course, watch this space for future developments.

SHILLING TUMBLES AGAINST THE GREEN BUCK
The value of the Uganda Shilling continued its fall against major currencies, when trading at 2,175 to the US dollar at the end of last week, while the Euro was fetching just about 2,900 Shillings. The trend will make expenditure for visitors from abroad cheaper as they buy more for their home currency, but inflationary trends are now also expected to reverse again upwards, as all imports, including fuel, will likely be subject to price increases reflecting the fallen value of the local currency. The cost of diesel had finally reduced in recent weeks to between 1,600 and 1,700 UShs, while petrol now trades in the 2,300 to 2,400 range.

Travel from Uganda abroad is also set to become dearer as ticket prices are quoted in US dollars, and hard currency is needed to pay for allowances and spending money used abroad, probably impacting on the rate of travel from Uganda to Europe and beyond.

UGANDA GOVERNMENT TO SELL REMAINING SHARES IN SHERATON
An announcement was made last week that government will divest of its remaining shares in the Apollo Hotel Corporation, which owns the Sheraton Kampala Hotel. A major percent block of shares was some years ago sold to MIDROC, a company also owning the Addis Ababa Sheraton, the Djibouti Sheraton, and a number of other hotels and resorts. Under the initial divestiture, it is understood that MIDROC can acquire another major block of shares giving them a clear majority but that at a later stage, some form of flotation on the Uganda Securities Exchange will take place to allow investors and the general public to also own some shares in one of Kampalaโ€™s most successful hotels. The upcoming transaction will not, however, affect the franchise agreement in place with Starwood Hotels, under which the Sheraton brand falls.

Meanwhile, the parliamentary committee on privatization has given government one month within which to sell their shares in the Commonwealth Resort in Munyonyo and recover the money spent to get the venue ready for the Commonwealth Summit at that time. Watch this space for updates.

ANOTHER CHINESE NATIONAL NABBED WITH IVORY
According to reliable reports, another Chinese national was arrested at Entebbe International Airport when found with illegal ivory in his possession. This column had reported similar cases before happening in the wider region but no amount of public outrage or successful prosecutions seem to be able to squash the greed for the coveted white gold. The south eastern Asian region is notorious for its hunger for ivory and other animal products in search of ornamental carvings and cures for ailments. Conservationists expressed their hope for a swift prosecution and a stiff sentence to serve as notice to other would-be smugglers that long prison terms await them when nabbed.

MTN CEMENTS MARKET SHARE IN UGANDA
Only recently did Africaโ€™s own telecom giant MTN reach the 4 million subscriber mark, leaving other mobile phone companies trailing in their wake. The arrival of MTN nearly a decade ago, has revolutionized the telecom industry, and the now 5 competitors in the market โ€“ MTN, Uganda Telecom, Zain, Warid Telecom, and Orange โ€“ are taking their fight to the market with ever-new products and frequent tariff cuts. It is now thought that nearly 10 million Ugandans have access to their own telephones compared to the early 1990s, when landlines connected only about 50,000 subscribers. Tariffs for Internet connections are presently also tumbling ahead of the connection of two rival fibre-optic seabed cables reaching Mombasa, which will increase capacity multi-fold and cut cost by up to two thirds of the present tariffs when operational. UTLโ€™s 3G connection โ€“ currently the fastest wireless system on the market โ€“ was initially quoted in US dollars but last week halved their subscription cost to now 130,000 UShs or about US$65. It is thought that rates will come down yet further when the bulk of the Internet and data traffic eventually routes via the new cables instead of using satellites. For visitors from abroad coming to Uganda, this is all good news as they can stay connected at very reasonable prices while holidaying in the country or going after their business.

In a related development, MTN is the major South African sponsor of the FIFA World Cup next year in South Africa, cementing the companyโ€™s global position as a major player in the world-wide telecoms industry. Made in Africa by Africa.

DELTA REAFFIRMS KENYA FLIGHTS
In an apparent move to dispel growing doubts over the start of flights from the US via west Africa to Kenya, planned for June this year, the airline has now gone on the offensive reassuring travelers and the business community alike that they will stick to their plans. The present sharp economic downturn and global financial crisis has hit US airlines particularly hard, and there were whispers in the region over Deltaโ€™s ability and willingness to commence a new long-haul route in this adverse climate. As the time of the planned inaugural flights draws nearer, watch out for more news updates on this development.

KAAโ€™S OLD AIRPORT DEAL CANCELLED
Owing to intense public scrutiny and an outcry, by not only the public but by Kenyaโ€™s national airline and other air operators using Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the Kenyan Transport Minister yesterday cancelled the deal under which the Kenya Airports Authority, and in particular their outgoing CEO, tried to gift the old airport structures to a literally unknown entity OneJetOne, which has the former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport on their board of directors. In a terse statement, the Minister reaffirmed doubts mentioned in this column in recent weeks that the deal had not complied with procurement procedures and also said that no letter of offer was ever given to the intended beneficiary, thereby voiding any contractual expectations and obligations.

This development will add yet more egg all over the face of outgoing KAA CEO George Muhoho, who had his request for a contract extension or renewal denied a couple of weeks ago by his board and is now ending his term of office at the KAA in a disgraceful manner and under heavy clouds of allegations and suspicions. A new CEO is due to be named shortly, it was learned, and will be reported in this column in due course.

MOMBASAโ€™S MOI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT DUE FOR MAJOR UPGRADE
Information was received that the Kenya Airports Authority, presently under intense media and civic society scrutiny over their plans to hand the old Nairobi airport to a relatively unknown entity, is to embark on a multi-billion Kenya Shilling upgrade of facilities in Mombasa. Kenyaโ€™s second most important international airport, which receives most of the all-inclusive charter flights from Europe, is expected to get a new taxiway guidance system and a grand overhaul of the existing runway in coming years. Also due is a new security fence covering the entire airport perimeter, resurfacing of roads and tracks, and a new CCTV system for all areas. Other work will address the water supply system, lighting, electrical ducts, and a new standby power system.

Meanwhile, a deal done by KAA with a Qatari investment group to clear that the deal was not competitively advertised for tender as required by law and court action from civil society watchdogs, are now no longer ruled out. Part of the deal would be the construction of at least two hotels, several exhibition halls for use by developing a massive 90-acre area on airport land outside the main perimeter fence has hit the headlines again in Kenya with further allegations of underhand deals. It would be a venue for international, regional, and domestic trade fairs and also restaurants and even a hospital. The land has been gifted to the investors under an 80-year lease and the Kenyan Transport Minister, in fact, reaffirmed yesterday that the deal was above board and would go ahead. Watch this space for updates.

KENYA AIRWAYS HALTS KISUMU AND MALINDI FLIGHTS
In an announcement yesterday by Kenya Airwaysโ€™ commercial director, it was made public that the airline will halt its daily flights to Kisumu, presently operated on Embraer 170 equipment until construction at that airport is complete. The airline said that the runway presently is no longer suitable in its present state to accommodate safe operations of their flights. Other domestic airlines like Jetlink and Fly540 will continue to fly daily to Kisumu but are using smaller aircraft.

Kenya Airways also announced the suspension of flights to Malindi due to a fall in demand, leaving this route also to domestic competitors, several of which are serving Malindi on a daily basis from Nairobi. KQ has pointed out that passengers already booked will be flown to Mombasa and transferred by road to Malindi, unless they opt to rebook themselves on other airlines for a direct flight.

OBAMA FACTOR HELPS CAMP IN MARKETING
The visit in 2006 by then Illinois Senator Barack Obama to Kenya had attracted much attention already at that time, not only because he was then the only African American Senator, but also for coming home to visit his roots. President Obama had, of course, visited Kenya before but with less prominence and attention. The Explorer base camp on the Talek River in the wider Masai Mara conservation area is now using the 2006 visit and stay by the President to market the property more vigorously in the future. Equal attention is, however, given to the environmental record of the small scale property, which has received a gold rating. A nightโ€™s stay in the Obama room, including all meals, will cost a visitor about US$150 at present, but this price may inflate somewhat as demand is expected to go up sharply.

Meanwhile, the Ugandan New Vision made fun of their readers on April 1 when they announced an imminent trip of President Obama to eastern Africa, including Uganda. It seems phone lines were running hot when the papers hit the streets until the readers of Ugandaโ€™s most popular newspaper eventually found out that they had been fooled. Happy April Foolโ€™s Day!

KENYA BUZZ GETS NEW WEBSITE
While Kenyaโ€™s latest e-medium is getting their new website ready, the company has set up a Gmail address to maintain contact with their contributors and readers. Should your mails, therefore, bounce in coming days, try [email protected] . This column will report once the new website and email contacts have been successfully launched.

LAKE TURKANA UNDER THREAT
Damming of the Omo River in Ethiopia is now seen as the most imminent threat to the survival of Lake Turkana and the surrounding communities depending on the lake. Already in a state of draught-induced shrinkage, it is said the lakeโ€™s inflow will further reduce greatly in coming years when dams under construction and under planning are completed. The result would likely be a substantial reduction in water levels, and the subsequent rise in temperature could then lead to even greater evaporation than is the case already. Other lakes across eastern Africa, too, are suffering similar problems, including Lake Victoria, where water levels have barely stabilized now after years of progressive reduction. When development on one had is leading to destruction elsewhere, greater care should be taken in the planning of such projects, and affected communities ought to have a say and be consulted before their future is condemned by others under the pretext of bringing progress. Watch this space for updates.

SERENA PROFITS DROP FOR 2008
Reports from Nairobi indicated that the profits made by Serena Hotelsโ€™ holding, TPS East Africa Ltd., dropped by nearly half for 2008 while revenues dropped by some 12 percent. The outlook for the current year also remains a little shaky in view of the present global economic and financial crisis, which saw tourist arrivals remain far from forecasts. Other hospitality businesses, however, performed worse than this, and some of the more marginal beach hotels were reported to have closed down due to lack of business.

The business results for 2008 were, of course, largely influenced by the political events during the first quarter of last year, when the country saw a massive reduction of arrivals, which later leveled out to a drop by a third on a year-on-year comparison. Although the trend reversed in the second half of 2008, the global recession then wiped out the gains of a massive marketing effort by Kenya, without which, however, the annual results would have been even worse. The outlook for the future, however, is stable, and a recovery for the tourism sector is expected from late 2009 onwards.

NAIROBIโ€™S GRAND REGENCY DUE FOR REFURBISHMENT
Information received from Nairobi indicates that the Libyan owners of the Grand Regency Hotel are now finally coming around to get some major work done on the hotel. All areas of the hotel are due for upgrade and a massive overhaul, as little had been done on the property since the hotel was initially built and opened in the early 1990s. Meanwhile all their major competitors in Nairobiโ€™s 5-star bracket had carried out multiple upgradings since then, maintaining their own market standing and appeal to their clientele, and in these economically challenging times, quality is one of the hallmarks a hotelโ€™s customer will be looking for when choosing.

Readers will recall mention in this column over the controversial sale of the hotel to the Libyan government a while ago, when in a cloak and dagger action the Kenyan government decided to hurriedly sell off the property, raising allegations at the time over underhanded dealings, which have never really gone away.

SERENGETI MIGRATION TO BE ON LIVE BROADCAST
The Tanzanian government has entered into an agreement with the IYPE โ€“ International Year of Planet Earth โ€“ for broadcasting rights to screen the great wildebeest migration globally. This announcement was made by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism earlier in the week. A team of broadcasters and support personnel will be taking and simultaneously transmitting live pictures of the animals while crossing the Serengeti from one end to the other in search of pastures and their birthing grounds.

FRENCH COUPLE AWARDED 60 MIO TZ SHILLINGS
A couple from France, whose child was killed over three years ago by a leopard regularly seen passing through the lodge compound, won their court case against Tarangire Safari Lodge, when they were awarded 60 million Tanzania Shillings in damages. The lodge was found negligent in not ensuring guestโ€™s safety to keep the wild animal at bay or at a safe distance from the main area used by clients. Several lodges and tented safari camps across the region may now have to review safety measures, as they continue to bait leopard to offer their clients the opportunity to see the elusive nocturnal cat to ensure no similar incident will take place in the future. The lodge was also ordered to erect a commemorative plaque at the place of the incident after obtaining clearance by TANAPA. Reportedly, the lodge owners were not present in court when the judgement was read out โ€“ considered a rather cowardly absence if found true.

TANZANIAN IVORY FOUND IN VIETNAM
The authorities in Dar es Salaam have requested assistance from Interpol over reports that several tons of ivory, allegedly from Tanzania, were found in Vietnam. The consignment is reportedly worth over US$10 million. The sale of ivory carvings is apparently still legal in Vietnam, although a ban on ivory trading was imposed more than 15 years ago. It was learned that items from before the ban can still be legally sold, but this is an open gate for fraud and restocking with illicit blood ivory, often from poaching in eastern Africa. Interpol with its technical resources and lab technology might be able to actually ascertain where the ivory originated from, but indication is that it was shipped from Tanzania via Malaysia before entering Vietnam inside containers with plastic waste for recycling. Should Tanzania be confirmed as the source, government sources in Dar es Salaam have already vowed to bring the culprits to book and an investigation is already underway.

RWANDA PRESIDENT RECEIVES ITB TROPHY
As reported previously in this column, the Rwanda stand at the recent ITB won, for the third time running, the first prize as Best African Stand. The trophy was handed over to Rwandaโ€™s President Paul Kagame by the team members, led by RDB Deputy CEO and head of ORTPN Chantal Rugamba. President Kagame used the opportunity to campaign for a single Visa to the East African Community member states and also proposed a single East African stand for next yearโ€™s ITB and other key trade fairs. Again, well done Rwanda and well done, indeed, President Kagame.

ROSE KABUYE SET FREE
As expected, and mentioned several times previously in this column, the French judiciary has now formally lifted the arrest warrant against Rwandaโ€™s Chief of Protocol permitting her to travel freely anywhere in the pursuit of her official duties and private matters. The lifting of the warrant comes at a time when Rwanda is preparing for the 15th anniversary of the notorious Hutu-inspired genocide, which cost the lives of some 800,000 innocent people in the tiny east African nation within the space of a few months from April 1994. The main case itself has, however, not yet been dropped, but the lifting of the warrant is now a strong pointer that the French judiciary will, in due course, throw out the case for good.

SULLIVAN SUMMIT MOVES TO NAIROBI
Conflicting dates for the event in 2010 have now caused this meeting to be released to Nairobi from the chosen venue of Kigali. The last summit took place in Arusha last year, when Rwanda was selected as the next host country, but certain national events were later found to be in conflict with the anticipated summit dates, which could also not be changed. This will be good news for Nairobi, which can now look forward to hosting hundreds of additional guests, although it is hoped that the Sullivan Summit will eventually be held in Rwanda.

SOUTH SUDANโ€™S CURRENCY SLIDES
In a development similar to the one in Uganda and across eastern Africa, the US dollar also appreciated greatly against the Sudan Pound, as feedback from Juba indicates. The Pound was initially launched at a rate of two pounds versus one dollar, but has progressively devaluated, with buyers now requiring about 2.70 Sudan Pounds to get one US dollar. Yet, dollars are said to be scarce in Juba as the regime in Khartoum has completely stopped remitting dollars from oil proceeds to the south and is only transferring local currency, and not much of that either, a move thought to be yet another deliberate measure of emasculation and recrimination against the southern Sudan, where the population will vote on full independence in 2011. Hard currency is allegedly being hoarded in Khartoum by the regime to finance purchases abroad to boost their popularity in the north, where strongman Bashir is holding on by the skin of his teeth, following the ICC issuing an arrest warrant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by his regime, his goons, and his followers in Darfur โ€“ and previously, of course, in the southern Sudan. The dire financial situation in the southern Sudan is now also a cause of concern for neighboring countries due to the intense economic ties developed over the past years. Only recently did SPLA veterans and serving personnel block the roads to and from Uganda in order to get their pending back pay, causing the loss of all cargos of perishable goods to be stuck at the frontier from Uganda at Nimule. The situation has, however, calmed down after payments were released, yet a lasting solution has to be found to avoid a repeat of such damaging incidents.

SOUTH SUDAN GETS OWN BREWERY
Information was received from Juba that SABMiller, the South African brewing giant, has started work on the establishment of a brewery near Juba, which will have a 15,000 hectolitre per month output when completed. Presently, all beers and sodas are imported from mainly Uganda and Kenya, a situation which has depleted the empty stocks in those countries, as few crates and bottles seem to be returned from the southern Sudan. With regular supply hitches caused by broken bridges or impassable roads and, as reported last week, unpaid security staff staging impromptu road blocks, the completion of a brewery will be a relief for the south. It is also a sign of the growing liberation from the Islamic north of the country, which has, in past times, repeatedly tried to impose their own policies including Sharia law on the mainly Christian south, which included prohibiting the production and consumption of alcohol. Needless to say, these attempts ultimately all failed, and SABMillerโ€™s confidence in the south Sudan as an emerging new nation will undoubtedly be rewarded in coming years. It will also give visitors and locals alike the opportunity to sample a local beer made in southern Sudan. It was also learned that the registration of copyrights for the new brand and logos posed a major challenge for SABMiller, as those offices are still located in Khartoum where the registration of such trade marks for alcohol continues to be an offense. Government of Southern Sudan, or GoSS in short, however, appears to have found ways and means around these ludicrous bureaucratic hurdles and has given SABMiller assurances of protecting their investments. Way to go!

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

GBA UGANDA GETS NEW CHAIR

GBA UGANDA GETS NEW CHAIR
This correspondent retired earlier in the week from the position as chairperson of the German (speaking) Business Association in Uganda after serving out his term of office. The GBA Uganda has, over the past years, participated actively in visits of governmental and business delegations from and also to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland to promote mutual growth of business ties, investment, trade, and tourism. GBA also actively engages with the respective diplomatic missions from the โ€˜old countriesโ€™ to encourage closer cooperation with the business sector, while constructively working hand in hand with such local organizations as the Private Sector Foundation Uganda, the Uganda Manufacturers Association, and the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. New chairperson is Ms. Brigitte Koehler of Roko Construction, one of the best reputed construction and technical consultancy firms in the country and also home of the Swiss Consulate in Uganda. The AGM took place at the Metropole Hotel in Kampala, which has established itself as โ€˜theโ€™ meeting place of GBA for regular lunch get-togethers with the membership.

SKAL KAMPALA GETS NEW PRESIDENT
The SKAL International Kampala Chapter, now in its 16th year, also held the AGM during the week at the Metropole Hotel, celebrating another financially and socially successful year. This correspondent participated in the meeting as the โ€˜oldestโ€™ SKAL member of the club, having joined SKAL initially in Nairobi in 1978. With 30+ years under the belt of continuous SKAL membership, and having started the Kampala club in the early 1990s, this member is now enjoying the social functions and get-togethers more than ever before without the challenges of holding any office. Newly-elected president is Mr. Rahul Sood, general manager of the Metropole Hotel, who was declared winner of the elections by this correspondent, who acted as returning officer. Congratulations to Rahul and his newly-elected team and all the best for the next year. SKAL Kampala meets at changing locations in the city every last Wednesday of the month and contact details are available on the relevant pages within www.skal.travel .

AVIATION OBSERVERS DISMISS MISSILE THEORY
The air crash off Entebbe two weeks ago took another twist a week ago when the Russian owner made wild allegations in South Africa, that he suspected a missile to have been fired at his aircraft when it was taking off from Entebbe around 5:00 am for Mogadishu, Somalia with supplies for the AU peace-keeping forces. All aviators this column contacted since then completely rubbished the theory, more so as the Russian owner had specifically referred to the American-built Stinger missile being used, which is not known to be available to terror groups or militias, unlike the Russian-built SAMs, a more likely tool for such groups. Aviators preferring anonymity also suggested an ulterior motive of the owner to deflect the public scrutiny from his own track record in the airline business, when he made the presently baseless allegations and accusations.
In any case, while accident investigators and the Ugandan CAA did not rule out nor, in fact, rule in any likely cause of the crash, which is standard procedure until the investigations are complete; informed speculation in Ugandaโ€™s aviation sector is rife over maintenance issues connected with the aircraftโ€™s crash. This cautious attitude, however, did not prevent several government officials from condemning in the strongest possible terms the Russianโ€™s utterances, which one official, preferring to remain unnamed, described as โ€˜crackpot.โ€™ Meanwhile, in the latest development, foreign divers have reportedly found the tail section of the crashed plane and are making efforts to retrieve the wreckage for further inspection.

NEW TOURISM E-WEEKLY FROM KENYA
Aficionados for news from eastern Africa can now write to [email protected] to be included in the weekly mailings of Kenya Buzz, which updates readers on not just what is happening in Kenya on a weekly or monthly basis, but they can also find recommendations for new properties to visit and new and old restaurants for places to eat. Even discounts are periodically offered to readers of Kenya Buzz. Needless to say, that there is much to read about art, exhibitions, theatre, dance, music, and all other elements which make Kenya the destination it is today. This new e-Guide will undoubtedly help to promote domestic tourism in Kenya, but the wider the reach of Kenya Buzz, the more information about the country will get to potential visitors.

KENYA AIRWAYS DROPS TICKET PRICES FOR NAIROBI
In a move thought to trim competitorsโ€™ gains on the Nairobi route, namely Fly 540 Aviation and Air Uganda, the Kenyan flag carrier has now, for a limited period of time, dropped the cost of a return ticket to US$160. This rate, however, is subject to a range of regulatory fees and charges, which is almost as much as the ticket itself. Regulators are now also coming under pressure to reduce such extra cost by reducing landing, parking, and navigational charges plus airport taxes, in order to make flying overall cheaper and keep the airlines in business. This issue has long been a bone of contention, and while airlines have lowered their fares, the regulators have shown little sign of flexibility and maintained their hard line fee stance.

KENYA AIRWAYS PILES PRESSURE ON KENYA AIRPORTS AUTHORITY
โ€œWe are sidelined by the KAA and have not been involved in their strategic planning for the past six yearsโ€ were some of the damning comments made last week by KQโ€™s chief executive Titus Naikuni, when raising the pathetic situation of growing congestion at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Kenyaโ€™s main gateway to the world. Over the past two editions, this column had highlighted another controversial deal proposed by the Kenya Airports Authority, trying to give the Embakasi old airport side to a totally unknown new company for redevelopment, while Kenya Airways and other domestic air operators for that matter, continue to wait for the establishment of a dedicated domestic terminal at that very location.

According to Mr. Naikuni, KQ is now regularly forced to park their B737s and their Embraer 170s, used for domestic and regional flights, near the VIP State Pavilion where they not only have to bus their passengers at their own expense from and to the terminal โ€“ KAA has failed to provide apron transportation โ€“ but the parking area is also lacking underground re-fueling facilities.

Kenya Airways, the single biggest user of JKIA, seems sidelined by KAA even over their planned further expansion of maintenance facilities near their head office, also located at the old airport side in Embakasi, adding more questions yet about KAAโ€™s dubious behavior. Instead of supporting either their national airline or an existing proven operator in their plans, they opted for OneJetOne, a company still to fly a single hour of commercial flight and who, however, have a former Transport Ministry Permanent Secretary on their board of directors.

Shrill sounds predictably also emerged from the KAA offices, when their outgoing CEO George Muhoho also tried to whitewash the controversial tender, not that the general public and other airlines would give much credence to such utterances.

SARIT CENTRE HOLIDAY EXHIBITION
The annual domestic tourism exhibition at Sarit Centre is now on in Nairobi, lasting from March 25 until March 29. The main target group will again be Kenyans and the expatriate community living in Kenya but also the wider east African market, to promote travel to the Indian Ocean Beach resorts in Malindi and Mombasa. Safari lodges and camps, too, are offering special deals during the traditional off season and much hope is vested in the fairโ€™s impact on the market to make up for the current drop in international arrivals. Many properties, in fact, extend their low season special rates now equally to Kenyans and citizens of other east African countries to attract more regional arrivals.

CORPORATE KENYA AIMS AT NEW MARKETS
Kenya Airways, fondly known as โ€˜The Pride of Africa,โ€™ together with the Kenya Tourist Board, the Kenya Association of Tour Operators, and leading hotel, lodge, and resort operators will be hosting up to 250 key decision-making tour operator staff, as well as travel journalists starting in early April in order to promote travel to Kenya from across the region and the wider African continent in search of new markets. This activity is aimed to make up for the drop in arrival numbers from the traditional markets in Europe and North America from where, however, invitees will be flown to Kenya to sample the countryโ€™s wide range of attractions and see for themselves that โ€˜Hakuna Matataโ€™ has indeed returned to east Africaโ€™s tourism locomotive, and the destination should be vigorously promoted. This combined effort will no doubt be intensely monitored by the other east African nations who may well have to come up with similar initiatives in order to also stimulate travel to the entire region. However, the timely short-noticed announcement will give Kenya a competitive edge during this yearโ€™s low season in promoting their own safaris and beach holidays and build on their performance at the ITB tourism fair in Berlin earlier in the month when Kenya was awarded a second runner- up spot for โ€˜Best African Stand.โ€™

However, that said, it is without a doubt that when Kenya is doing well, the entire region benefits โ€“ so cooperation with the Kenyan effort would be well advised and coordinating other similar initiatives can only be good for all of eastern Africa.

NEW FERRIES EXPECTED IN LATE 2009
As reported in the past in this column, the ferry service between the Mombasa Island and Likoni on the south coast mainland have been erratic at times and often caused tourists to miss their flights and caused commuters to arrive hours late for work. A statement obtained today, however, now gives hope to the coastal population of better times ahead as two brand-new ferries are due for delivery by end of this year. By mid of this year, some 90 percent of the work will have been completed at the shipyard in Germany where the ferries are being built, and once the outfitting is complete, they will start their journey to east Africa. Each ferry is expected to carry up to 60 vehicles and some 1,500 passengers on each crossing, easing the pressure on operations, which have for too long depended on vessels aged beyond their expected lifespan. Watch this space for updates.

WESTERN KENYA SEEKS TO TAP INTO โ€˜OBAMA FACTORโ€™
A new tourism association was formed recently in Kisumu, Kenya bringing together the Kisumu city council, hotels, restaurants, lodges, local safari operators, curio sellers, and local guides to promote new safari circuits in this part of Kenya, hitherto somewhat neglected by the mainstream tourism activities. The Lake Victoria Tourism Association is planning a three-day tourism exhibition some time in May to bring buyers and other interested parties to Kisumuโ€™s fair ground. The area has become globally known as the paternal home of US President Obamaโ€™s father, and the tourism sector is trying to cash in on increased visits of curious fans. Besides this newly-found attraction in the area, there are, however, several national parks and game reserves within easy visiting distance from Kisumu, putting tourism in western Kenya on a sound footing beyond the Obama presidency.

EAST AFRICAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY WORKING ON REGIONAL TOURISM LAW
The legislative assembly at the East African Community headquarters in Arusha has started consultations in the region over a proposed new Tourism and Wildlife Management bill due to govern regional tourism promotion in the future. The bill was introduced by private members last year, and its objectives have already raised controversy in the region. The first round of consultations in Kenya was, in fact, poorly attended with many senior stakeholders in the public and private sectors claiming to have been ignored and not given invitations. In Uganda, an association official eventually demanding not to be named asked: โ€œHow do you know these things, and we in office have no idea about it at all? There is something wrong with the system in Arusha if you can find out, and we were never toldโ€ โ€“ a statement the individual preferred to withdraw when realizing that he would be quoted.

Information further received from the EAC in Arusha indicated that the new bill was to be put on the schedule soon for EALA members to vote on after some amendments and โ€˜harmonizationโ€™ were incorporated in the draft bill.

FIRE DESTROYS TWO BEACH RESORTS IN BAGAMOYO
A rapidly-spreading fire earlier in the week burned the Paradise Resort to ashes, after an apparent mishap in their kitchen started the chain of events. The Makuti (palm thatch) covered roofs promptly went up in flames, and strong winds spread the fire across the entire resort before then also engulfing the neighboring Oceanic Bay Resort where burning debris was blown on to their roofs. Fire brigades had to be sent in from Dar es Salaam as the Bagamoyo area reportedly lacks sufficient fire-fighting equipment, a grave omission considering the general risks involved for tourists and local visitors in hotels using such local materials for building. Nearly 400 staff in the two hotels are now looking at an uncertain future and are likely to be laid off, at least until the owners of the two resorts decide on rebuilding, although one of the owners has made some overtures to the staff of possible re-deployment in his other hotels without giving, however, a firm undertaking to that effect.

EGYPT AIR SEEKS COOPERATION WITH AIR TANZANIA
Plans by Egypt Air to resume flights to Tanzania later in the year are reportedly on course. The Egyptian flag carrier will fly four times a week between Cairo and Dar es Salaam using one of their new B737-800 aircraft, seating 16 passengers in business class and up to 144 in economy class. Egypt Air is now reportedly in talks with their Tanzanian counterparts about code shared operations between Tanzania and Egypt, from where passengers can then connect into the global โ€˜Star Allianceโ€™ network to which Egypt Air now belongs.

Egypt Air previously flew only once a week to Dar es Salaam but stopped the operation in 2004 when no suitable aircraft was available at the time to operate the route. The renewed flights are clearly aimed to capture connecting passengers and feeding them into onward flights from Cairo to Europe and the Middle East and Asia, a proven formula for other airlines carving out their niches across eastern Africa. A most obvious target would be the traffic base of Kenya Airways and Middle Eastern airlines flying to Tanzania. Watch this space for updates.

SWISSPORT TANZANIA SUFFERS REVENUE LOSSES
The Tanzanian airport handling company has reportedly suffered a three percent decline in revenue during 2008, handling several hundred flights less than in 2007. This also resulted in a reduction of their net profits by several hundred million Tanzania Shillings. The company last week explained that this was caused by the global economic problems and also the reduction of Air Tanzania flights and their flying ban at the end of last year. Cargo handling in 2008, however, had increased sharply according to company sources. It was also learned that Swissport was granted a renewal of their operating license for Class One airports for a further 5 years, after meeting all the required criteria set by the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority and the airport operators.

TANZANIAN TOURISM SECTOR NOW ALSO DEMANDS REDUCTION OF VISA COST
Triggered by the downturn in fortunes of the tourism sector across the region, the private sector is now becoming increasingly vocal in offering and demanding solutions to reduce the cost of holidays. In Tanzania, earlier in the week, the private sector was insisting that the cost of a Visa be lowered, apparently in a move similar to the one Kenya had taken two weeks earlier. The Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators is also demanding a revision of recently increased tariffs by TANAPA for park entrance fees, and it was also learned that safari operators have reduced their tariffs in response to changed market conditions.

In Uganda, too, the sector is hoping for governmental intervention, but little, if anything, from sector associations has reached the local media in regard of detailed, or in fact any, proposals being made by the sector towards competitiveness vis-ร -vis regional countries.

MORE WOES FOR AIR TANZANIA
It appears the problems at Air Tanzania will not end anytime soon, now that their regular aviation fuel supplier, Total Tanzania, Ltd. has filed suit against the airline to recover over US$1 million in outstanding bills and accrued interest, which in spite of governmental and airline assurances, remain unpaid. Doubts are now hanging over the airlineโ€™s future, with financial suitors in this day and age of the global economic and financial crisis shying away from them. The airline may now be seen as a high-risk investment, in particular going by the experience with trade unionsโ€™ reactions in past crises. The airline had suffered a crippling flying ban over documentation issues it had with the TCAA from the end of November until the end of January and has since then only resumed domestic flights, leaving the profitable regional flights to Kenya Airways and Precision Air. Meanwhile, however, Precision Air is going from strength to strength in cementing their market share, and Kenyan airline Fly540 has also formed a Tanzanian offspring thought to commence operations soon, similar to their Ugandan venture.

SAUTI ZA BUSARA AN OVERWHELMING SUCCESS
Zanzibarโ€™s main culture and music festival drew record crowds once again, and musicians and artists from across eastern Africa and the rest of the continent attended the extravagant week. Festival organizers have since thanked all participants and the media for their support in promoting the annual event and coming from far away to show their crafts and perform their tunes. Over 500 visitors also participated in the survey undertaken to gauge satisfaction, and the response was superbly positive. While some 78 percent of the festival visitors came from Zanzibar and the Tanzanian mainland, 5 percent came from the rest of Africa and 17 percent came from overseas, a remarkable achievement and proof that the festival is now a truly permanent fixture in the annual tourism calendar of Zanzibar and Tanzania as a whole.

The 7th edition of Sauti za Busara will take place February 11-16, 2010, and all those interested in participating or visiting should make early arrangements for their flights and hotel bookings to avoid disappointment when booking too late. Applications for active participation are due on July 31, 2009 to be assured of a place for 2010. Send your enquiries to [email protected] or visit www.busaramusic.org for more details and information. Asante Sana โ€“ the Kiswahili expression for many thanks – to the organizing committee and the authorities in Zanzibar for a job very well done again.

RWANDA OFFERS REBATES TO EAST AFRICANS
Cognizant of the economic hard times the region is also falling on, in line with global developments, the Rwandan hospitality sector has now resorted to introducing a 20 percent rebate for east Africans traveling to the country. ORTPN, in conjunction with the Rwandan Private Sector Foundation, has even raised the spectrum of rebates reaching 50 percent in the forthcoming low season to attract extra visitors and regional tourists to the Land of a Thousand Hills.

SOUTH SUDAN ROAD CONNECTION DISRUPTED
Disgruntled war veterans from the SPLA, as well as a number of active service personnel on strike, blocked the main road from Juba via Nimule to Uganda earlier in the week after not receiving salaries for several months. The disruption of traffic across the frontier immediately led to a pile up of trucks and passenger vehicles on both sides of the border, also halting the delivery of supplies to Juba and other southern towns. Southern Sudanโ€™s President Gen. Salva Kiir rushed to the scene and addressed the angry soldiers and veterans while promising swift payment of their arrears. In fact, it was learned that funds were released shortly after the meeting. Traffic has since very slowly started again across the normally very busy border crossing. Sources from Juba also confirmed that hotel occupancies have taken an immediate hit as travelers by road from Uganda opted to stay away. It was also learned that the expulsion of a large number of NGOs from Darfur had an effect on occupancies in Juba, as events in the two areas are apparently quite interlinked.

CONGOโ€™S VILLAGERS PAY PRICE FROM FOREIGN TROOP WITHDRAWALS
As reported in this column some weeks ago, the Congo government had prematurely directed Rwandan troops to leave their territory after a joint campaign to smoke out the Hutu killer militias, who after the 1994 genocide, withdrew into the Congo. For a long time they enjoyed safe haven in the near lawless east of the country, but when thousands of Rwandan troops crossed the border earlier in the year, they were, for the first time, engaged in real combat and got the worse of it, hastily withdrawing deep into the jungle. Satisfied that the job was done by displacing the militias from their erstwhile bases, Congo then asked Rwanda to pull their troops out. Within days, however, the killers returned and wreaked havoc once again on the innocent villagers in the area and reportedly singled out anyone related to Tutsi origins.

A similar situation arose last week in the north east of Congo, when the Ugandan troops, hunting for the LRA and their ICC-wanted leader Joseph Kony, were also asked to leave Congo again. Within hours, the remnants of the LRA not yet rounded up or cornered by the determined UPDF and SPLA forces came out of hiding and in retaliation killed dozens of Congolese villagers who were left to the protection of the Congolese army and the UNโ€™s MONUC troops. Those, however, have a notorious track record of not actively engaging these militias and rebels and leaving Congolese citizens without protection once again. Maybe next time Rwandan and Ugandan forces are permitted under approved mandate into the Congo, they will actually be given enough time to finish their jobs in Congo and not find themselves sent back home at the whim of a hapless regime in Kinshasa whenever it seems politically opportune.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

EAGLE AIR SETTING UP MAINTENANCE FACILITY IN ENTEBBE

EAGLE AIR SETTING UP MAINTENANCE FACILITY IN ENTEBBE
Eagleโ€™s chief executive officer Capt. Tony Rubombora has confirmed to this column that his company is in the process of constructing a large hangar in Entebbe. The first phase is due for completion by late this year. The new maintenance facility is capable to receive jets commonly used in the region for the various checks and repairs, such as the Boeing 737, both Classic and NG or the MD 87, and can, of course, also cater to the variety of turbo-prop aircraft used by Entebbe-based operators. Eagle is flying a number of LET 410 19-seater aircraft, and those will in the future also be receiving full service โ€œin houseโ€ rather than being sent abroad for heavy maintenance. The project is said to cost at least US$3 million for the construction of the facility, with equipment like tools and the spare stores costing in addition to this price tag.

Entebbe has been lacking a large facility of this size, although AirServe has a hangar which can accommodate light-single and twin-engine aircraft and partly take larger aircraft, however, with the main body of the plane remaining outside.

Eagleโ€™s latest project will undoubtedly enhance the standing of Entebbe in the region when completed and operational. It was also learned that Czech manufacturer LET is about to commit to make Entebbe their African manufacturerโ€™s maintenance base, also using the Eagle hangar. LET 410 aircraft are widely used in Africa due to favorable operating parameters โ€“ and being a 19-seater aircraft not requiring a mandatory cabin crew under present regulations.

FLY 540 UGANDA NEWS UPDATE
Information was received from usually reliable sources that Fly 540 Uganda will commence scheduled cargo operations from Entebbe to Juba and Goma from April 2009 onwards, using their converted F27 freighter aircraft, which can uplift up to 6 tons of loose and small-palletized cargo at a time. Alongside these operations, the airline will then also progressively launch their passenger operation, using ATR 42 aircraft, again from Entebbe to Juba, Kigali and Goma, with the possible addition of Bujumbura and selected eastern Congo destinations at a later date. Capt. Tony Pettinger is in charge of the Uganda operation based in Entebbe. Flights from and to Nairobi will continue to be operated by Fly 540โ€™s Kenyan operation. Visit www.fly540.com for more information about the airline.

KAFTCโ€™S NEW BUILDING READY
As witnessed during a recent working visit to the Kajjansi Airfield โ€“ located between the city and Entebbe โ€“ KAFTCโ€™s (Kampala Aero Club and Flight Training Centre) new office building is now getting ready for occupancy. As reported some weeks ago, the company has grown in leaps and bounds in past years and requires more dedicated office space, while the present offices cum lounge will then be converted into a check-in and dedicated passenger lounge facility during the week, and on weekends the Aero Club members will have the use of the facility. A swimming pool and BBQ area also permits for family outings, parties, and cocktail functions, allowing attending visitors to closely observe light aircraft from the C172 Trainer to the Cessna Grand Caravan landing and taking off, something kids (and adults alike) seem to enormously enjoy.

CASSOA/UCAA IGNORE UAAO
The Uganda Air Operatorโ€™s Association (UAAO) was overlooked when sending out invitations for the regional aviation consultative workshop in Arusha taking place today. Even for the preparatory workshop some weeks ago, it seems that the Ugandan operators were not invited at all. While the Kenyan and Tanzanian air operator associations received their due invitation on behalf of their membership, the Ugandans did not receive any information on the workshop โ€“ not from their own Civil Aviation Authority nor from CASSOA directly. When the information, however, leaked to the Ugandan aviation fraternity, their stoical comment was: โ€œso what is new?โ€ The opinion was often voiced that for some of the regulatorโ€™s staff, the actual aviation industry is more or less a nuisance to deal with, although, of course, regulators only exist because there is an aviation sector in the first place. Mega barbs for CASSOA and their Ugandan โ€œaccomplicesโ€ in this omission.

SHERATONโ€™S HONEYMOON PACKAGE TAKES MARKET BY STORM
Weddings have always been a favourite pastime for Ugandans, the bigger and the posher the better, with all events filmed from the early morning to the last โ€œafter partyโ€ to have records for future generations and, of course, the location is always key to success. The Sheraton Kampala Hotel has now re-launched their wedding and (pre) honeymoon packages, where couples holding their wedding in the hotelโ€™s grand ballroom, can enjoy a couple of days to recover from the wedding stress in style before setting out for the honeymoon proper later on. The packages include the royal treatment with red carpets, rose petals on the bed, a special gift for the bride, wine in the room, full use of the spa with selected treatments, breakfast โ€“ if so wanted served in the room, and finally an airport transfer when the couple eventually sets out to fly to their chosen destination for time out before real life catches up with them. The packages start from US$420 per person, using a superior room while suites go at a slightly higher price. Weddings for visitors from abroad can also be arranged with sufficient advance notice, should they wish to get hitched at the Pearl of Africa.

Other hotels famous for their weddings in Kampala are the sister hotels Speke Resort and Commonwealth Resort in Munyonyo and, of course, the Kampala Serena Hotel. However, it must be said that weddings can also be arranged at the main safari lodges and leading safari camps, just as long as this is prepared for well in advance.

In addition, the Sheraton is also cognizant of the hard times the economy has fallen on and is now offering a 10 percent rebate for the time being on selected meeting packages available at the hotelโ€™s numerous meeting rooms and venues.

Meanwhile, the Sheraton Kampala Hotel was very recently honored by the Federation of Uganda Employers as Employer of the Year 2008 โ€“ congratulations.

NEW TOURIST MAP OF UGANDA ON THE MARKET
Well-known Ugandan personality Andy Roberts has recently launched new tourist maps for visitors, but also frequently traveling residents of Uganda. The full color maps give an overview of the entire country and also contain detailed smaller maps of several of the countryโ€™s key national parks like Murchisons Fall, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi (gorilla) and others.

Leading safari operators, like Classic Africa Safaris Uganda, have purchased the maps in bulk, with their logo and company information printed on the inside and outside sleeves, and reportedly they are given to them for their clients on arrival in a gift pack.

Andy is also presently working on the updating of the Bradt Guidebook for Uganda, the latest edition of which is also due out soon.

The maps are on sale at such places like the Aristoc Bookshopโ€™s branches in the city and the various outlets of the Banana Boat gift shop for about 10.000 UShs or approximately US$10. Well done, Andy!

RANCH ON THE LAKE UNDER TRANSFORMATION
The Ranch on the Lake, a hotel developed in the early/mid 90s and for a short while under south African management at that time, has never been blessed with good business fortunes, partly because of the location way out of the city, an access road passed along the main city rubbish dump for a long time before it was closed, but also for the misnomer architecture and quality of the buildings and finishings when the hotel had started up. It was, therefore, no surprise to industry observers, that the struggle for the bottom line eventually saw the hotel change hands several times, until Cementers, the main construction company for the Kampala Serena and later on for the Entebbe International Airport extension, bought it outright.

They have now employed Symbion International, arguably one of the finest architectural firms in eastern Africa โ€“ who also were the architects for the Kampala Serena Hotel โ€“ to draw up a master plan for the complete reconstruction and redevelopment of the property. The objective is to create a 5 star fully-loaded resort on the shores of Lake Victoria, some 20 odd kilometers from the city center, which will include a marina for easy access to lake-based activities and also a golf course in the final phase of the redevelopment. The latter two facilities are also likely to draw Kampaleans to the site for weekends and off days, as they can likely moor their boats there but also play what is to become a championship golf course. Usually well-informed sources within Serena are coy over constant murmurs that they will, upon completion of the project, take over the management, so watch this space for future news updates.

BYPASS INTERSECTION NOW OPEN
Following relentless public pressure, the main intersection of the Northern Bypass at Namboole national stadium opened last weekend. For the last couple of years, the main road leading from Kampala towards Mukono and Jinja had been blocked by construction work, causing a lengthy detour around the main stadium complex. This detour route claimed many accidents, when in particular trucks tipped over in sharp corners along the steep incline of the road. The detour also caused regular traffic pile ups along routes from and into the city. Roads authority spokesmen, also at the time, informed the that they are now actively looking for faults on the main bypass road where cracks are said to be opening up already, with the intent of bringing the Italian contractor to book. The opening of the intersection, while the rest of the road remains closed, was also specifically ruled out as a formal handover, which will come at a later date to be determined by the roads authority.

NEW MALL TO OPEN BY EASTER
Another large shopping mall is nearing completion and is due to open on the Easter weekend in April this year. The former Centenary Park, located below the golf course, is now no longer recognizable as a park after it was progressively carved up to make way for shopping centers, hotels, and a previously-planned green zone, which is now, however, littered with an assembly of not always nice looking buildings serving as restaurants and yet more shops. Most notably will be the new mall house Kenyan supermarket giant Nakumatt, whose arrival in Uganda is likely to trigger an immediate price war with the more established chains like Shoprite from South Africa and Uchumi also from Kenya, who set up shop a couple of years ago. Good news for shoppers but not so good news for the cityโ€™s green zones.

NEMA CLEARS OIL PROCESSING
The proposed mini refinery has now been cleared by NEMA, following the public hearings which discussed the environmental impact reports for the facility. It appears that the developers were, amongst other mitigating measures, compelled to construct a new road around the Kaiso-Tonya wildlife reserve, avoiding constant heavy traffic passing along the direct route through the game area and subsequently cutting the reserve into half, displacing wildlife and effectively nullifying all past conservation efforts and game relocations in the area. The construction site will also now be located at least two kilometers from the nearest permanent river, which is also a result of NEMA directives to mitigate the impact of the refinery on the environment. Due to the delays in securing the approvals, oil production and processing is now expected to commence some time in 2010 and not in late 2009 as was initially thought. However, the outcome is well worth the wait.

CONTROVERSIAL DECISION FOR HUNTING AT PIAN UPE GAME RESERVE
Controversy is arising from a decision reported in the local media by UWA to permit hunting, including for the rare leopard, at the Pian Upe Game Reserve. A permit to shoot a leopard reportedly goes for 8 million Uganda Shillings or about US$2,000, a pittance compared to what the same animal can raise over a lifetime with park entrance fees by visitors shooting pictures with their cameras instead of killing the elusive cat with guns.

The Pian Upe Game Reserve admittedly has not raised much in terms of park entrance fees in the past, but that is squarely laid at the door step of government for not providing good roads to the area or keeping an airfield in good shape and in compliance with CAA regulations. Security concerns, too, have kept visitors from that area and continue to make it most difficult to even reach such famous parks as Kidepo Valley National Park by road, keeping the cost out of reach of most when having to fly there.

Pian Upe is located in an age-old game migration corridor, which expands across a large tract of land in eastern and north eastern Uganda, which originally extended to Mt. Elgon. This corridor also includes the Bokora and Matheniko game reserves, although there is now no further reserve left between there and the Kidepo Valley National Park.
This decision by UWA will undoubtedly end up in yet another heated debate amongst conservationists and proponents of hunting, more so as UWA persistently delays to publicly discuss the findings of the pilot-hunting project, which is, of course, the biggest miss-description as what was sold to the public, tourism sector stakeholders, and the conservation fraternity as a pilot project, has seamlessly migrated into a hunting activity proper.

FIRST LAKE VICTORIA TRIATHLON SET FOR MARCH 22
A remarkable cooperation between German and Ugandan athletic supporters created the Lake Victoria triathlon, which is due to be held for the first time ever on March 22. The event is taking place in Entebbe and requires participants to swim for 1 KM, then cycle for 30 KM, and finally run for 10 KM. More information can be accessed via email at [email protected] or their website http://lake-vic-triathlon.tripod.com. The event is supported by Hash House Harriers, the Ugandan adventure company Adrift, and sponsored by Moonberg Breweries and Rwenzori Water.

BRUSSELS AIRLINES CODE SHARE UPDATE
Information has been released that all flights from Brussels to Frankfurt, Berlin, Hamburg, Hannover, Nuernberg, and Stuttgart operated by Lufthansa and Brussels Airlines will be code shared effective the end of March. Flights from Brussels to Munich are due to follow soon afterwards. This will enhance the connectivity for Brussels Airlines passengers from their east African destinations of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Kenya, now having extra choices for their onward journeys beyond Brussels.

DOLLAR KEEPS CHASING THE UGANDA SHILLING
Last weekend saw US$1 trading at around 2.040 Uganda Shillings, a further devaluation of the local currency. This is attributed to falling remittances from Ugandans abroad, lower sales of flowers and fish to the traditional markets in Europe as a result of the global economic and financial crisis, and falling revenues from tourism, where several safari operators have painted a gloomy picture of late when talking to this correspondent. The development is, however, also thought to increase inflationary pressure on the Ugandan economy as most imports are sourced in US dollar currency, which will likely drive local prices up in coming weeks.

AVGAS FUEL PRICES STILL HIGH
The air operators in Uganda using AVGAS for their light aircraft continue to bemoan the pricing of the commodity in the country, which seems very much in excess to say Kenya and Tanzania, even when considering a reasonable add-on for the extra transport element. When vehemently protesting recently to Shell, the main supplier of the fuel type, it was all but admitted by them that the fuel was overpriced. A source from Shell was then found to have said in response to some emails from the air operators: โ€œThere are so many factors which determine what prices we charge and are location specific.โ€

EMIRATES TO DROP A380 FROM NEW YORK SERVICE
Information was received from usually well-informed sources at the Emirates office in Kampala that the airline apparently intends to drop the A380 from the daily Dubai โ€“ New York service and replace it with a B777-300ER. In turn, the airline is planning to deploy the two A380 aircraft on to their Toronto and Bangkok services, an interesting move considering the appeal of New York as a business and tourism destination. No reasons were given for the anticipated changes due to take place some time in April this year.

SKYJET WEBSITE NOW OPERATIONAL
Following inquiries in this respect it can now be confirmed that www.fly-skyjet.com, the official website of Skyjet, is now indeed operational. The airline also changed flight times for their Sunday and Friday flights, when they leave Entebbe at 3:00 pm for Juba (ETA 4:00 pm) before returning from Juba to Entebbe at 5:00 pm (ETA 6:00 pm). According to airline sources, this was done in accordance with customer demands. On all other days, the aircraft is leaving Entebbe at 9:00 am and returning to Entebbe at noon.

CRASH AIRCRAFT OWNER PEDDLES MISSILE THEORY
In what many industry observers termed โ€œa blatant and premature attempt to pre-empt the accident inquiryโ€ the South-African owner of the ill fated Iljushin 76, which crashed last week on takeoff from Entebbe, floated his idea of washing his hands by offering โ€œa missile strikeโ€ as an explanation for the crash. CAA sources, however, insist that the tower already spotted fire in the engines soon after the aircraft became airborne and none of the witnesses reported having seen a missile streaking towards the plane, which would have been visible in the night sky.

Meanwhile, specialized divers and equipment were brought into Uganda to assist in tracing the wreckage of the plane and recover the black boxes from the lake bed. CAA sources have also cautioned against drawing premature conclusions about the crash causes without having collected and examined all evidence first.

NEW RAILWAY MASTERPLAN FOR EAST AFRICA
During the week, a recently-developed railway master plan was presented in Nairobi for the east African railway systems to radically overhaul the networks and operations in coming years. A stakeholder meeting in Nairobi discussed the plan. It was noted that there is now broad agreement within the EAC member states that at present, the railways in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda are under performing and, thereby, contribute to road congestion and expensive transport tariffs for imports and exports. This column has in the past reported that Rwanda is now set to link the land-locked country with the Tanzanian railway system at the proposed dry port of Isaka and eventually link even Burundi and the eastern Congo to the railway line from Dar es Salaam. The Ugandan railways are equally set to extend the line into southern Sudan, creating the link with the biggest east African port of Mombasa.

KENYA REACTS TO SLUMP IN ARRIVALS
The cost of a visa will be halved, from the end of March until at least the end of the year, to US$25 for most visitor nationalities, while children up to the age of 16 will be admitted for free to the country. This is a further reaction by the Kenyan government to the drop in tourist arrivals in the country, offering an incentive to would-be travelers by reducing such charges and leaving visitors to decide where to spend their money while holidaying at the Indian Ocean beaches or in the safari parks.

This has immediately prompted calls to once and for all do away with any visa fees for expatriates duly registered in the east African region when they come to Kenya to spend holiday time. This has been a bone of contention for a long time and has driven expatriate families in droves to destinations beyond the EAC such as the UAE or South Africa, where no expensive visa is required for them to enter, leaving them often with several hundreds of dollars in extra spending money.

Other countries in the region are still said to be pondering their next moves, but recent announcements on increases in park entrance fees should also be re-thought, as should the regional Civil Aviation Authorities and Airport Authorities reconsider slashing airport taxes, landing, parking, and navigational fees to make flights to east Africa also more affordable.

NEMA HITS BACK AT KTF BY PROXY
Following reports in last weekโ€™s column, when the Kenya Tourism Federation all but accused NEMA of abdicating their mandate to protect the environment by approving excessive developments around the Masai Mara Game Reserve, an obscure grouping of land owners from the area in question suddenly appeared on the scene, accusing KTF of meddling and their members of exploitative contracts, only interested to perpetuate their hold on existing businesses at the expense of newcomers and land owners. Yet, experience shows that governmental bodies under public pressure and scrutiny, often use proxy groups they covertly sponsor to deflect allegations and create another theatre of activity to draw public attention away from their own woes. This can clearly not be ruled out in this case and if found to be so, would obviously put NEMA even deeper into the bad house. No comment could be obtained from NEMA over allegations that they were ignoring the 2005 moratorium of new developments in the Mara until a thorough scientific review could be compiled, reviewed, and adopted in regard to the long-term impact of the mushrooming new lodging facilities across the area.

The Masai Mara, a fraction of the size of the adjoining Serengeti, is said to have in excess of 120 accommodation facilities with some 4,000 beds in total spread across the reserve and on adjoining land, while the Serengeti ecosystem, a multiple of the Masai Mara size, has a fraction of those numbers.

NEW AIRLINE DENIES PROJECT CORRUPTION LINK
The new Kenyan no-frills airline, OneJetOne, was reported last week to be under scrutiny together with the Kenya Airports Authority over recently-leaked plans to give them the old Embakasi airport terminal for re-development, which has rejected any suggestions that the deal was done underhandedly. The company, in fact, insists that they obtained their rights legally as the deal was advertised in the local media for tender. Other airlines and industry observers, however, contest this, claiming that the so-called tender was obscure and did not raise nor project the scope now envisaged by OneJetOne and that KAA, therefore, failed to disclose intent and purpose.

Other aviation fraternity sources, in fact, claim that it is KAAโ€™s primary duty to develop the airport and create the long overdue domestic terminal at the old airport side and are accusing the authority of abdicating their duties in favor of obscure deals that are in favor of one, yet unproven, player in the field.

The Kenyan procurement oversight body has also, during the week, reportedly criticized the process, saying no application was ever received from KAA to clear the tender, and in the absence of such, the deal was invalid. Hence, the matter is likely to end up in court eventually, and KAA could once more have egg all over their executivesโ€™ faces, while allegations of corruption will simply not go away. Watch this space for updates.

RWANDA MAKES IT THREE IN A ROW
For the third year in succession, the Rwanda stand at the ITB won the Best African Stand award, a resounding vote of confidence for ORTPN, their staff, and all the exhibitors coming from Rwanda. Namibia and Kenya came in second and third, respectively, in the rating of the judges. Rwanda also hosted, once again, the โ€œEast Africa Cocktailโ€ to assist in the promotion of the east African region as one destination with many attractions. Rwanda is the present chair of the EAC. Ugandan State Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Hon. Serapio Rukundo, reportedly gave the keynote address during the by-invitation-only cocktails for the global travel trade and selected media houses.

Congratulations to The Land of a Thousand Hills and their tourism promoters for a job, once again, superbly done.

NEW TOURISM MASTER PLAN FOR RWANDA NEARING COMPLETION
ORTPN, now operating under the Rwanda Development Board, is in the final stage of drawing up and new master plan for tourism in the country. The 10-year plan is intent to making Rwanda the leading destination in east Africa, and going by ORTPNโ€™s track record in recent years, this objective can be achieved. Towards the end of last week, a consultative session was held by RDB for the tourism sector, although many key stakeholders were, of course, attending the ITB tourism fair in Berlin at the time. The plan addresses such key components as institutional framework, human resource development, investments in the sector, research, and marketing so that the sector can be reshaped in a holistic manner. General infrastructural developments like roads and bridges will also be addressed alongside this, to ensure that the designated 7 areas for tourism developments can be reached with ease. In spite of the current global economic and financial crisis, Rwanda is targeting over 1.1 million visitors for 2009 and expects to earn some US$225 million from direct expenditure by visitors. It is understood that further consultations will take place in coming weeks before a final tourism master plan will be formally launched.

Meanwhile, in a further supporting effort to increase arrivals to the country and provide skilled manpower, last week Rwanda last also relaxed visa and arrival regulations when it removed work permit and residence permit fees for east African community citizens who come with expert knowledge to work in Rwanda. Citizens from beyond the EAC will also enjoy a substantial reduction of work permit and residence permit fees, which is in stark contrast with some other countries in the region, which have recently raised such fees in search of more revenue.

RWANDAIR NOW OFFERS REGULAR GISENYI FLIGHTS
The Rwandan national airline very recently started scheduled flights between Kigali and Gisenyi with their turboprop aircraft, after market research revealed growing demand for the route. The technical evaluation earlier on was very positive in regard to the landing stripโ€™s condition and existing facilities at the aerodrome, which now includes a modern fire-fighting vehicle.

BRUSSELS AIRLINES ADDS FOURTH KIGALI FLIGHT
The Belgian flag carrier, which became a member of the Lufthansa family a few weeks ago, has confirmed that they will operate an additional flight each week to Kigali between early June and the end of September this year. The airline will use their Airbus A330 for the operation, which in addition to the increased passenger capacity, also provides more cargo space on the route between the two countries. The extra flight will operate on Sundays from Brussels and will route via Nairobi on the way back to Belgium. Other traffic days are presently Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Brussels Airlines, at the same time, announced a substantial increase in the free baggage allowance for passengers, which will give travelers in economy 46 KG and those in business class 64 KG for checked luggage. This constitutes great value for money by Brussels Airlines in these days of the credit crunch and economic downturn. Meanwhile, some other airlines are trying to be clever by siphoning money out of passengersโ€™ pockets through the most extraordinary new charges and fees. In contrast, SN continues to provide a full meal and drink service on board, screens the latest films, and pillows and blankets remain a standard service available for passengers, while providing flat beds in their front cabin (business class). Says this correspondent, SN obviously remains committed to treating their passengers in the best tradition of classic European-style flying. SNโ€™s joining with the Lufthansa family will undoubtedly add great value to the LH Group by bringing an extensive African network into play, where LH has previously been either absent or had withdrawn services in the past.

KIGALI PASSENGER TERMINAL DUE FOR UPGRADE
Information was received from sources in Rwanda that the passenger terminal at Kanombe International Airport is now due for a thorough overhaul and upgrade in the coming months and years. Growing passenger numbers recorded at the airport and more airlines now flying in and out of the country, have prompted the decision by the Rwandan government and the airport operator to go ahead with the plans. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Infrastructure also confirmed that the work at the airport would be done in several phases to minimize inconvenience for passengers and staff.

SOUTHERN SUDAN GETS TOUGH ON POACHERS
At least four poachers were arrested earlier in the week in Jonglei state near the town of Bor, after being found with 10 poached antelopes and reed buck. The gang was remanded in jail awaiting trial where state wildlife officials involved in the hunt for the poachers and their arrest are due to give evidence. The culprits can expect long prison terms, as the government of southern Sudan and state governments are aiming at reviving wildlife-based tourism and will not tolerate anyoneโ€™s attempts to sabotage those plans through illegal hunting and poaching. Jonglei state is home to the Boma National Park where the migration of the white-eared kob originates from and much is expected in particular of this park in the revival of tourism in southern Sudan.

I INCLUDE A REMINDER TODAY THAT THE AFRICA TRAVEL ASSOCIATIONโ€™S 34TH ANNUAL CONGRESS IS NOW LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AWAY AND CAIRO IS GETTING READY TO WELCOME THE ATA DELEGATES
Visit: www.africa-ata.org/ or www.africatravelassociation.org for more details and online registration. Egypt Air, a member of Star Alliance, is offering special fares to congress participants from across their network, and while in North Africa, remember that east Africa is only a few more hours flying time away and equally keen to see you!

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

EAGLE AIR ADDS NEW DOMESTIC SCHEDULED DESTINATIONS

EAGLE AIR ADDS NEW DOMESTIC SCHEDULED DESTINATIONS
Eagle, Ugandaโ€™s main domestic scheduled airline, has announced that they will fly initially three times a week from Entebbe via Mbarara (CAAโ€™s Nyakishara airfield) to Kihihi (Savannah Resort airfield). The flights are checked in at Entebbeโ€™s domestic terminal, NOT the international terminal as some travelers still seem to believe, and will operate every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. The new service will open up tourism and trade opportunities but also allow area residents to swiftly reach their destination from Kampala, compared with long hours on the road. The Kihihi airfield is owned by the Savannah Resort, located just outside Queen Elizabeth National Parkโ€™s โ€œIshasha sector,โ€ famous for its tree climbing lions. From the Savannah Resort, it is also easy to reach the main gateway of Buhoma, entrance to the Bwindi Gorilla National Park. The airline has also confirmed that for an extra fee, these flights can route via Kisoro, gateway to the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and access to the Nkuringo area of Bwindi, to Kasese on the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains and even to the Mweya Safari Lodge airstrip in the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The airline operates a fleet of LET 410s, a Beechcraft 1900 as well as several single and twin-engine light aircraft for their scheduled flights in Uganda and air charters across the east and central African region. For more information visit their website at www.flyeagleuganda.com or www.eagleair-ug.com

AIRSERVEโ€™S CARAVAN CRASHES IN SOUTHERN SUDAN
The Uganda registered AirServe Cessna Caravan aircraft 5X-ASI crashed last Saturday in southern Sudan upon take off, clipping the branches of a tree and loosing a wing in the process before hitting the ground. All passengers and crew escaped the wreckage alive. Eye witnesses to the crash spoke of a โ€œloud bang and lots of smokeโ€ after the aircraft went airborne initially. The almost miraculous escape of all passengers is largely attributed to the skills of the pilot. An accident investigation is now underway with aviation experts from southern Sudan and the Ugandan CAA participating in the enquiry.

ANOTHER UGANDA TELECOM FIRST
Visitors to Uganda will be pleased to hear that Uganda Telecom has introduced a new product, allowing visitors to use their wireless enabled laptops to connect to the Internet in an increasing number of hotspots across the city, Entebbe, and Jinja. At the modest cost of 2.000 UShs or equivalent of US$1, โ€œsurfersโ€ can send a text message to the UTL transaction center, receive in return a pass code, and can then access the network for one hour without buying an expensive modem. The connection will link into the state-of-the-art 3G network, which was launched by UTL in mid 2008. Longer time slots are available at reduced rates and details can be found at www.utl.co.ug or any of the many UTL outlets across the metropolitan area.
Meanwhile, the SEACOM ocean bed cable, which will connect east Africa via fiber-optic links to the rest of the world, reducing reliance on satellite up and down links, reached Mombasa last weekend. Preparations are now underway to connect to the east African switch station. A second such cable of a competing consortium is also due to land soon. The fiber-optic connections are expected to reduce the cost of data bulk transfers by as much as three quarters, although this reduction is not expected to be passed on to consumers in full. Still, Internet connection charges and voice/data call cost are expected to come down by as much as half once all technical installations and connections to the various east African phone and communication networks are in place. This is expected to happen by middle of the year. Something to look forward to says this correspondent who spends a small fortune, year in and year out, in connection charges and phone bills.

ORANGE LAUNCHES SERVICE
Ugandaโ€™s fifth telecoms network, France Telecom owned Orange, is now operating in Uganda after launching earlier in the week. They established themselves as an innovative player in Kenya last year and then bought out HITS Telecom from the previous owners in Uganda. Their market entry in Uganda is expected to further intensify competition and call rates, and the cost of other services is expected to come down still further to the benefit of consumers. Visitors from Europe using the Orange network in their own countries will also benefit through reduced roaming cost by staying on their home network. The access code for the network will be +256 790. In a remarkable way, to reduce the construction of yet more telecomโ€™s transmission towers, many of which are now no longer considered as signs of progress but rather being an eyesore, at times with as many as 4 towers dotting hill tops, the company has entered into a sharing agreement with Warid Telecom, building only 150 transmission masts in their launch area while using Waridโ€™s mast network in a reciprocal arrangement. For that, both companies are commended.

MINISTRY OF WORKS GIVES FINAL DEADLINE FOR NORTHERN BYPASS
The public, the EU, which has been funding the project and government are all fed up to the teeth with the constant delays over the completion of the Northern Bypass, which is to channel heavy traffic to upcountry destinations in the west and south west of the country around the city center. The resulting decongestion is estimated to reduce traffic jams substantially for commuters into the city bringing much needed relief to motorists.
However, Italian company Salini โ€“ incidentally also constructing the Bujagali dam and hydro-electric power plant (and being ahead of schedule there) โ€“ continue to blame โ€œcircumstances beyond their control,โ€ which apparently also includes the time construction stood still when the belated, squabbled-over design details occurred some three years into construction.

Yet, cracks have already started to develop on sections of the road before it has even open to general traffic, a situation witnessed last week by the Minister for Works and Transport, who then issued a dire warning to the contractors to either finish their work by March 11 or face substantial fines and penalties, which could include banning the company from further projects in Uganda. In fact, the Minister was reported in the local media to have spoken of possible prosecution of Salini, if facts found out during the upcoming enquiry will support such a move.

However, not long afterwards, the foreign project manager of Salini publicly contradicted the Minister when saying โ€œthe road will be open in July.โ€ Watch this space as the โ€œItalian road operaโ€ continues to unfold.

KENYA TOURISM FEDERATION TAKES ON NEMA
Kenyaโ€™s tourism private-sector apex body has taken on NEMA over the proliferation of new developments encroaching into the Masai Mara Game Reserve. While NEMA claims all their approvals for new facilities were taken in accordance with the law and regulations, in contrast the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) is highly critical of the fact that in recent years nearly three dozen new developments have sprung up in the area disregarding the new management plan for the reserve drawn up by the Narok and Trans Mara country councils. It is also alleged that NEMA disregarded a moratorium placed on new developments allowing for in-depth studies into the knock-on effect of ever more tourists being accommodated in an ecologically-sensitive area. KTF, in fact, went as far as accusing NEMA of abdicating their role in environmental protection and being the public custodian of the environment and having joined hands with developers only interested in short-term profit at the expense of common good.

KENYAโ€™S REPUTATION TAKES A KNOCK
Ahead of the important ITB tourism fair in Berlin, Kenyaโ€™s international reputation took a further beating in the local, regional, and international media, when two leading human-rights activists were, in cold blood, assassinated in broad daylight while sitting in a traffic jam with their car. Only hours earlier, the governmental sources linked them with a banned violent sect, an allegation robustly rejected by their organization and a number of people well acquainted with their work. The special rapporteur for the UN on extra-judicial killings in Kenya, following the disputed elections in late December 2007 and an exceedingly large number of other cases, Prof. Philip Alston had met the two only weeks earlier when conducting his evidentiary hearings. In his published report, he blamed the Kenyan Commissioner of Police and the countryโ€™s Attorney General as โ€œicons of impunityโ€ over failing to take any action about the alleged police executions of some 8,000 individuals. Only a few weeks ago, the Kenyan parliament also rejected proposals to set up a facility to delve into the post-election violence and bring the culprits to book, leaving the International Criminal Court to deal with the perpetrators of that violence.
In the climate of the present world economic downturn and financial crisis, such negative publicity is the last thing a countryโ€™s tourism promoters need, as they already struggle to lure tourists to Kenya and promote the east African country as a safe and desirable destination, which it of course is, were it not for such callous acts and the regrettable aftermath of violent demonstrations.

KENYA AIRPORT AUTHORITY IN SPOTLIGHT AGAIN
The Kenya Airport Authority, not a stranger to controversy and negative allegations in the past, has come yet again under the public spotlight, when a deal was revealed which saw KAA clandestinely plan to hand over the old airport facility of Embakasi to an aviation newcomer for redevelopment.

Nairobiโ€™s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is seriously congested, and the idea to transfer domestic flights to the old airport โ€“ as incidentally done in Entebbe โ€“ would decongest the international side. The plans to do exactly that, also supported by Kenya Airways โ€“ the biggest user of facilities at JKIA, were, however, in back-room dealings substituted by new and apparently unauthorized plans to hand the redevelopment to a relatively unknown entity. The move will, therefore, be seen as another deal overshadowed by the stink of corruption, especially when the Sunday Nation revealed that the airline, which has not even started operations yet and is still to get the various operational permits from the KCAA, has a Mr. Ikiara listed as one of their directors who is, of course, a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport under which the KAA falls. Watch this space for updates.

SERENGETI ELEPHANTS RAID SHAMBAS
Elephants from the Serengeti National Park appeared to have strayed into some of the surrounding small farms of late, raiding crops and in the process killing two unfortunate villagers. Local community leaders have asked the government to devise lasting solutions to protect them and their small vegetable gardens and farms, as a drought has already made living conditions in the area difficult. Requests for food aid were also made at the same time to replace what the marauding elephants had eaten and allow the residents to not only restock their larders but also get new seeds for the next planting season.
This is a story repeated in many parts of Africa, where population pressure brought human settlements into areas close to national parks and game reserves or where settlements evolved inside and along traditional wildlife migration routes, causing an intensifying conflict between animals and humans, which will be hard to resolve.

KARIBU TRADE FAIR UPDATES
East Africaโ€™s premier tourism trade show, the Karibu Fair in Arusha Tanzania, will this year take place between June 5-7. The first day will be limited to trade visitors only, allowing for uninterrupted business-to-business contacts, while the remaining two days will be open for both trade and general visitors. Anyone interested in the event can visit www.karibufair.com for more information or write to [email protected]. Participants from the US, the UK, Holland, Switzerland, India, and South Africa have already registered, and, of course, many from the entire east African region.

It is also noteworthy that this is the 10th time the event is taking place in Arusha, during which the fair has grown from strength to strength. Way to go Karibu and congrats for making this a very important regional afโ€™Fairโ€™!

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

SHERATON ALREADY PREPARES FOR EASTER

SHERATON ALREADY PREPARES FOR EASTER
No sooner had Ash Wednesday come, concluding the traditional carnival season in Europe and, of course, in South Americaโ€™s carnival capital Rio de Janeiro, did the Sheraton Kampala staff start their preparations for the upcoming Easter season. Their monthly newsletter for March already advertises special room packages for visitors and also the special Easter menus one can expect after completing the โ€˜Lentโ€™ period in the Christian calendar. Of course, there is no standing still in the hospitality industry at all, especially not the ever-busy Sheraton Kampala Hotel. Preparations are now entering high gear to give Kampaleans everything to look forward to when Easter Sunday eventually comes around.

CONSULTATIONS FOR SECOND NILE BRIDGE COMMENCE
As this column goes to print today, consultations are unfolding in the eastern Ugandan municipality of Jinja at the Crested Crane Hotel, also the seat of Ugandaโ€™s national Hotel and Tourism Training Institute. The Uganda National Roads Authority is calling on governmental bodies and all interested parties and stakeholders to put forward their observations, contributions, recommendations, and even objections to the plans to build a second bridge over the River Nile, aimed to secure long-term strategic access from one part of the country to the other. The present bridge carries all imports by road coming from the Kenyan border across the river and the hinterland nations of Burundi, Rwanda, eastern Congo, southern Sudan, and to an extent even western Tanzania depend on the bridge link.

The old bridge was commissioned in 1954 when the Owens Falls hydro-electric dam was formally launched. Increased traffic volumes now require alternatives and fall-back options to safeguard supply routes. The government of Japan is funding the design for the new bridge, the necessary consultative exercises, and has already given indication that they will also be a major source of funding for the construction of the new bridge, expected to start some time in 2010.

GLOBAL RECESSION COMES HOME TO ROOST
Recent media reports in Uganda speak about increased anxiety amongst safari operators over a drop in new bookings and cancellations of already-confirmed holiday trips. The main markets for Uganda are the United States and the UK, both of which are greatly afflicted by the economic downturn and the global financial crisis. No information was available, if at all any, of the tourism trade organizations having made specific requests and/or detailed proposals to government regarding how to support the sector and see the tourism industry through potentially hard times. Meanwhile, the Kenyan treasury has released an extra 250 million Kenya Shillings to the Kenya Tourist Board last week to be spent on a global marketing campaign aimed to attract new visitors to Kenya and keep hotel, resort, and lodge occupancies above loss-making levels.

Meanwhile in Uganda again, the Safari Guide Association has just advertised a special course for senior tour guides with sufficient experience in their chosen field. Up to twenty applicants will be admitted to the 2-week training session, which will take place during the first two weeks of May. At least one of the tourism associations is thankfully looking ahead and will try to capture market share through better services and higher skills of those staff members spending the most time with tourist visitors. It was learned that course guidelines and recommendations of the World Federation of Tourist Guides will be applied. Well done indeed Herbert Byaruhanga and the executives of the Uganda Safari Guide Association.

UGANDA WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHIC SAFARIS MAKES WAVES
While a number of other safari companies presently seem to indulge in gloom and doom talk, UWPS is busy creating new products to attract tourist visitors to Uganda. As already mentioned in the previous column, where an active and participatory safari had advertised to assist in capturing zebras for relocation, the company is now also seeking paying participants to carry out a census of hippos and crocodiles along the Albert Nile, which stretches from Lake Albert to the border with southern Sudan. Participants can expect to fork out at least US$3,741 for the arrangements in Uganda (plus airfare, of course, and expenses of a personal nature) and can look forward to an unusual trip along the mighty River Nile while spotting and counting crocs and hippos.

The company has, besides its unusual safari business approach, also signed a long-term concession and management agreement with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, according to information given on their website, to manage and restock the Ajai Game Reserve and parts of the Kafu River basin, a combined area of over 1 million hectares of African wilderness. New safari camps in those areas are also upcoming, so watch this space for emerging news on this creative and innovative approach in Uganda for tourism and conservation activities. For more information, visit http://www.uganda-wildlife-photographic-safaris.com/pages/en/home.php .

FUEL PRICES GRADUALLY REDUCE
Ongoing pressure from the business community and civil society โ€“ with government perceived as doing little or nothing to reign in the greed of the fuel companies โ€“ has now compelled the fuel companies to gradually reduce prices. Diesel, while still in the 2.200 UShs bracket upcountry, has now come down to the low 1.800 range in Kampala, which is less than a US dollar, while at peak times it had reached some 2.600 UShs per liter. Petrol, however, is still trading in the 2.500 UShs range, or about US$1.30 per liter but expected to also reduce in coming weeks, finally reflecting the international market prices, which Ugandan fuel companies have conveniently ignored over the past months in search of extracting maximum profit from the consumers. The reduction in fuel prices has also slowed inflationary pressure, and the index may well slip back into the single digit bracket by the middle of the year.

CASE OF WILD POLIO DISCOVERED IN NORTHERN UGANDA
Almost 15 years after declaring Uganda a polio-free country, a single fresh case was discovered in the north of the country, likely brought in from across the international border where the health care regime is less stringent and, in fact, largely absent. Rotary International, through the clubs in Uganda, together with the WHO, had long vaccinated babies and children across the country for free to eradicate the disabling disease, which turned into a success story when the WHO declared Uganda polio free in the mid 1990s.

The latest case found has immediately triggered a 25 district massive inoculation exercise, covering the entire area surrounding the find, and a further 25 districts are due for the activity soon afterwards. It has been pointed out that visitors to Uganda are not likely to come into contact with the infected person, although medical recommendations apparently suggest refresher doses every 10 years.

KENYA SHILLING DROPS THROUGH THE 80 BARRIER
The value of the Kenya Shilling continued to drop on poor economic data and falling remittances from Kenyans abroad, until now a backbone of foreign exchange flows into the country. Tourism and export earnings also continue to struggle causing the Kenyan currency, for the first time since 2004, to fall through the psychologically important 80 = 1 US dollar threshold earlier in the week. Other regional currencies, too, are under pressure for the same reasons. The development is likely to give visitors better value for their money in eastern Africa but will also give exporters greater earnings in their home currency versus the US dollar and the Euros, while, of course, also making all imports dearer for the local markets.

KENYA AIRWAYS EYEING NEW DESTINATIONS IN AFRICA
Information has been availed to this correspondent that Kenya Airways may in due course begin flights to Botswana and Namibia, possibly as an extension combined with their daily Nairobi โ€“ Johannesburg services. The airline presently serves over 30 destinations across Africa, seen as the load factor backbone for many of their international services, in particular to the Gulf, India, and south Asia, when passengers connect in Nairobi for their final destination. Flights to Congo Brazzaville, also a new destination, are set to commence in late March from Nairobi and will operate initially three times a week.

Meanwhile, AFRAA, the association of African Airlines, met last week in Bujumbura, Burundi for their regular meeting, having selected the venue at their last sitting in Nairobi. No details were available on the agenda and proceedings at the time of going to press.

KENYA ASSOCIATION OF AIR OPERATORS TO HOLD WORKSHOP
This most important private sector aviation association in Kenya will be holding a user-friendly workshop for members of the aviation fraternity on April 2 at the Aero Club of Kenya at Wilson Airport, to give up-to-date information to members about aircraft leasing and financing, a crucial issue in these days of the global credit crunch. Information can be obtained from both KAAO and the Aero Club in Nairobi for potential participants.

RELAXATION OF IVORY SALE BAN BLAMED ON POACHING INCREASE
Following the much-criticized relaxation of the ivory sale ban under CITES rules in southern Africa last year, poaching in east Africa has been on the increase in recent months as predicted by many experts and conservationists. In particular, in the Tsavo area of Kenya, at least five elephants were found butchered and had their tusks removed in recent weeks, while the authorities also made some arrests of suspected poachers and recovered automatic arms and ammunition.

Whenever in the past the CITES rules were relaxed in favor of the southern African states, who periodically advocate vocally for the relaxation of the bans, this had an immediate impact on eastern Africa, from where illegal ivory is then said to be clandestinely shipped to the very southern African states with relaxed rules, before the loot is then allegedly โ€˜integratedโ€™ into stockpiles there and made ready for โ€˜legalโ€™ trading. Only recently did this column also report on poaching in the Amboseli area of Kenya, lending more credibility to claims and allegations that this is indeed an organized development with godfathers in high places and connections to Southern Africa, ever ready to feed the lust for ivory in the south east Asian market. Watch this space for updates.

CASSOA MEETING DECRIES LACK OF SKILLED AVIATION MANPOWER
A stakeholder workshop organized by the East African Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency in Arusha last week lamented the lack of skilled personnel in the aviation sector due to short supply of training facilities and poaching of qualified staff to accept better-paying jobs abroad. The main public institution in eastern Africa for aviation training, the East African Aviation Academy, also known as the โ€˜Flying Schoolโ€™ in Soroti ,Uganda, was found to be lacking in equipment, facilities, and budgetary support from the governments in the region, although it remains ideally placed to train aircraft technicians and pilots. The lack of domestic and regional training capacity is now forcing many wannabe pilots to train abroad at a multiple of the cost involved in getting their licences at home.

BLIND GERMAN CLIMBS KILIMANJARO
A blind man from Munich, Germany made history recently when climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and reaching the top peak, โ€˜Uhuru,โ€™ the highest point on the African continent. The tour was organized in Germany by well-known Hauser Expeditions, while locally the guides were provided by Snow Cap Limited, a climbing outfitter based in Moshi, Tanzania. The climb was accompanied by a specially-trained German guide from Hauser Expeditions and ably supported by over a dozen porters and local guides, who accompanied the blind man to the top of the mountain and explained the landscapes and scenery as they went along. This man proved that his disability was no impediment to achieving his long ambition. Well done!

MONUC AGAIN AN IDLE BYSTANDER
No sooner had Rwandan troops left the Congo, compelled to do so when the limited time-frame military operation ended without fully achieving its objectives to disable and destroy the infamous Hutu militias, did MONUC report that the scattered killer militias were returning to their former bases and had already taken over territory again and have immediately resorted to punish what they call collaborators, i.e., innocent people who had shown their delight when the joint offensive drove the militias away from their areas.
The Congo army, now without the active support of Rwanda, again appears incapable or unwilling to tackle the militias directly and MONUC has again taken the stand of reporting matters rather than acting robustly on events. Calls are already re-emerging within the region to permit Rwandan units back into the Congo without a time limit to once and for all remove the Hutu militia menace, which has been a constant threat to regional stability since fleeing Rwanda in 1994 after carrying out one of the worst acts of genocide in modern history.

Meanwhile, Ugandaโ€™s UPDF and southern Sudanโ€™s SPLA operations in north eastern Congo continue in their search for the ICC-wanted Joseph Kony and his LRA remnants, although several LRA commanders have, during the cause of the two-month-old operation, been killed, captured, or surrendered. Konyโ€™s remaining men are, however, reportedly receiving fresh support from the regime in Khartoum in violation of agreements and declarations made by Bashir, a further sign that โ€“ like in Darfur โ€“ the Khartoum regime simply cannot be trusted to behave in an internationally-acceptable manner.

COMORES 2008 ARRIVAL STATISTIC
Overall arrivals for the Comoros Islands, by passengers arriving from abroad by air, stood at 133,577 for the year 2008, with the strongest month being July, when 18,250 passengers entered the island nation. Arrivals solely for the purpose of tourism, as defined by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), however, remain lower than expected, partly caused by the lack of tourism-quality accommodation on the islands. No information could be obtained on the planned project by Dubai World as a result of the present global economic and financial crisis, which also saw the Gulf states, in particular, Dubai, substantially affected.

Airlines presently flying into Moroni are Yemenia, Kenya Airways, Air Tanzania, Air Austral, Air Madagascar, Comoros Aviation, and Inter Isles Air.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

AIR UGANDA CHANGES TANZANIA FLIGHTS

AIR UGANDA CHANGES TANZANIA FLIGHTS
Following the decision by the Air Tanzania board of directors to resume operations only on domestic routes for the foreseeable future, the demand for flights between Dar es Salaam and Entebbe has shifted to, amongst others, Air Uganda. The airline responded accordingly and has now announced that they will fly from the first week of March, four times a week, non-stop from Entebbe to Dar, while dropping the stopovers in Kilimanjaro altogether. Two of the flights will also extend to Zanzibar to accommodate the weekend leisure traffic, and flights will, for the time being, operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays using MD 87 equipment in a two-class configuration.

The Entebbe โ€“ Kilimanjaro route will, according to civil aviation sources, now be served exclusively by Precision Air who, however, also offers onward flights to Dar and Zanzibar, now being Tanzaniaโ€™s biggest airline. Other connections from Entebbe to Tanzania operate via Nairobi with both Kenya Airways and Fly540.

โ€˜THE EYEโ€™ FOR FEB / MARCH NOW AVAILABLE
Ugandaโ€™s premier visitor and entertainment guide, โ€˜The Eye,โ€™ for February and March can now be accessed in a web edition, which can be found via www.theeye.co.ug, while printed copies are readily available for free through hotel receptions, embassies, consulates, airline offices, and a range of other distribution points in Kampala, Entebbe, and Jinja. โ€˜The Eyeโ€™ is simply the most comprehensive guide available, in both print and e-version, for Uganda and a must have for all visitors to the country. The web version also provides access to an interactive map of Kampala and provides the latest weather data. Mark this webpage under โ€˜favoritesโ€™ to have regular and easy access to the latest information of whatโ€™s on in Uganda.

FEAR OVER FRESH ANTHRAX OUTBREAK
The discovery of some dead hippos in Queen Elizabeth National Park has promptly raised fears again that a fresh anthrax outbreak was underway, in particular as several people were reported to have died after consuming meat from possibly-infected animals. UWAโ€™s veterinary services and the Ministry of Health have assembled an emergency response team investigating the causes of death with the aim of responding appropriately, should the outbreak be confirmed. In fact, early reports coming back from the field team would indicate that anthrax was not to blame for the deaths, but a fuller laboratory investigation has to confirm this opinion.

HERITAGE OIL STRIKES ANOTHER JACKPOT
Recent exploration drilling by Heritage Oil has apparently struck another rich oil well, according to well-informed sources, their biggest find yet. Overall reserves in Uganda are now estimated to reach at least 2 billion barrels, while some 600 million barrel reserves are already confirmed. As more new prospecting companies are arriving in Uganda, wider areas are at last being explored, possibly bringing the overall reserves to even greater levels.

All installations in the country are now being protected by both private security firms – in Heritageโ€™s case, by Saracen Uganda Limited, a firm with roots in South Africa – while special units of the Uganda Peopleโ€™s Defence Force (UPDF) have also been detailed to establish security parameters around drilling sites to avoid any further incidents with Congolese intruders (this column reported, in the past, several such incidents), as well as other ill-meaning elements aimed to disrupt Ugandaโ€™s march towards full oil production and economic prosperity.

GEOPHYSICAL DATA NOW AVAILABLE
Following the completion of an airborne survey covering the entire country, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has now informed the general public and interested investors that the data is now available at the Ministryโ€™s head office and is expected to be posted in full on the ministry website very soon. Visit www.uganda-mining.co.ug or contact the project coordinator at the ministry via [email protected] .

KARUMA FALLS HYDRO PLANT TO โ€˜BECOME REALITYโ€™
The limbo of this decade-long project, abandoned by their Norwegian promoters, NORPAK, over a year ago, is soon to be history, going by reports coming out of reliable government sources. Uganda is intent to start the construction with internally-generated resources and seed money from the energy fund created some years ago when a massive electricity supply crisis struck the nation.

The same sources now also confirmed that the initially-proposed capacity of 250 MW, generated through a tunnel version hydro-electric plant, will likely triple to a 750 MW capacity, as the entire design is presently being upgraded to cater to the additional generating potential. Government sources also mentioned that the plant could go online within the next three to four years, which would bring a major boost to Ugandan manufacturers, the entire economy, and households. Access to electricity mains is still limited to less than 10 percent of Ugandans and offering affordable electricity, in particular in rural areas, is considered a major boost to conservation, as it is likely to substantially lower the consumption of charcoal, now responsible for the accelerated destruction of forests and trees across the entire country.

Once the Bujagali and Karuma plants are online, the country can also expect a massive reduction of the present electricity cost, as hydro-generation is said to cost a fraction compared to the present use of diesel and heavy fuel-oil thermal plants, besides the improvement of the carbon footprint for Uganda.

HOTEL TYCOONโ€™S MOTHER PASSES
It was learned with deep sorrow that the mother of fellow Skal member, Sudhir Ruparelia, who is also the owner of the Speke Hotel and the Tourist Hotel in the city and of the Speke Resort and Conference Centre and the Commonwealth Resort in Munyonyo, had passed away last week. The late Mrs. Ruparelia had been rushed a few days earlier to London for medical treatment, where she succumbed to her illness. Condolences are extended and prayers offered.

REVISITING โ€˜AN OLD FRIENDโ€™
The Lake View Resort in Mbarara, south western Ugandaโ€™s main municipality, was initially opened in August 1992, in fact, not long after we moved from Kenya to Uganda. My wife spent her childhood years in Ruharo, just across the nearby hill from the Lake View Hotel, as it was called then, which was the accommodation of choice when in Mbarara in the early 1990s, being brand new and conveniently nearby. Having attended the official opening at the time, performed by none other, of course, than President Museveni, I kept coming back quite faithfully, as much of my work at the time took place in the south west of the country. The hotel eventually changed hands twice, before the present owner not only embarked on a grand overhaul, but also added a new wing with rather large and well-appointed rooms, bringing the overall number to nearly 100 plus a few additional meeting rooms, which are in great demand I was told, and could witness. Workshop tourism is a constant source of revenue for many hotels in Uganda and much of this now takes place upcountry in order to reach the intended target groups and beneficiaries with greater ease. When speaking with some workshop participants at sun-downer time, it became clear they all liked the location, the service of the busy-bee staff, and the quality of the food. I opted twice for their tilapia fillet steamed with dry sherry and herbs in foil, which was absolutely delicious.

The road from Kampala is, for some stretches, in great need of repair, but my hope was raised when seeing several extensive sections actually under re-construction, which will probably be completed late this year. Mbarara, some 270 KM from Kampala, is the gateway to the Ankole Kingdom of old, to the nearby Lake Mburo National Park, and it is also within easy reach of Kabale, the springboard to Lake Bunyoni, the gorilla national parks of Bwindi and Mgahinga, and, of course, to the Queen Elizabeth National Park, the Rwenzori Mountains, and the Albertine Graben, all within just a few hours drive.

The Lake View Resort Hotel is managed by Johnson Okili, an absolutely worthy general manager, having gone through the demanding training regime of this correspondent in his other capacities and quite a reunion it was, of course. It is always rewarding when seeing erstwhile students and trainees rise through the ranks to the top of their profession and make a true career in the hospitality business.

TOURISTS INVITED FOR ZEBRA RELOCATION
A Ugandan safari company has now advertised a safari, which includes rounding up zebras in south western Uganda and relocating them to a wildlife reserve in Northern Uganda. The cost, excluding flights to and from Uganda and items of personal nature, is from US$3,856 per person; details are available via www.uganda-wildlife-photographic-safaris.com .

SUDAN AND EGYPT CONTINUE DELAYING TACTICS ON NILE TREATY
While the main contributing nations to the Nile basin waters have already signed the new treaty document, in particular Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, and Congo DR, the regime in Khartoum and the government in Egypt have not yet put pen to paper, trying to extract yet more concessions over the use of the Nile waters, which are now, however, universally recognized to be a resource originating in eastern Africa and no longer subject to the colonial one-sided approach of the Nile Treaties of 1929 and 1959. It was Britain, at the time, imposing their own interests upon eastern Africa to cede the water rights and upon independence of Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, literally forced the recognition of this one-sided dictate. During a meeting in Bujumbura last week, the Burundian Vice President, therefore, laid heavily into Egypt and Sudan, demanding they put their signature to the document, which he said took over a decade to develop.

The new Nile Treaty for the first time recognized the sovereignty and equality of the east African states over their own resources, which constitutes a hard-fought victory over Egypt, which long saw itself in a master-slave relationship over other riparian states due to the veto powers over the use of Nile, Lake Victoria, and contributory river waters originating in the 1929 and 1959 treaties. In fact, language coming from Cairo had, in the past, even mentioned โ€˜going to war over water,โ€™ a hardly-concealed threat against the east African states, aimed to bully them into submission and give up an equal say over resources originating from their own land.

Notably, Khartoumโ€™s regime leader, Bashir, was in Cairo over the weekend, probably to discuss ways and means to escape the ICC arrest warrant now hanging over his head, while no media reports available since then did mention that the meeting also had the Nile Treaty on the agenda.

A NOTE TO READERS
Recent contributions about Fly 540โ€™s regional development have attracted a number of inquiries about the possibility of doing bookings with the airline. Regretfully, this is not possible by sending in a comment about the article or column item in question, but best achieved by visiting www.fly540.com and making a direct booking with the airline or sending the relevant inquiry on flight availability and schedules to them, where a swift and competent response is assured. Thank you.

TURKISH AIRLINE STARTS NAIROBI FLIGHTS
As reported in this column some time ago, Turkish Airlines has now commenced flights between Istanbul and Nairobi (three times a week), code shared with Kenya Airways, who had dropped the route in late 2007. It was also announced in Nairobi that Visa processing would be made easier for visitors from eastern Africa, which has been a major obstacle for growing visitor numbers. In fact, a sizeable delegation from Uganda to visit the Skal international congress in Turkey in 2007 had to cancel their plans when they could not obtain Visas in time and were, according to one hopeful participant, โ€˜hassled to no endโ€™ by what she describes as โ€˜ignorant and arrogant officialsโ€™ at the Turkish mission in Nairobi. Another hopeful had, at the time, added to this correspondent that โ€˜Skal should make a guaranteed Visa a mandatory requirement. We, from Africa, are apparently always the hardest hit when we have to fight for our Visa, especially when the host country has no mission in Uganda and when they try to force us travel to other places in person without being even sure we got those Visas.

KENYA AIRWAYS LAUNCHES NEW PROMOTION
โ€˜The Pride of Africa,โ€™ as Kenya Airways is fondly known, has just launched a companion fare promotion โ€“ not valid for their domestic flights, though โ€“ which grants a traveling companion a 50 percent rebate on the published fares on regional, continental, and intercontinental routes. The validity of the offer runs up to March 4, by which time tickets have to be paid for, although flights can still take place after that cut-off date. Meanwhile, the airline is, according to usually well-informed sources, also reviewing its ambitious expansion plans for route and fleet expansion to avoid unnecessary financial exposure at a time when reality for aviation is rather harsh, while at the same time also re-examining their fuel-hedging contracts to create a safety net for potentially rising fuel costs in the future.

DATE SET FOR ANNUAL RHINO CHARGE IN KENYA
This annual key conservation event has been set for May 31 of this year and is expected to, once again, attract a wide range of participants for the benefit of rhinos in the country. Proceeds of the event will go to rhino projects and rhino conservation activities in Kenya.

WILD DOGS SIGHTED NEAR AMBOSELI
Porini Camps and Gamewatcher Safaris have recently confirmed the return of a pack of hunting or wild dogs to the Selenkay Conservancy, numbering up to 22 animals in the group. Only recently were they seen close to the Amboseli Porini Camp water hole, to the delight of visitors and staff. Arrangements were also made with the Masai population living nearby who have reportedly lost two young calves, which Porini/Gamewatchers agreed to replace and absorb further damage while the Masai in turn committed not to harm or chase the dog pack. Clients staying at the Porini camp in Amboseli can now make direct contributions towards the โ€˜adoptedโ€™ pack, while in any case a sizeable portion of the camp income is being ploughed back into conservation and community projects.

Porini last received a major award when being recognized at the last WTM as one of the worldโ€™s top 50 eco-lodges, a credit to the owners, amongst them Jake Grieves Cook, who is currently also the chairman of the Kenya Tourist Board. More recently, the National Geographic Society Adventure Magazine named them โ€˜Best Outfitter on Earthโ€™ as being amongst the top 10 African Safari Companies, Visit www.porinisafaricamps.com/responsible-tourism.htm for more information.

NEW WILDLIFE LAW SPLITS CONSERVATIONISTS
The โ€˜Wildlife Bill 2009,โ€™ now being discussed in Kenya, is set to split opinions between the different schools of thought of the conservation fraternity, as pros and cons of the new bill have raised the proverbial temperature of the debate between opponents and proponents of the new law. While outright hunting will still be prohibited, the door has nevertheless been opened through a variety of measures via โ€˜use rights,โ€™ which appear to cater for cropping of wildlife on private ranches; wildlife farming, which allows for raising and containment of wildlife on private properties; and subsequent culling. Some sections of the conservation fraternity now accuse others of having hijacked the process, while again others castigated the use of creative language to conceal the fact that the ultimate result of the proposed changes would still leave wildlife dead on the ground. It was also pointed out in sections of the Kenyan media that the previously-permitted culling was not just very much abused by certain land owners, but had led to the reduction of wildlife species in parts of the country.

RIVERTREES GIVES NEWS UPDATE
Rivertrees Country Inn, located on the Usa River between the Kilimanjaro International Airport and Arusha town, is one of this correspondentโ€™s personal favorites when visiting Arusha. Their ever-smiling staff, their tastefully and individually furnished rooms, their โ€˜home cookedโ€™ food (I crave their freshly-baked bread for breakfast and the home made jams and marmalade), the once a week โ€˜neighborhood BBQโ€™ when nearby residents share their tales with the visitors staying at the Inn, and, of course, the Innโ€™s tranquil setting along the Usa River coming down from Mt. Meru are all reasons why I keep track of events and happenings there. As has become an annual practise, Rivertrees will close for their spring cleaning, renovations, and improvements to the place between April 1 and May 15, each day inclusive. This being the traditional low season, it allows the staff to take their annual leave while the lodge is being spruced up again for the coming year.
Proprietor Martina Gehrken-Trappe (yes, of the famous von Trappe family) also proudly pointed out the many events Rivertrees hosted over the past months, including a 250-strong outing during the Travelers Philanthropy Conference in December last year; several very posh weddings; catering for a BBC production team, which stayed in the Arusha area for well over a month; and, of course, providing a social platform for area residents who made the Rivertrees Pub their very own watering hole. Last but not least it is noteworthy that Rivertrees is actively engaged in supporting local communities through the Usa River Foundation, looks after foster kids homed nearby, and has extended assistance to the recently-established B&B by the SIAFU Widows Group. The Jane Goodall Institute also benefits from contributions of room and board by Rivertrees, making a real difference for their conservation objectives. The recently-formed Rotary Club of Usa River also made Rivertrees their home for meetings, as did the Rotaract Club of Usa River. For more information, visit www.rivertrees.com or better come and visit in person before embarking on one of the world-famous safaris to the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater.

TANAPA ADVERTISES FOR NEW HOT AIR BALLOON CONCESSIONS
The Tanzania National Parks has invited expressions of interest for newly-advertised concessions for operating balloon flights from inside the Tarangire, Mikumi, and Ruaha national parks in northern and southern Tanzania. The number of balloons stationed in the parks will be limited to two each, and while at Ruaha and Tarangire, 12-seater (rather โ€˜standingโ€™) balloons can be used, the Mikumi concession only permits the use of 6-passenger balloons for the time being.

Applications will be received by TANAPA at their Arusha offices via P.O. Box 3134, addressed to the Director General, but email contact is possible via [email protected] . Deadline for the completion of the entire application exercise is April 14 at 2:00 pm or 14:00 hours local time. Potential investors must express their interest in writing first, to be provided with the guidelines under which they can then formally apply and submit a project proposal to TANAPA.

RWANDA HONORS โ€˜RECORD TRACKERSโ€™
Joe and Mary Ann McDonald were honored last week by ORTPN when they completed their 50th tracking of gorillas, a phenomenal achievement, not the least considering the cost involved of coming to Rwanda that many times and purchasing the tracking permits. The couple is reportedly involved in professional wildlife photography. The record-breaking tracking was achieved over the last several years, and the couple is now likely to claim a place in the Guinness World Records book, which, of course, would also be good news for Rwanda Tourism, providing free PR and exposure.

RWANDA โ€“ TANZANIA RAILWAYS CONSTRUCTION FOR 2010
Information was received from Kigali that the construction of a rail link from the Tanzanian inland dry port of Isaka will commence in early 2010. The new line will be of standard international gauge to facilitate larger loads and faster speeds. Eventually the same line will be extended to eastern Congo and Burundi, none of which presently have access to any railway link. The existing railway line between Dar es Salaam and Isaka is also due for rehabilitation and upgrade to standard gauge from the present narrow gauge. The total project cost is estimated to be in the US$3.5 billion range and will be financed from both external and internal sources, according to statements available to this correspondent.

FIRE CONSUMES โ€˜JUBA BEIJING HOTELโ€™
One of the newer and better-rated hotels in Juba fell victim to an extensive fire, destroying the entire 60 rooms of the hotel within the space of a few hours. The fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon last week, and the fire engines available proved insufficient to extinguish the blaze in time to rescue the hotel. Juba apparently only has two working fire engines, but the UN contingentโ€™s own equipment was reportedly also sent to the scene to assist in putting the fire out. There is suspicion of a short circuit in the electrical wiring, possibly caused by often-witnessed extensive overload or under-dimensioned cables used during construction. Juba Beijing only opened in late 2007, and there are presently no reliable estimates as to whether the hotel can, in fact, be re-built or if it has to be taken down due to structural damages the buildings may have suffered during the fire. The hotel reportedly also housed the Chinese Consulate in Juba, which, too, suffered severe fire damage. The Chinese managers refused to comment on the incident or be quoted altogether, displaying a more than usual paranoia of the media.

Most of the hotels in Juba are still of the prefabricated type, which have over the past years, substituted the tented accommodation initially erected to cater to visitors.

None of the hotels in Juba have modern state-of-the-art sprinklers or fire-fighting systems and cases are even known when owners refused their management to carry out fire drills at regular intervals in order to train staff how to react in case of a fire. All the Juba hotels still rely on portable fire extinguishers and even sand buckets have been seen in some of the older establishments.

Upcoming regulations for hotels are expected to prescribe safety measures as part of the licensing procedure, which each hotel will then have to undergo in annual intervals.

PARTY POMP FOR MUGABE GLUTTONS
In a rather unbelievable show of contempt for the hunger and cholera-stricken population of Zimbabwe, Mugabe sycophants and party loyalists were nevertheless preparing to throw a mega party for their โ€˜beloved Bob,โ€™ having successfully hassled and bullied private citizens and business owners for not entirely voluntary donations towards the birthday party coffers. Lists sent to this correspondent from inside Zimbabwe and also from neighboring South Africa and Zambia, allegedly circulated to potential donors in search of contributions, suggest that the birthday bash intends to consume some 2,000 bottles of prime-branded champagne, crates of prime brands of spirits, hundreds of kilograms of fresh seafood like prawns and lobsters, quality caviar, the finest chocolates, and plenty of other goodies.

Reportedly, last yearโ€™s birthday extravaganza cost well over US$1 million, and this yearโ€™s event is likely to cost even more. What a slap in the face for starving, jobless, and terminally-ill Zimbabweans, who are permanently hungry and have no medical care from their government.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

CABINET RESHUFFLE SEES TOURISM MINISTER DROPPED

CABINET RESHUFFLE SEES TOURISM MINISTER DROPPED
The recent cabinet reshuffle in Uganda saw the often โ€œinvisibleโ€ Tourism Minister Janat Mukwaya dropped to a less-demanding position, while the portfolio of tourism, trade, and industry was taken over by Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire MP, known to be a โ€œdoerโ€ and never shy of making pending decisions. In this department, his predecessor faltered when pondering for months at end over the appointment of a new tourist board, while the ministry continues to lack a substantive permanent secretary, after Dr. Sam Nahamya retired in March 2008.

There has generally been a positive response to the change at the helm of the ministry, and the sector is undoubtedly hoping that a new lease on life is now injected in the ministry in the coming weeks and months and that the ministry will emerge from the โ€œslumberโ€ and budget neglect it suffered from in the recent past. Hotel owners, however, are said to be wary, as Hon. Otafiire was vocal in supporting the local service tax introduction, which hotel owners had vowed to oppose. This correspondent extends his best wishes for success to the new minister, having known him for most of his distinguished, albeit at times somewhat controversial career in government.

Well-liked State Minister for Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities Hon. Serapio Rukundo remains in the same office, assuring positive continuity for the sector while the ministry got a new State Minister for Industry, a post now held by the Hon. Rev. Simon Lokodo. The former State Minister Hon. Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu moved to the planning portfolio in the Ministry of Finance.

THE LIONS HAVE TO GO โ€“ SAYS NEMA OFFICIAL
The National Environmental Management Authority, in short NEMA, has moved on to thin ice when one of their officials recently ordered that the Uganda Wildlife Authority relocate the three lions discovered late last year in Lake Mburo National Park. According to the western regional public awareness officer of NEMA, the โ€œlions are free rangeโ€ and โ€œneed a wider park,โ€ seriously suggesting that the lions be relocated to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Lions were found widely and regularly in past decades, but encroachment of cattle keepers to the boundaries and deep into the park have led to most of the lions being killed. For several years, none of the big cats were seen in or near the park until some time around Christmas 2008, when three were discovered to have moved in, probably from the Akagera National Park across the border in Rwanda.

Tourists and safari operators immediately welcomed the new sightings, as it makes visits to the park more attractive, but now may have to deal with NEMA officials, who by the way have no say over wildlife โ€“ that is vested in the Uganda Wildlife Authority alone.

VISITORS FIND ARRIVAL CARD INSIDE NEW GUIDE BOOKLET
A smart new booklet giving updated information to tourist and business visitors alike, is now available for all airline passengers entering the Entebbe International Airport immigration hall, including the all important โ€œarrival declaration card,โ€ which every visitor has to fill in and which then serves as a Visa application (for those needing a Visa to enter Uganda) or for processing Ugandan citizens, East Africans, and returning residents into the country. The โ€œPassport to Ugandaโ€ covers key tourism attractions, gives the โ€œDoโ€™s and Donโ€™tsโ€ for foreign visitors, offers airline contacts, outlines the main restaurants in Kampala and Entebbe, lists a quality shopping guide, and provides health advisories. Addresses and phone details for the major high commissions, embassies, and consulates in Kampala are also listed. A big thank you must go to Infopoint Uganda and their advertisers who made this commendable offer possible.

CAAโ€™S AKANDONDA RETIRES
Long-serving CEO and managing director of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed to this correspondent that he had indeed retired at the end of last year and will be entering the private sector as a consultant, making use of his knowledge and experience after 18 years at the helm of the CAA since its inception in 1991. Ambrose Akandonda has been heading the authority overseeing a full rehabilitation of Entebbe International Airport, as well as its expansion in 2006/7. During his term of office many of the upcountry aerodromes and airfields were upgraded and renovated. CAA also moved into their own purpose-built head office, freeing valuable commercial space inside the airport terminalโ€™s second floor. All the best to him in his new ventures and grateful thanks for the many formal and informal chats and interactions in the past, much of which contributed added value to this column.

Meanwhile, the Kenyan CAA is continuing its hunt for a new CEO, as no suitable applicants apparently sent in their documents for consideration or failed to meet the selection criteria. Their dilemma, however, is seen as a near blessing since the previous post holder had made a complete and utter mess out of his relations, in particular with the general aviation fraternity. The invitation for fresh applications now allows for a sound process to unfold, which will hopefully bring a seasoned and more tempered candidate into the post in the coming weeks or months.

BUJAGALI HYDRO PLANT AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
Recent news reports indicate that the new hydro-electric dam below the Bujagali falls on the upper river Nile is well ahead of schedule. Early estimates now suggest that the first power turbine could be installed and commissioned by 2010, while the earlier construction completion will, under present circumstances, be in 2011. A recent workshop organized by financier World Bank brought the promoters and the public together to review progress on the plant, and predictably some participants continue to whine about their lost cause of stopping the project, arguably taking in to account that the country would not only suffer continuously high tariffs but also be plunged into darkness again. Instead of moving on to other worthwhile causes of environmental infringements and violations by government and the private sector, sections of the green lobby seem more interested in wasting their resources and time on flogging the proverbial dead horse.

BRUSSELS AIRLINES TO BENEFIT FROM LUFTHANSA TIES
Reports indicate that agreements are now in place for the mutual use of lounges for passengers and a full baggage check-through, while an intensified code share arrangement, covering Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, and Swiss would be aimed to further interlink the three carriersโ€™ connections and destinations. Swiss is presently flying into Nairobi, while Brussels Airlines flies to Nairobi, Entebbe, Kigali, and Bujumbura. The frequent-flyer programs and loyalty schemes are also aligning more closely in order to benefit travelers without discrimination. Ugandan passengers will likely benefit a lot in the coming months from these changes, which Brussels Airlines has announced across their network.

KLM OFFERS UP TO 40 PERCENT REBATE ON FARES
To celebrate their 40th anniversary of flying to eastern Africa, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has offered rebates on published fares of 40 percent, a timely reduction of ticket costs as Ugandans are struggling with the onslaught of the global fall out of the financial and economic crisis. Selected destinations in Europe, Canada, and the USA are available for the reduced fares, which are on the market beginning February 19 until March 12.

GADAFFI FOULMOUTHED IN LOCAL RAINBOW PRESS โ€“ SUES PAPER
Libyan leader Gadaffi has of late suffered a massive onslaught in the local gutter press, when in the space of 8 days, several unfavorable headlines suggested a liaison and worse with the Queen Mother of the Tooro Kingdom in western Uganda. The newspaper in question is rather notorious for their sensational headlines and stories, many of which belong into the fiction domain and lack evidential substance, but nevertheless keep their readership amused. Libya has now instructed lawyers in Kampala to represent them, who promptly demanded, in a half page advert in the regular newspapers, that an apology must be offered, the articles must be formally withdrawn, and in addition they demanded, on behalf of their client, reparations of US$1 billion (yes, billion, not million) for defamation. The publicly-notified deadline, however, seems to have expired without the apology and retraction forthcoming, and it is now understood that the lawyers have filed suit in the Ugandan High Court. Meanwhile indications are emerging that the Uganda government may take over the prosecution of the case, which caused enormous embarrassment to the entire nation. The case is now likely to be pursued in court as both a civil case for reparations but also as a criminal case, which could see the responsible journalists and editors end up in prison. Watch this space as this saga unfolds.

FREE ROAMING NO MORE, FOR SOME AT LEAST
Ugandaโ€™s MTN has, at short notice, ended their mutual free-roaming agreement with Vodacom of Tanzania and Safaricom of Kenya, probably at the behest of Kenyaโ€™s Safaricom who incurred substantial losses as a result of the service through interconnection fees. The three communication companies tried their hand at free roaming for their customers when Celtel, now called Zain, introduced their One Africa network, which allows Zain clients to receive calls for free across as many as 15 African countries and 7 Middle Eastern markets, while making local calls at local rates, without incurring expensive roaming add-on charges.
Zain continues to extend their One Africa network, leaving other competitors trailing in their wake with this innovative product and licking their financial wounds.

ALI KAKA JOINS IUCN
After many successful years at the helm of the East African Wildlife Society in the position as executive director, Mr. Ali Kaka has announced that he will leave EAWLS by mid March in order to join IUCN in the new position of regional director for east and southern Africa, based in Nairobi. Having worked with Ali in several capacities and on many matters of mutual interest and concern, this correspondent wishes him the very best in his new position. EAWLS is presently engaged in the search for a new executive director, and a new appointment will feature in this column, of course.

JETLINK KENYA GETS MORE CRJโ€™S
One of Kenyaโ€™s leading privately-owned airlines has shown determination to stay competitive and implement their long-term business plan in spite of the challenges thrown at them by the current market conditions. Last week saw the arrival of their third CRJ, and as we go to press, their fourth such aircraft has been confirmed to arrive by the end of February. The 50-seater regional jets will sharply improve the companyโ€™s operating economics as lesser fuel consumption, streamlined maintenance, and generally easier handling of the aircraft will save them a great deal of money, compared to their older aircraft of F28 make, which can now be progressively phased out. The Bombardier-built plane is a fast commuter jet, extremely well-suited for flying times up to two hours, and its ability for fast turnarounds on the ground combined with excellent operating parameters, make it an aircraft of choice for the east African region, where most flights are either just under an hour or below two hours at the most.
The company presently operates domestic services across Kenya from their base at Nairobiโ€™s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and flies daily to Juba/Southern Sudan. Other regional routes are now on the drawing board as the expanded fleet allows for route expansion and more frequencies to existing destinations.

VISA FEES UP IN TANZANIA FOR US CITIZENS
Reports indicate that Tanzania is now charging US$100 in Visa fees for US citizen visitors, which can be paid at the airport or land border on arrival. Most other nationalities pay โ€œonlyโ€ US$50, which โ€“ considering that many tourists visit more than one east African country โ€“ tends to get rather expensive when further taking into account that many visitors bring their families.

As the international economic crisis lingers on and in many areas intensifies, this may not be the right decision at the right time to attract more tourist visitors, and demands are repeated that the east African community now finally acts and introduces a common east African tourist Visa, while admitting expatriates living legally registered in any of the EAC member states for free, just as citizens of the member states do not pay for Visas.

POACHING FOR IVORY UNSETTLES PARK MANAGEMENT
News has emerged that in recent weeks elephants were poached in Kenyaโ€™s Amboseli National Park, with allegations of Tanzanian poachers being involved to sell the ivory to Chinese citizens. This column has, in the past on several occasions, sounded a warning when Chinese were caught red handed trying to smuggle ivory out of eastern Africa, but the latest spate of elephant killings has now brought these deplorable acts into the regional media. The Chinese Embassy in Kenya predictably denied any involvement of any of their citizens living in Kenya or Tanzania for that matter. However, in July of last year, several Chinese were arrested when trying to smuggle ivory out of the country, and earlier last year, a consignment of ivory was found before being shipped via Doha to China. Ivory is in great demand for carvings and other uses in the far east, and this greed for the product has continued to fuel illegal poaching.

A VALENTINEโ€™S EVENING IN JUBA
For some this may be a contradiction in terms, but when Skyjet Uganda delivered a ticket, having missed their formal inaugural flight due to other commitments, I did not hesitate a moment and flew to Juba on Valentineโ€™s Day. My wife is general manager at one of the larger hotels in Juba for the last 3+ years, making such a flying visit a welcome opportunity to meet. The bouquet of roses I hand-carried promptly raised the suspicion of the Entebbe gate security personnel, who had me scan them twice and then used the hand-held scanner on them, not sure what to make of me bringing flowers on the trip. Thankfully they let me go with them, after all what is Valentineโ€™s without the roses?

Skyjet offers 8 โ€œclassicโ€ first-class seats on their B737 and 92 economy class seats, and I had no quarrel taking my seat in first class under the invitation. Catering was almost lavish for the 55-minute flight from Entebbe to Juba – a hot breakfast cum fresh pastries served in front and a very generous cold breakfast including pastries in economy, the crew thankfully showing me the meals as they got on with their service. A crew of 4, plus a service trainer cum supervisor had ample time for chats with passengers before clearing the cabin for landing.

Arrival at Jubaโ€™s International Airport (operates during daylight hours only) is always a little adventure as the main apron area is rather tight, and when there is additional traffic, one has to watch out. Work on the new terminal seems to continue slowly but without signs of due haste, confining passengers, for the time being, to the old terminal. Baggage is still offloaded by hand, through an opening in the wall, and immigration only requires to see the passport and the Visa form โ€“ not stamped into the passport but on a separate document โ€“ while the passenger enters into a photocopied A4 document their name and a handful of other details. Customs is cursory, although generally all suitcases and bags must be opened, and with a friendly wave one is then admitted into the southern Sudan.

Jubaโ€™s much-lauded โ€œbest restaurant,โ€ which is located on the river Nile not far from the main bridge, is called Da Vinci and is managed by a German national with a longish previous history in Kenya. The menu is international in its composition, and when it is not packed too tightly, as was the case on Valentineโ€™s Day, service is normally fast, and the fare exceeds expectations of visitors. A Kenyan band was playing that night, and had there been no lights on the other side of the river, one could have thought for a moment to sit at the oceanfront in Mombasa.

With the return flight not until later in the week, I took the opportunity to explore the river by boat, both up and down stream, again from Da Vinciโ€™s mooring where decent motor boats with life vests and experienced deck hands inspired greater confidence than taking a dug-out canoe with paddles and a derelict outboard engine. The cost can set one back substantially but if shared with a larger party it is not only affordable but quite enjoyable, traversing Juba on the river and seeing the various sights.

Road works in Juba are progressing well, as are traffic jams on the main roundabout when coming from the airport, and traffic is โ€œon the rightโ€ like in Europe or Rwanda for that matter, unlike the rest of eastern Africa, where one drives on the left. In any case, using a reliable driver and rental car is the best option for visitors, although the cost is comparably much higher than in Kampala or Nairobi. Buildings are going up everywhere, too, including new government quarters, residential houses, hotels, and shops, and supplies into Juba are stable, albeit again much more costly due to the long supply routes. The โ€œoldโ€ Juba Hotel, where Hemingway used to stay during his hunting trips into the southern Sudan, is being taken down right now and no longer recognizable as the landmark it used to be; I wonder if at least the guest registers and guest comment books of old have survived somewhere, as I hope it ends up in a museum to help remember the big names who visited the southern Sudan in the old days.

The return flight, again with double-digit passenger numbers after just days of starting operations, was a few minutes ahead of schedule, in spite of the President of Southern Sudan, Gen. Salva Kiir, also flying out at the same time. His security was refreshingly not suffocating, everything else although visibly thorough. A choice of two hot lunch meals is served in first on the way back to Entebbe, while economy-class passengers get a nice cold plate of sliced curried chicken and a tropical salad, which is what I opted for in the end. Full bar service is available of course, but being mid-day, I declined the offer of champagne, wines, and spirits and stuck to water and tea.

It seems that several couples we know flew to Kampala for their Valentineโ€™s Day and found it hard to believe I came from the other direction, and to Juba of all places, but the place is slowly coming together, and life is becoming easier in terms of supplies and connections to other regional capitals.

Skyjet is the first airline to leave Entebbe for Juba at 0900 hours every day and presently returns to Entebbe at mid-day, spending an hour on the ground in Juba. The airline is, however, considering introducing daily flights between Juba and Khartoum very soon, responding to growing local demand, which will then put their afternoon return flight from Juba to Entebbe into the mid pm bracket. Flying time is about 55 minutes between the two airports, and cruising altitude is at level 270 and 280 respectively.

INVESTORS NOW CONSIDERING SOUTHERN SUDAN
With Southern Sudanโ€™s tourism policy and legal and regulatory framework now well under way towards completion, investors in the safari accommodation sector are now slowly beginning to trickle into Juba. They are researching potential places in one of the six current national parks, where they could establish safari camps or small upscale and eco-friendly lodges to provide much needed beds, when the flow of tourists begins in earnest. Several potential investors from Germany were in the Southern Sudan in recent days, exploring the parks, although no firm commitments were made at this time. Watch this space for future updates on southern Sudanese tourism developments.

RWANDA GENERALS GIVEN THE ALL CLEAR FROM BELGIUM
Two Rwandese general staff were recently advised by their legal counsel in Brussels, that a Belgian court has ruled not to proceed with any prosecution over allegations made by a French magistrate in connection with the 1994 shooting down of the presidential plane while on the final approach into Kigali airport. The incident led to the โ€œRwanda Genocideโ€ of 1994, in which over 800,000 innocent people were butchered by Hutu militias, who then ran for cover into the Congo where they have since been causing similar chaos. The warrants for Lt. Gen. Charles Kayonga and Brig. Gen. Jack Nziza were dropped by the Belgian court last week. Incidentally, the same case is presently proceeding in France, where the Rwandan Head of Protocol Mrs. Rose Kabuye is facing her accusers, a process which is also expected to lead to her full acquittal. Mrs. Kabuye was arrested while on official duty in Frankfurt, Germany and then extradited to France, a development which seriously impaired bilateral relations between Rwanda and Germany, while diplomatic relations with France were anyway already โ€œon ice.โ€

Incidentally, Rose Kabuye has just been granted leave again to return home to Rwanda, as she is not considered a flight risk and is, in fact, intent to return to France for the next round of her proceedings, where she is keen to prove her total innocence of all charges laid at her doorstep.

OMINOUS SIGNALS FOR AFRICAN DICTATORS AND PERPETRATORS OF VIOLENCE
News is slowly emerging from the International Criminal Court (ICC) that the judges may have indeed issued a formal arrest warrant for Khartoumโ€™s regime leader Bashir. It seems that the lobbying campaign launched across Africa on his behalf, and various assorted threats made in this connection, did not yield the wanted results to hold off any action until he leaves office. Many African leaders rejected the very notion to be dragged to court while in office, now, however, a stark reality and surely a sobering prospect for several of them still hanging on to power after rigging the ballots. Yet, as one Robert Mugabe can testify, such despots often cling to power by any means, hoping to breathe their last breath in office through fraudulent elections, violence, and corruption. The formal warrant is expected to be published soon and will then also be serving notice to several others of Bashirโ€™s ilk, that their days are numbered and holding or hanging on to office will no longer shield them from international warrants and prosecution for crimes committed while in charge. Notably, one Mengistu Haile Mariam, the former dictator in Ethiopia where he is wanted for trial for his war crimes and crimes against humanity, has been granted shelter by the very Mr. Mugabe in Harare, clearly two birds of the same feather.

Meanwhile in Kenya, their parliament, apparently in anger, rejected the governmentโ€™s draft constitutional amendments to establish a special tribunal/court to deal with the perpetrators of the violence unleashed upon the Kenyan population in the first few weeks of 2008. Some 1,000 Kenyans died at the time, when political opponents took their grievances over the elections results to the streets and had their goons try to alter the outcome. Going by the recommendations made from former UN guru Kofi Annan, the alleged perpetrators would now most likely have to go to The Hague for trial, where probably court cases can, in any case, be held without the expected back-room maneuvers anticipated should such hearings take place in Kenya. Several cabinet ministers and assistant ministers are reportedly on the list of perpetrators, yet none had been asked to resign or voluntarily stepped aside to clear the way for investigations into these alarming and very disconcerting allegations. Watch this space as the mills of justice being their long grind.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

โ€˜WILDPLACES AFRICAโ€™ AND โ€˜UGANDA SAFARI COMPANYโ€™ AT ITB

โ€˜WILDPLACES AFRICAโ€™ AND โ€˜UGANDA SAFARI COMPANYโ€™ AT ITB
Information was obtained from the two sister companies that they will once again appear together at the worldโ€™s largest โ€“ and completely sold out โ€“ tourism fair in Berlin in March this year. Visitors can find them in Hall 20 at Stand 120.
They can be contacted for appointments via [email protected] or through their web links at www.safariuganda.com or www.wildplacesafrica.com.
It was also learned that during the recent โ€˜Investor of the Year 2008โ€™ awards, staged annually by the Uganda Investment Authority in search of the very best new investments in the country, โ€˜Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge,โ€™ the latest addition to the Wildplaces Africa stable, received a respectable first runner-up position in special recognition of both their corporate community involvement and, of course, for the eco-friendly design of the lodge and their acclaimed service. Yet, in spite of this achievement, there are still the occasional rants and foul murmurs from a group of disgruntled and envious people about the concept of engaging with a local community, incidentally approved and sanctioned by UWA, AWF, and USAID, all of whom supported the project.

The company has also got some rare gorilla tracking permits for re-sale on February 25 and February 27 for anyone able to take them up swiftly.

NORTHERN BYPASS TO OPEN โ€“ OR NOT YET
Several years behind schedule and substantially over cost, some say by twice the initial budget, the long awaited 21 KM bypass for heavy traffic to western Uganda, western Tanzania, Rwanda/Burundi, and the eastern Congo still lingers on without a final date for the formal opening being known. Much of the delay is blamed on the โ€˜incompetence of the contractorsโ€™ going by some sources within the EU โ€“ which was financing the project โ€“ and governmental bodies dealing with the construction in various capacities. The Italian company, Salini, came under heavy fire when by the end of 2006, already 85 percent of the road works were finished, only to then see the final phase of work go into a snailโ€™s pace over belated disagreements between the technical design company and the contractors, something many say Salini should have raised when bidding for the contract. In this case, the company opted to use the argument as a mitigating statement explaining their delays, but the public was understandably sceptical when this version of events was made public by them.

Statements made by various sources, both governmental bodies and the contractor, to the local media, pin the opening dates between mid or end of May until mid of the year, but no one is holding their breath until the event actually does take place โ€“ too many promised dates have come and gone in the past without resemblance to the truth.

SHELL UNDER MORE CRITICISM
Following the perennial complaints about Shellโ€™s pricing and supply policies by a large section of the general aviation fraternity, the company has come under yet greater fire during the week, when the Uganda National Bureau of Standards has refuted outright Shellโ€™s attempt to whitewash findings that they were using fuel products which were not inspected nor โ€˜markedโ€™ for the Ugandan market. Shell had taken out full-page adverts over allegations made against them in regard of using fuel on the domestic market, which was either not marked with a chemical additive or had been diluted. UNBS openly accuses Shell of trying to evade taxes on fuel while rubbishing Shellโ€™s adverts and media statements. The public, too, was upset when Shell blamed the closure of its Kampala depot during the investigation for the shortage of fuel products across Uganda.

BRITS RAISE BARRIER YET MORE FOR VISA
The British High Commission in Kampala has announced that their Visa processing services will now be handled in Nairobi/Kenya and Addis Ababa/Ethiopia and that the entire section has already moved there for better management of data. Effective immediately, all applications will now be sent by courier to those two regional centers, although they will still be accepted in Kampala. A year ago, the UK introduced an entry ban of up to 10 years for persons providing incorrect, wrong, and outright false information on their applications, if found out, and this latest bureaucratic hurdle is bound to reignite the debate once more of why Ugandan citizen Visa applicants are treated so poorly, while the UK government professes to friendly relations with Uganda. In contrast, UK citizens only pay a comparably much smaller fee (US$50) on arrival at the airport or land borders and not even a special form has to be filled out other than the standard arrival card used across eastern Africa.

The High Commission also reiterated that personal interviews will still be conducted in Kampala, should this be necessary, and that the cost of Visa applications will not be raised. At the same time, the statement recommends to apply for Visa up to three months in advance of travel, a simply ridiculous timeframe when someone has to go on urgent business to the UK.

Talk of erecting more โ€˜non tariffโ€™ barriers prompted by the UK financial and economic crisis, will lead to keeping Africans (from the UK view point) out of Britain. While no figures are available for 2008, over 3,000 applications were reportedly rejected in Kampala during 2007, at substantial cost, of course, to the applicants who had to pay the rather high fees in advance.

Only last week did a series of wildcat strikes shut down oil installations in the UK where British workers protested against the employment of other EU citizens on contracts.

KINGDOMโ€™S LAWYERS MAKE MORE FUSS IN THE MEDIA
Another half page advert was placed by the local lawyers of Kingdom Kampala Hotels, Ltd. attempting to defend their clientsโ€™ record of performance since they got 17 acres of city center prime property for next to free from the Ugandan government several years ago. The lawyers infer that they would sue the government if the 99-year land lease of their clients would be cancelled, claiming that no terms and conditions are attached to the lease, such as a deadline as to when to commence work. This statement, in fact, clashes with common practice that a fixed deadline is incorporated in land leases for such a purpose, and if indeed omitted or deliberately kept out of the lease document, government would have to answer yet more compelling questions by members of parliament and the public at large. Kingdom Hotels, by general public opinion expressed in the local media, well near duped the Ugandan government that they would construct a luxury hotel complex in time for the CHOGM meeting in November 2007, but to date the nation is waiting to see any level of performance by them.

The lawyers also make reference to the global economic crisis and credit crunch, lending credence to the still undisputed claims in local and other media, that they sheikh has lost billions of dollars through write downs on the value of his investments and share portfolios in recent months. Government sources have also, in the recent past, more directly referred to the failed project and that the land would be used otherwise in order to remove what is considered a โ€˜festering sore of nothingnessโ€™ in the middle of the city, reminding citizens day after day of the abrupt demolition of a school and teachers training college, uprooting nearly a thousand pupils and teachers at the time. Watch this space for updates.

RHINO BREAKS OUT โ€“ COMES HOME AGAIN
One of the male rhinos on the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, named Moja (a Kiswahili word for โ€˜oneโ€™), reportedly broke through the electric fence last week, following an โ€˜argumentโ€™ with one of the other males and went AWOL for some 3 days. When the alarms went off at the Ziwa headquarters, a team was dispatched promptly, attempting to track the animal as it wandered across the area. Aerial pursuit was also initiated by UWAโ€™s operations department, which dispatched one of their light aircraft to scout the area from the air.

Information received from Angie Genade, executive director of the Rhino Fund Uganda and manager of the sanctuary, put the lone rhino up to 40 KM away from the sanctuary before it started its journey back to Ziwa. Scared villagers and farmers kept raising alarms when the rhino was sighted and alerted the search teams, but an immediate radio and village-based information campaign also yielded good results in sensitizing the nearby population and having them cooperate.

Back at the sanctuary, Moja once again clashed briefly with Taleo before they could be separated and Moja put into an extended holding enclosure on its own for the time being.

The episode again highlighted the perennial shortage of funds and equipment, which would have enabled the Ziwa team to more closely monitor the whereabouts of the rhino in question, as apparently the transmitter inserted in the horn of Moja is no longer functional, which impaired a swifter recovery of the animal.

The electric fence has since been repaired and partially strengthened along the area where the breakout occurred, but in general, the 18,000-acre wildlife reserve would either need a stronger second fence or a proper ditch dug along the boundaries, which would prevent animals from crossing and breaking out by force as was the case here.

Write to [email protected] for more information and how you or your company/organization can make financial and equipment donations to the fund to keep the work going. The conservation fraternity in Uganda will undoubtedly appreciate any and all help extended to RFU.

NEW HELI SERVICE AT NAIROBIโ€™S WILSON AIRPORT
Lady Lori, a helicopter air service, is the latest edition to the busy Wilson Airport in Nairobi. The company has reportedly been operating for over a decade from their base on the Laikipia plains in central Kenya but now decided that the time was right to move their operations to Kenyaโ€™s main aerodrome for general aviation. The airline, founded and owned by an American couple, presently operates 4 helicopters and 2 more are under order according to a press release by the company. They will join resources at Wilson with Executive Turbines for office space and handling.

AIR TANZANIA FINALLY GETS NEW PARTNER
Following several earlier reports in this column about the proposed involvement of a Chinese investor in Air Tanzania airline, it has now been learned that a 49 percent stage has been sold by the government at the price of US$21 million. China Songangol already holds an airline stake in Angolaโ€™s Sonair. The deal was announced in Dar es Salaam ahead of the state visit by the Chinese president, who will be visiting African countries with a large private sector delegation aimed at strengthening trade ties and business links between them.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

SKYJET INAUGURAL ON FEBRUARY 1

SKYJET INAUGURAL ON FEBRUARY 1
Sunday, February 1, saw the commencement of commercial operations by Skyjet Uganda with their first flight from Entebbe to Juba. The airline now offers a morning flight every day with their Boeing 737-200 aircraft, leaving Entebbe at 09:00 hours and returning from Juba at 11:00 hours with a flight time of 1 hour. The first flight left Entebbe International Airport with 58 passengers, including several in first class, an encouraging number for the airline. The aircraft also carried โ€œlooseโ€ cargo parcels destined for Juba, as well as newspaper deliveries and other urgent shipments, being the first service in the morning out of Entebbe to Southern Sudanโ€™s capital.

The onward route to Khartoum will commence in due course, once the operation to Juba has taken root in the market. Happy landings to them and keep watching this space for updates.

RHINOFUND UGANDA UPDATE
The Rhino Fund Uganda has recently confirmed Mrs. โ€œAngieโ€ Genade as their new executive director, based at the sanctuary some 110 miles out of Kampala en route to Murchisons Falls National Park. Angie took up her position some months ago, but board business took a while to make the appointment formal and final.

Visitor numbers to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary have, in 2008, again risen beyond expectations, and the forecast, in spite of the global economic crisis, seems even better for 2009. With accommodation available near the Rhino Fundโ€™s main offices at the sanctuary, overnight visitors have also increased, while day visitors can now have lunch or snacks every day in the scenic surroundings of the sanctuary. A pool and tennis court and other improvements to accommodations and existing facilities are being added for the comfort of visitors – an investment sure to pay off in coming years.

Two of the female rhinos on the sanctuary are reportedly also โ€œexpectingโ€ according to the RFU chairman Dirk Ten Brink, which will, in months to come, make welcome additions to the present 6 rhinos found on the nearly 18,000-acre property.

The Rhino Fund has very recently also updated their website at www.rhinofund.org , which will be welcome news for โ€œe-visitors.โ€

KINGDOM HOTELS ALLEGEDLY โ€œDUMPโ€ UGANDA
News has emerged, through an article in the โ€˜Weekly Observer,โ€™ about the long-pending hotel project that Kingdom Hotels was planning for the Ugandan capital of Kampala. The nearly free gift of 17 acres of prime land given by the government in 2006 to Sheikh Alwaleed of Saudi Arabia, caused the displacement of over 1,000 pupils and a large number of teachers and teachersโ€™ trainees, when the Shimoni Primary School and Teachers Training College was hastily demolished to make way for the Sheikhโ€™s 5-star hotel, which has not materialized.

This column regularly provided updates on the project status, and it seems we may now likely close the books on Kingdom Hotels (ad)venture in Uganda, should the report โ€“ not as yet reflected in any of the other newspapers โ€“ be true.

In contrast, the hotel group spent hundreds of millions of US dollars to acquire the former Lonrho Hotels in Kenya, where after they embarked on a massive rehabilitation and upgrading exercise for the Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi, the Mount Kenya Safari Club, the Aberdare Country Club, The Ark, and the Mara Safari Club.

In a related development, the local media mentioned that the Sheikh probably lost billions of dollars in the write-down of share values during the ongoing financial crisis; not that anyone would shed any tears here in Uganda – according to public comments to radio call-in shows and letters to editors.

Kingdomโ€™s lawyers in Kampala meanwhile have placed adverts in the local dailies denying that their client was pulling out, calling the Observer story โ€œmanifestly untrue.โ€

GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS PUSHES INTEREST RATES UP
Unlike most Western economies, where central banks have lowered interest rates to near zero to stimulate lending and to kick start their struggling economies, commercial banks in Uganda have started raising their prime lending rates once again – in some cases reaching 20 percent. Ordinarily, commercial loans for most clients are then subject to further risk adjustments and other considerations, pushing interest for loans to near 30 percent, which is unaffordable in most cases and is creating a further financial crunch for the business community.

Meanwhile, exports of traditional and non-traditional commodities seem to have slowed down, reducing foreign exchange inflows and remittances from Ugandans in the Diaspora, which also appears to be substantially down as they are faced with harsh economic realities in the country where they work.

Pressure on the Uganda Shilling against the major world currencies is, therefore, ongoing, and financial experts are predicting a further slow depreciation beyond the 2000 mark. This will be good news for Ugandan exporters getting more Shillings for their products, as well as for tourist visitors who will find their Dollars and Euros buy them more local goods and services, hopefully adding to the attraction of visiting Uganda by making it more affordable

KAJJANSI NEWS UPDATES
The Kampala Aero Club and Flight Training Centre (KAFTC) confirmed that they have placed an order for a Jet Ranger helicopter, the first on their fleet of otherwise fixed-wing commercial and training aircraft. Their new administration building is also in advanced stages of completion and will be ready for occupancy by about Easter this year, if not earlier. The present offices will then be exclusively used for checking-in clients, as a passenger lounge, and for members of the Aero Club, vastly improving the available facilities. The car park next to the main entry gate now also appears in a bright new light after establishing formal parking bays and keeping the grass neatly trimmed. The companyโ€™s principal owners, Capts. Jeremy McKelvie and Russell Barnes, have also spoken of the bright outlook for commercial charters in Uganda, largely fueled at present by the oil exploration companies. Tourist charters have, however, also increased during the financial year 2008. One of their main challenges in 2009 remains sourcing affordable AVGAS and getting the AVGAS fuel facility in Kajjansi up and running, something Shell Uganda has been promising for years now. (See last weekโ€™s column item on the troubles air operators have with Shell.)

Meanwhile, next-door neighbors Ndege Juu have confirmed their order for a second Pilatus aircraft, a single-engine, turboprop aircraft with pressurized cabin, allowing for comfortable cruising altitudes and avoiding the usual afternoon bumps in the lower airspaces. Their presently US-registered first Pilatus aircraft is, while operating under US license, awaiting registration in Uganda, a process apparently taking longer than anticipated. The Ndege Juu offices are also being enlarged right now to make more space available for the growing number of staff. A recently-acquired crop-duster aircraft is presently undergoing major maintenance in their own hangar before being commissioned back into service in a few weeks time.

The owners of the Kajjansi airfield, Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), are also reportedly going to build a new larger hanger near their existing facility, a sign of confidence in the future of general aviation in the country and at Kajjansi in particular. Visit the following websites for more information about the Kajjansi airfield operators: www.flyuganda.com and www.ndegejuu.com

AIR UGANDA ADDS KHARTOUM
The daily flights to the Southern Sudanโ€™s capital operated by Air Uganda are now twice a week, continuing from Juba to Khartoum, under an arrangement with Marsland Aviation, which is based in the Sudan. The airline flies daily late morning from Entebbe to Juba, and the two onwards flights to Khartoum can be boarded in both Entebbe and Juba. Marsland reportedly operates all their other flights between Khartoum and Juba directly with their own aircraft, although regular travelers on the route seem to prefer Air Ugandaโ€™s MD 87 and in-flight services.

EMIRATES ADDS AUSTRALIA TO THEIR A380 DESTINATIONS
The local office of Emirates confirmed earlier in the week that the airline has started using the A380 aircraft for their flights from Dubai to Sydney. Ugandan passengers can connect on the daily service from Entebbe via Dubai to Australia and reportedly also New Zealand and experience the superior in-flight feeling on the worldโ€™s largest passenger aircraft. Initially, service will operate three times a week, and in May, the A380 service goes daily – subject to timely delivery of more of the giant aircraft. That alone will make many travelers from Uganda choose Emirates, besides the attractive duty-free shopping facilities in the new, dedicated Emirates terminal at Dubai International Airport.

โ€œMAMA SARAโ€ BACK IN KISUMU
US President Barrack Obamaโ€™s paternal grandmother has reportedly returned to her home village in the Nyanza Province of Kenya, after witnessing her grandson sworn in as the first African American president in US history. She returned to a heroโ€™s welcome back home and will undoubtedly be at the center of family reunions in the coming days and weeks, when the tale will be told many times.

Many safari and touring companies are already working on adding the home area of Obamaโ€™s late father to their itineraries, providing a pilgrimage place for his global fan club. A warning, though, for โ€œstalkersโ€ and persistently intrusive global media teams – the provincial administration and the Kenyan government have sharply increased security in the area to provide protection to the family and allow them some privacy on their land and residences.

KENYA IN FRESH FUEL CRISIS
Another fuel shortage is gripping Kenya within weeks of the previous crisis, once more prompting long queues of motorists seeking to refill their empty tanks. No immediate reason was given in the Kenyan media, but speculation is rife that a dispute between fuel companies and the Kenya Pipeline Company may be at the core of the problem. KPC is engulfed in a raging scandal over the disappearance of fuel reserves owned by various companies in favor of a single fuel dealer, and KPC staff is accused of having been at the center of the fraud. There is also speculation over the state of the main refinery in Mombasa, which sources say is off line due to damage done to equipment during power spikes and fluctuations in mid January. This correspondent adds his concern over the shortages once again extending into the African hinterland nations, all of whom are overwhelmingly dependent on their fuel supplies via the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa and who are watching the developments in Kenya with growing anxiety.

Leading tour and safari operators are unlikely to be much affected by the situation as they often have fuel stored in key places, ensuring a smooth holiday experience for their visitors from abroad.

KENYA AIRWAYS INCREASE PASSENGER NUMBERS
In spite of the ongoing challenges posed by the global economic and financial crisis, Kenya Airways has added more passengers in the last quarter of 2008, mostly on their domestic, regional, and African services, where it has established a strong position as a Pan African airline. The Kenyan domestic market improved their numbers even after the airline dropped their flights to Lamu. In 2007, KQ carried just fewer than 730,000 passengers in the fourth quarter, and in 2008, the numbers were well above 740,000. This development does not come entirely unexpected, as passengers – in view of the collapse of airlines elsewhere – seem to take the safe route when booking their flights and paying their fares in advance, to be sure their airline of choice still exists when travel commences. The strong position of โ€˜The Pride of Africa,โ€™ being part owned by KLM/Air France, seems sufficient assurance for would-be travelers that not only do they fly, but they will continue to do so beyond any doubt.

The airline also issued a โ€œprofit warningโ€ as the bottom line economics continue to be challenging for the company. KQ, however, is still expected to turn in a profit overall, an achievement as global airlines, according to IATA statements, are expected to loose billions of dollars as a result of the fuel price increases of last year and the world-wide economic crisis.

SAUTI ZA BUSARA IS UPON US
Zanzibarโ€™s famous music and art festival is now just around the corner, and undecided, would-be visitors had better make their arrangements fast if they want to be part of East Africaโ€™s premier cultural event. The sixth edition of the festival is taking place between February 12 and 17, and visitors can spend time on the spice island, both prior and afterwards, for a great holiday. Daily flights to Zanzibar are available from Nairobi on Kenya Airways and Fly540, from Entebbe twice a week on Air Uganda, and daily on Precision Air via Kilimanjaro and Dar es Salaam, while international visitors arriving in Dar can connect with Air Tanzania or Precision Air from Dar, plus a number of smaller commuter airlines flying between Zanzibar and the mainland. Donโ€™t miss it, and if you have to give it a pass this year, come next year.

MOSHI GETS NEW HOTEL
The Tanzanian municipality of Moshi, located at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro, has a new hotel in the townshipโ€™s center on the verge of opening. The locally-owned, three-star facility is due to be formally commissioned before Easter this year and will, when fully functional, offer 30 rooms and other facilities. The whole area around the mountain, including Arusha, fondly called the โ€œsafari capital of East Africa,โ€ has undergone a boom of sorts in past years with new hotels, lodges, and resorts being built to participate in the tourism boom. Many climbs up Mt. Kilimanjaro start in the vicinity of Moshi, and the main international airport is just a couple of miles away, making it easy for visitors to reach their destination.

NEW WILDLIFE BILL FAILED
The controversial new wildlife bill sent not long ago to Parliament in Tanzania, was saved from being torn up and thrown out completely by returning it to the committee stage, where a substantial re-write is now expected to take place. Several days of sharp exchanges on the floor eventually convinced government to withdraw the bill from further discussions and will now have to work overtime to incorporate the multitude of demands for changes made by parliamentarians, who objected in great detail to much of the draft bill. Watch this space for updates.

GREATER VIRUNGA TRANSBOUNDARY MEETING
February 6 will see another effort in trans-boundary cooperation take place between Rwanda, Uganda and the DR Congo about conservation and wildlife management issues. Ministers responsible for tourism, wildlife, and related matters of the three countries, as well as key representatives of the three wildlife management bodies, will meet in Kigaliโ€™s Novotel for this purpose. The meeting is a follow up of the July 2008 conference on the same issue and is expected to produce a legally-binding document, which can then be implemented by the three governments. The Greater Virunga Transboundary Executive Secretariat is coordinating the meeting.

CONSERVATION VETERAN HAILS RWANDAโ€™S EFFORTS
Dr. Georg Schaller, who first tracked the mountain gorillas in the Rwandan forests in the 50s of the last century, has returned to the country to participate in a commemorative event organized by ORTPN during the last week in Kigali. The 76-year-old researcher and conservationist thrilled his listeners with his tales while recognizing the sterling job done by ORTPN over the past years in protecting the habitat of the gorillas, promoting responsible and environmentally-sustainable tourism, and thus ensuring the long-term survival of the โ€œgentle giant.โ€ Also present at the ceremony was Mrs. Chantal Rugamba, deputy CEO of the Rwanda Development Board and head of ORTPN for much of the last decade, who has devised and overseen the return of Rwanda tourism to the world stage. Well done Rwanda and Chantal, for succeeding where others faltered.

โ€˜KWITA IZINAโ€™ SCHEDULE NOW AVAILABLE
The main event of the now annual โ€œnaming ceremonyโ€ of recently-born gorilla babies has been set for June 20 and will be held at Musanze district, formerly known as Ruhengeri district. 2009 has been designated by the UN as the โ€œyear of the gorilla,โ€ and the celebrations cum festival will, therefore, this year be of special significance for Rwanda. Contact ORTPN for details on the festival activities via [email protected] .

ZAMBIAN CHIMP REFUGE APPEALS FOR HELP
The privately run โ€œChimfunshiโ€ Wildlife Orphanage has appealed for support to keep the refuge open and operating, as has been the case for the past 25 years. The animal shelter has specialized in offering a home to nearly 100 chimpanzees, mankindโ€™s closest relative in the animal world, but their upkeep is costly and income has dwindled, making the organization depend on the donations of well-wishers and, hopefully, international supporters. For details on how to contribute, email [email protected] or [email protected] . And for those interested in learning more about travel to and across Zambia, visit www.thebestofzambia.com . Enjoy!

GADDAFI UNDER FIRE AT AU SUMMIT
No sooner was Libyaโ€™s Gaddafi elected as the Chairman of the African Union, did he once again proffer his controversial political plan for a sole African government, an idea which had been both rejected outright by other African countries or was received with lukewarm interest in the past. It was Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni who stood up at the AU Summit and reiterated his earlier opposition to the ideas, which are clearly not ripe in any shape and format at this time.

Other leaders attending the summit in Addis Ababa also reportedly took exception to Gaddafiโ€™s desire to be crowned โ€œKing of Kings,โ€ a title allegedly bestowed upon him by traditional rulers from across Africa. In fact, a summit of 200 of such traditional kings and chiefs was canceled in January by the Ugandan government, a day before it was due to be opened at the Commonwealth Resort in Munyonyo. One of the reasons given by the government was that Ugandaโ€™s traditional kings were, under the constitution, not permitted to take part in political meetings. The late cancellation reportedly caused friction between Libya and Uganda, whereas previously the relations were described as cordial and even friendly.

President Yoweri Museveni is a proponent of first making regional blocks more active and filling them with benefits for the people of Africa, before even looking at a continental government. Towards this end, the Ugandan president recently hosted the first ever tripartite meeting between the East African Community, COMESA, and SADC, a move hailed as progressive and forward looking and promising conclusions and declarations to be made to integrate the regional blocks further and establish a stronger bargaining position towards the WTO and other international bodies.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

HOTEL OWNERS โ€˜WHININGโ€™ OVER LOCAL HOTEL TAX

HOTEL OWNERS โ€˜WHININGโ€™ OVER LOCAL HOTEL TAX
True to their ilk, hotel owners have, early in the New Year, began to whine and complain again about the 2 percent local hotel tax, which was introduced at budget time last year. Suffering from a larger capacity of rooms, many of which were built ahead of the end of the 2007 CHOGM Summit with very substantial tax and duty remission, hotel rates have progressively started coming down, although they are in comparison with, for instance, Nairobi, which is still expensive. Yet, in Nairobi, the city hotels charge VAT, CTL (Catering Training Levy), and build in the service charge element, regularly reaching the 30 percent margin of add-ons. It will be interesting to see what the hotel owners will resort to next, when the proposed tourism development fund levy will be introduced, aimed to finance the operations of the financially-well, near-crippled tourist board and other intended beneficiaries.

UGANDA CELEBRATED LIBERATION DAY
January 26 marked the annual 23rd liberation day celebrations since 1986, when the National Resistance Army, led by Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, marched into Kampala and drove out the last of the dictatorships, which marked post independence Ugandaโ€™s politics until then. After ruling initially for 10 years under the โ€˜Resistance Council system of governance,โ€™ the country then went to the polls in 1996. This took place under a new constitution and President Museveni has since then won three elections, allowing the National Resistance Movement Party to continue staying in power. The countryโ€™s next general elections are due in 2011, and the President has already given some indication of standing again, should the NRM nominate him as their candidate, as is widely expected by political observers.

Uganda has seen a remarkable economic recovery since 1986, when the countryโ€™s infrastructure and the manufacturing and service industries were virtually destroyed by incompetent and corrupt dictators and their cronies, and Ugandaโ€™s tourism industry has made a full come back since the early 1990s. At that time, a new investment code and new economic policies came into place, which allowed an annual GDP growth of in average over 6 percent. Uganda, fondly called โ€˜the Pearl of Africaโ€™ or alternatively โ€˜Uganda โ€“ Gifted by Nature,โ€™ now offers world-class hotel and meeting facilities in Kampala and Entebbe; has been host of a large number of regional, continental, and international meetings and conferences; and can rightfully claim to be one of the most scenic and evergreen countries in Africa, worth a visit any time and made possible by a multitude of daily intercontinental flights from Entebbe to the rest of the world. Congratulations to the President, the government, and the people of Uganda.

NILE HORSEBACK SAFARIS PUBLISH NEW RATES
The popular horse-riding safaris out of Bujagali Falls along the upper Nile valley have taken a prominent place amongst the adventure activities in the area. Overnight trips along the Nile normally stay at โ€˜The Havenโ€™ (www.thehaven-uganda.com), a German owned and managed, small but fine, resort on the Nile, but 2- or 3-hour and full-day riding trips are also popular. Pre-bookings are essential. Write to them for details on available trips, bookings, and rates or visit them at their website: [email protected] and www.nilehorsebacksafaris.com

UGANDA TO HOST โ€˜SMART PARTNERSHIP SUMMITโ€™ ONCE AGAIN
The Malaysia inspired โ€˜South โ€“ Southโ€™ meeting under the auspices of the Commonwealth Secretariat has selected Uganda once again to be host to the summit, after first hosting it in 2001. Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed was the โ€˜creatorโ€™ of the meeting, which first took place in Malaysia and has since then moved to other Commonwealth countries in alternate years. The meeting is expected to bring together an estimated 1,000 delegates and government delegations from participating countries and will be held in Kampala during the month of July 2009.

NAPE FAULTS EIA PROCESS FOR OIL REFINERY
The national association of professional environmentalists, in short NAPE, has earlier in the week published a half page response to the NEMA review of the EIA and related submissions for the Tullow Oil proposed mini refinery in Western Uganda. It was pointed out that allegedly the required consultative period of 21 days was arbitrarily shortened to only 11 days, preventing widespread โ€˜counter consultationsโ€™ and sufficient time for experts to extensively study the published documents. It was further alleged that, for instance, the Uganda Wildlife Authority, amongst other key stakeholders, were not involved in the consultations when the EIA was prepared. Watch this space as another battle for the environment seems looming on the horizon.

KAJJANSI AIR OPERATORS ACCUSE SHELL OF โ€˜MONOPOLISTIC PROFITEERINGโ€™
The air operators in Entebbe and Kajjansi using AVGAS for their fleet of light aircraft are once again up in arms over the pricing of AVGAS, in particular Shell, the main supplier of the commodity in Uganda. Information received shows that a liter of AVGAS in Uganda is at least US$0.35 more expensive than at Nairobiโ€™s Wilson Airport. This difference cannot be explained, as tried by Shell, by the added transportation cost between Kenya and Uganda, leave alone the fact that AVGAS regularly runs short and has even run out altogether on occasions in the past. A liter of AVGAS presently sells just under US$2 in Entebbe/Kajjansi, while the same commodity costs Kenyan airlines US$1.60 for non-contract clients. The same applies for AVGAS prices in Tanzania, most notably at Mwanza airport, also located on Lake Victoria. The Uganda Association of Air Operators have squarely laid the blame for this situation on Shellโ€™s supply chain and pricing policy.

Fuel companies in Uganda have shamelessly exploited motorists in past months, when their pump prices have only very slowly reduced from the all time high, as crude oil had touched the US$150 mark last year before falling back to a fraction of that cost. While there are mitigating factors, like the reduction of axles from 4 to 3 on the trucks and trailers, lowering the carrying capacity, this still does not add up to the fact that consumers and the general aviation sector are being milked dry by the suppliers over pure greed for profits. There simply is no other viable explanation or reason.

The aviation companies in Kajjansi have now warned that the price differential in fuel cost between Kenya and Tanzania on one side and Uganda on the other side is progressively pricing Ugandan airlines out of business when competing for the same contracts and business as their neighbors, and some of the more outspoken aviators are blaming Shell Uganda for what appears to be a โ€˜hidden agenda.โ€™ Shell was not available for comment at the time of going to press.

KENYA TO ADOPT TSA
The Kenyan government has now moved towards adopting the TSA, or Tourism Satellite Accounting system, as recommended by the UNWTO, allowing for capture, processing, and interpretation of tourism-related economic data along internationally-accepted lines. This will allow for better comparison of Kenyaโ€™s tourism sector performance, vis-ร -vis the main competitors, and on a global scale. A visitor and sector survey, split into two parts, will go underway soon to collect data from sources hitherto not tapped.

Uganda had been advised years ago to adopt TSA but has not substantially moved towards that goal for reasons best known to the Ministry of Tourism, while two visitorsโ€™ expenditure surveys were carried out under the EU-funded former Uganda Sustainable Tourism Development Program. Sad to see others now do what we had the opportunity to do years ago.

COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY REPORT โ€˜DAMNINGโ€™
Although the report of the Justice Porter Commission of Enquiry into the stealthy sale of the Grand Regency Hotel in Nairobi was already delivered in November 2008 to the president, details are only now starting to emerge as government tried to keep the report under wraps. The main blame is laid on the door of the Central Bank of Kenya governor for his hasty disposal of a national asset under his care โ€“ the hotel had been under receivership for some time prior to the sale โ€“ and the secretive, non-transparent manner in which the give-away sale was conducted. The former minister of finance, who left office over the scandal but was recently re-appointed to a different cabinet position, was largely absolved of blame, but the commissionโ€™s report nevertheless had suggested he should accept some responsibility. General consensus in the Kenyan media and amongst the people is that the hotel was greatly undervalued and some sort of โ€˜dealโ€™ was struck when selling the hotel to the Libyans who now run it. In fact, sections of the Kenyan media speak openly of โ€˜deliberate deceptionโ€™ by the Central Bank chief, lack of honesty, and good faith.

The report, however, stopped short in demanding that the sale be cancelled, a rather unsatisfactory end to one of too many scandals in Kenya according to sentiments made available to this correspondent. The Kenyan public is now also demanding that the full report be published to draw their own conclusions as to culpabilities of those thought to be responsible.

AIR TANZANIA RESUMES FLIGHTS
It was learned from sources in Dar es Salaam that Air Tanzania has finally, last Friday, taken to the skies again after a break of nearly two months. The airline had the AOC suspended by TCAA over alleged discrepancies in โ€˜documentation,โ€™ but no specifics could ever be obtained for this action, which saw Tanzaniaโ€™s national airline almost driven to financial ruin.

When flights finally resumed yesterday, it was also announced that ATC would, for the time being, only serve domestic destinations like Arusha/Kilimanjaro International, Zanzibar, Mwanza, and a few other places, while carrying out feasibility studies and taking a fresh look at its regional and international routes. Hence, flights from Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro to Entebbe will continue to be suspended, and under a code share agreement, be operated by Air Uganda.

On the first day of operations, few passengers opted to fly with ATC, as travelers were initially sceptical if the airline would indeed resume flights, but pre-bookings for coming days appear to be significantly up again as the news settles in amongst potential travelers and travel agents alike.

The development is largely credited to the intervention of the Tanzanian President who gave the green light to the treasury to bail out ATC and ensure that sufficient funds were available to see the national airline through the โ€˜passenger draughtโ€™ until load factors had stabilized once again.

ATC is also reportedly seeking consultants to develop new strategies and a fresh and realistic business plan before re-entering the regional and international routes.
Management, in press releases and direct contact with the media, again underscored the fact that their aircraft had been and continued to be fully airworthy, and the suspension of their AOC had been caused โ€˜by reasons otherโ€™ than safety aspects. Says this correspondent: โ€˜Happy landings once again.โ€™

BOOKINGS NOW OPEN FOR NEXT KARIBU TOURISM FAIR
The annual East African tourism trade show in Arusha, โ€˜Karibu,โ€™ has recently announced that bookings are being accepted early this year to allow participants to plan ahead and secure the space they are seeking. As was the case in previous years, the available exhibition space is expected to sell out fast. Write to the fair management via [email protected] for more information or visit their website for online bookings at www.karibufair.com . Last minute bookings, it was pointed out, may disappoint would-be participants when their preferred space is no longer available or, in fact, the entire exhibition sold out.

RWANDA SIGNS RAILWAY DOCUMENT
The proposed railway line from Ishaka in Western Tanzania to Kigali has taken a further step forward when Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding about the establishment of a โ€˜dry portโ€™ in Ishaka and the construction of the railway line to connect their landlocked countries to the Indian Ocean port of Dar es Salaam. The agreement was reached under the auspices of the East African Community in Arusha where the transport ministers met for a scheduled consultative session. Early news of the plans was reported in this column several months ago, beating other media to the โ€˜door,โ€™ courtesy of reliable sources in Kigali. The rail link will reduce reliance on the port of Mombasa and, more important, make import and export transportation cost more affordable.

Meanwhile, Rwanda will celebrate โ€˜Hero Dayโ€™ on February 1, commemorating those who laid down their lives in achieving liberation from the oppressive and brutal Hutu regime.

KIGALIโ€™S GENOCIDE MEMORIAL SET TO EXPAND
One of Rwandaโ€™s โ€˜sacred sites,โ€™ the genocide memorial in Kigali, is now due to be expanded. The added wing will become the home of a new research facility, the โ€˜School of Genocide Studies,โ€™ and also house a screening room where visitors can see archived films about the 1994 genocide. The study capacity is limited to about 50 students on campus at any given time. The Genocide Memorial is one of the most-visited places in Kigali where governmental and non-governmental delegations, as well as individual visitors pay their respects to the victims of the senseless mass murder of Tutsis and moderate Hutus in 1994. It is thought that about 300,000 genocide victims have been laid to their final rest in the Gisozi suburb of Kigali.

MORE TOURISM FAIRS TO PROMOTE AFRICA
Information was received that the Southern African Tourism Expo will be held May 2-4, 2009 in Livingstone/Zambia. The exhibition will bring together national tourist boards and a range of targeted businesses advertising their services, plus, of course, the all important โ€˜buyers.โ€™ Contact: [email protected] or visit www.southernafricatourismexpo.com .

TRAVEL ZAMBIA MAKES 4TH EDITION
Zambiaโ€™s premier travel magazine has recently produced its fourth edition, again a superb piece of โ€˜artโ€™ in promoting travel to Zambia. A wide range of reports, accompanied by excellent pictures and, of course, an equally-wide range of โ€˜tidbits,โ€™ makes mouth-watering reading. The magazineโ€™s website offers an excellent overview for โ€˜distantโ€™ readers who have not been able to subscribe to it and can be accessed via: www.travelzambiamag.com or via www.travelafricamag.com . Nothing, however, beats holding oneโ€™s own copy in hand, reading it from front to end, and allowing oneself to be carried away by dreams of travel to the unique national parks in Zambia.

GAME SURVEYS REVEAL MORE SURPRISES IN SOUTHERN SUDAN
The ongoing efforts by the Government of Southern Sudanโ€™s Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism to scientifically establish game numbers and distribution of animals across the South, which are assisted and financially supported by international wildlife conservation NGOโ€™s, have yielded yet more interesting results. Within the โ€˜Suddโ€™ โ€“ arguably the worldโ€™s largest wetland, several thousand elephants were found deep inside the ecosystem, away from danger and relatively safe from hunters and poachers. Several parties involved in the โ€˜censusโ€™ have given indication that as many as 4,000 elephants could be roaming the โ€˜Sudd,โ€™ providing more attractions for future visitors.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

CAA GETS BUSY IN 2009

CAA GETS BUSY IN 2009
The Ugandan Civil Aviation Authority has now invited bids for the construction of a head office for the regional โ€˜Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA),โ€™ which will be located in Uganda but serve all five East African Community member states. CASSOA had already taken up its work in 2008, but in rented premises, and a new dedicated building is needed on CAA land near the airport to increase and improve communications, efficiency, and accessibility of the new agency for the aviation fraternity from the entire region.

The CAA also intends to build a new passenger terminal building at the Arua aerodrome, starting later in 2009, according to reports received earlier in the week. Arua is one of the busiest aerodromes outside Entebbe and Kajjansi and located in the West Nile region of Uganda, which borders both the Congo and Southern Sudan and is, therefore, of strategic importance besides being a business hub.

THE DANGERS OF PROTECTING FORESTS
Two staff members of the National Forest Authority were reportedly killed last week while on duty in a forest reserve near Masaka when they encountered illegal loggers. The staff had gone to the Jubia Forest Reserve to carry out an inspection, when the wood poachers set upon them with axes and saws, brutally killing two while a third one managed to escape, severely injured, and hide until help arrived.

The NFA staff members were responding to reports of illegal logging and pit sawing of wood, prohibited by law but sadly, common place as often reported in this column. Condolences are expressed to the family and friends of the deceased and the NFA on the loss of their colleagues. Arrests have been made already over the gruesome crime.

MINISTERIAL โ€˜STATEMEMTโ€™ RAISES EYEBROWS
This item was picked from the โ€˜have you heardโ€™ column of Ugandaโ€™s leading daily newspaper, the New Vision, and can also be accessed via: http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/9/40/668258
Iโ€™m a volunteer โ€” Janat Mukwaya
Friday, January 16, 2009
Being a cabinet minister is not such a big deal – well, at least minister of tourism, Janat Mukwaya thinks. While inaugurating a new board of directors for Uganda Tourism Board at Metropole Hotel recently, Mukwaya voiced her dismay with the outgoing board thus:
โ€œIโ€™m perturbed that the board youโ€™re replacing resigned due to lack of funding. Even we who are ministers are only delivering a service, we are doing voluntary work. We are not getting that much money.โ€

Against that backdrop, the minister advised the new board not to flee because they are not getting paid but rather, sacrifice for their country!
Well, if that is what it means to be minister, we can only imagine how many Ugandans would die to โ€˜sacrifice a littleโ€™ for their country.โ€

Repeats this correspondent, the questions many asked in mails, calls, and text messages: are there any takers who can make tourism happen with enthusiasm and volunteerism alone, no funds required or available?

KENYA AIRWAYS GETS NEW B737-800
The Kenyan flag carrier, fondly called โ€˜Pride of Africa,โ€™ has taken delivery earlier this week of a brand new B737-800 with 145 seats in business and economy class. The airline leased the new Boeing from ILFC and is due to receive another similar type aircraft in February this year. The additional capacity will come in handy during the present tourist high season and allow further route diversification and frequency increases. Watch this space for updates.

KENAY SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH QATAR
The Kenya Airports Authority has signed a major concession agreement with a Qatari firm, which will build a 300-bedroom hotel at the perimeter of the airport, combined with an exhibition center. This will undoubtedly strengthen the position of Kenyaโ€™s most important airport vis-ร -vis the regional rivals and pretenders to the number one slot in regard to passengers, cargo, and aircraft movements.

In a related development, it was learned that the director general of the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has also left office after his contract has come to an end, but no replacement has yet been named by the authorities, keeping the aviation fraternity guessing. Notably, however, the board also did not give him another yearโ€™s extension, probably because relations between the now-gone director general and the aviation fraternity had reached the lowest possible level. The aviation fraternity, in particular the โ€˜General Aviationโ€™ section had issues galore with him over his rushed introduction of the contentious air-service regulations and as several individuals from Nairobiโ€™s Wilson Airport put it, โ€˜good riddance.โ€™ His masterpiece was the gazetting of the regulations while consultations were still going on in a complete breach of trust, and the sentiments of the aviators were confirmed when news emerged that an ICAO audit termed the new โ€˜petโ€™ regulations of the former director general โ€˜way over the topโ€™ and recommended an immediate review and amendments to that piece of work.

The airport manager at Wilson Airport in Nairobi is reportedly also leaving after serving two terms of office, again with no substantive appointment for a successor in place as yet. Keep watching this space for emerging news.

NEW AVIATION FACILITY AT โ€˜ORLY AIRPARKโ€™
The Aero Club of Kenya has now confirmed that the building of the new โ€˜club houseโ€™ at the airpark located some 40-minuteโ€™s drive from Nairobi is well advanced. The new facility, including airstrip, etc., is located at the Kitengela plains and will offer a new sense of โ€˜aviation freedomโ€™ away from the overcrowded and overregulated Wilson Airport. The new club house is expected to be ready by the middle of the year, and Aero Club members will be able to make full use of the facility.

Meanwhile, Harro Trempenau has been re-elected once again as chairman of the club, as was most of the committee – a resounding vote of confidence in their ability to run the aviation fraternityโ€™s affairs. Congratulations Harro, well done indeed.

It was also learned that the occasion of 100 years of aviation in Kenya will be celebrated with a formal dinner and memorial lecture cum presentation on February 28 in the Aero Club of Kenya club house. Enquiries can be sent to [email protected] .

KENYAN โ€˜NATIONโ€™ AND โ€˜STANDARDโ€™ THREATENED WITH LIBEL SUIT
From information received out of Kenya, it is understood that a former board member of the Kenya Tourist Board has now issued notices of intention to sue for libel to the countryโ€™s leading news and media organizations following the reports two weeks ago over the situation at KTB. As and when the two newspapers react to this in public with a statement, this will be reported in this column, as will eventual progress with the suit if indeed it does go ahead.

To prove such cases in a court of law, however, is notoriously difficult and ordinarily takes a very long time to conclude. Watch this space for updates.

CHANGE IN E-LAW TO BENEFIT KENYA TOURISM
The recent amendment to the relevant laws will finally allow Kenyan websites featuring tourism products to transact โ€˜real timeโ€™ bookings and payments. Until now, bookings could be done, but payments could not be effected at the same time, keeping reservations in suspense until money reached by other means. This took place through alternate non-Kenyan payment gateways, but mostly bank transfers, which proved time consuming and costly for all participants, looking at the fee practises of banks in Kenya and across the region.

The change in law will finally also allow several Kenyan airlines to accept bookings and payments via credit cards, strengthening their hold on the market while disadvantaging the travel agents, yet more, once again.

FRANTIC EFFORTS TO GET AIR TANZANIA FLYING AGAIN
Energetic work was going on behind the scenes to get Tanzaniaโ€™s national airline back into the skies again, after it was first grounded in December by the TCAA over what at least some industry observers say were obscure reasons aimed at keeping TCAA itself from being sanctioned by ICAO. The AOC has since been returned to the airline, but due to lack of funds, flights could not resume until the main suppliers of fuel and other services have been paid some of their outstanding bills. Government is reportedly putting a financial package together to allow the airline to resume operations, as with every day the airline does not fly, their market share is being taken over by competitors. Watch this space for updates.

TOURISTS ENRAGED BY ANIMAL POISONING
Visitors to Tanzaniaโ€™s Selous Game Reserve recently witnessed a number of animals dying or already dead by suspected poisoning, reportedly inflicted by poachers in search of animal skins and other trophies. The poachers had apparently spread poisoned fruits and bread but had not counted on being found out by tourists on game drives, who then alerted wildlife officials to their observations.

RWANDA NEWS UPDATE
The Office for National Parks and Tourism under the Rwanda Development Board has now informed that they have acquired a 24-seater โ€˜comfortโ€™ boat for Lake Kivu to offer a new product to visitors coming to the area. Serena Hotels operates the nearby Lake Kivu Hotel, assuring visitors of international standards and quality. The new boat service is aimed to allow tourists to spend more time in the area, exploring the lake shores for birds.
The boat is also providing a new route between the gorilla national park and the Nyungwe Forest National Park, according to the statement received from ORTPN, which makes visits to Rwanda more exciting than ever before. While gorillas can be tracked at the โ€˜Parc de Volcanoes,โ€™ the Nyungwe park is home to some 13 species of other primates, including chimpanzees and a variety of other game, birds, and unique flora.

The annual gorilla-naming ceremony โ€˜Kwita Izina,โ€™ an absolute highlight in the tourism activities calendar in Rwanda, is provisionally set for June 20, 2009, and at least a dozen new-born gorillas will be โ€˜baptizedโ€™ on that day. The festival itself, however, will span several days prior and after the naming day to allow for a range of additional activities to take place.

Rwanda had a record tourism year in 2008 and expects to do even better in 2009 now that more products and services are available.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TO FILM THE โ€˜BOMAโ€™ MIGRATION
Staff of the local offices of the Wildlife Conservation Society revealed during the week in Juba that a film team of the National Geographic Society was in the southern Sudan to commence filming one of the best-kept secrets in the wildlife arena – the great migration of the white-eared gazelles in and out of Boma National Park. The park extends along the border with Ethiopia in the east of the southern Sudan and is earmarked as a tourism destination within the emerging circuit of national parks and other attractions. The game numbers, estimated by some experts to be nearly 800,000 animals, have astonished conservationists as, after the long liberation war of the south against the oppression of the Arabic north of the Sudan, game was thought to have been decimated. To the delight of the conservation and tourism fraternity, however, initial game counts produced amazing results, giving hope for the southern Sudan to reclaim market share in coming years.

JUBA ERUPTS IN CELEBRATION FRENZY ON OBAMA INAUGURATION
Hotels and restaurants across Juba were filled to the brim on the evening of January 20 to witness the inauguration of the first African-American president in the history of the United States, Mr. Barrack H. Obama.

The roots of Obamaโ€™s African family are traced back to a small village in Nyanza province in western Kenya, where his late father was born and raised, giving a sense of pride, hope, and expectation to the populations, not just in Kenya, but across eastern Africa. Many of the revellers were wearing Obama T-shirts, caps, shawls, and โ€˜kangas,โ€™ i.e., wrap-arounds, showing the picture of Obama being โ€˜their man,โ€™ Congratulations to the 44th President of the United States and all the best for the next four years ahead of him.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

SKYJET DELAYS START UP

SKYJET DELAYS START UP
Indication is that a lack of โ€˜approvalsโ€™ from the political oversight and the powers that be has delayed the operations start of Skyjet, which was generally expected by early January, after the airline had passed all regulatory hurdles and secured their AOC. Murmurs at the airport in Entebbe are that this may be a โ€˜play,โ€™ similar to what has often been seen when new airlines in the region wanted to start flights into Nairobi, to keep the airlineโ€™s B737 off the profitable Juba route for a while longer.

However, with Royal Daisy Airlines apparently no longer on the route โ€“ they halted operations months ago when their 30-seater Embraer 120 went into heavy maintenance โ€“ there is definitely an opening for a second regular operator now that Eagle Air only flies three times a week via the Southern Sudanese town of Yei to Juba, making the journey with them substantially longer and hence less attractive for Juba travelers from and to Entebbe.

Said one senior aviation expert in Kampala to this correspondent, preferring anonymity for fear of repercussions: โ€˜Uganda can do with more activities in the aviation field, but how does one attract more investment into the sector in Uganda when officials first promise you the lot, and after your money is spent and all prerequisite steps have been taken, they then let you wait with an aircraft sitting on the ground and a lot of salaries to be paid against no income. They are simply not serious, and word has gotten out to potential investors what to really expect. When the first helicopter service started from the International Hospital, they could not get medivac flight permissions late in the afternoon or at night; even so, that heli was properly equipped for night operations, citing obscure โ€˜security reasons,โ€™ The owners lost a lot of revenue, and although they are now back, they sent the aircraft to South Sudan at the time so they could pay their bills. Even our own Ugandan cargo airline with about eight DC10 and other cargo aircraft, DAS Air was allowed to collapse, and now foreign cargo carriers completely dominate that market in Entebbe. It is a disgrace, really, but comes as no surprise; that is how our fellows operate and behave. As a Ugandan, I am sad about this, and as an aviator, I am madly angry with those responsibleโ€™.

Going by conventional wisdom, once the airline has finally received the โ€˜nod,โ€™ it will still take between 2 and 4 weeks to get their marketing and sales activities into gear to ensure a decent load on their flights, so February presently seems the best bet if anyone would want to put money down. However, the busy pre- and post-holiday season, when first flights from Juba were fully booked and now flights to Juba are equally full again, is lost for Skyjet to their financial detriment. Watch this space for updates.

LAKE MBURO BUFFALO ATTACKS VILLAGERS
A roaming buffalo, reportedly coming from inside the Lake Mburo National Park, has injured nearly a dozen or so villagers in the neighboring area of Mbarara. The rampaging beast was eventually shot but only after inflicting serious injuries to people in its path. No immediate comments were available from the Uganda Wildlife Authority nor was it clear from media reports who killed the beast.

PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION TO START IN MARCH
The delays in commencing work on the Eldoret โ€“ Kampala oil pipeline are now coming to an end when the company announced the start of work by the end of March or early April this year. Recent fuel shortages โ€“ some say artificially created to cream off huge profits โ€“ and bottle necks in the transportation of fuel by road to Uganda and beyond, have given sharp reminders to the consumers that reliable and cost-effective means of bringing fuel to Uganda have to be developed if the economy and public transport are to be running smoothly.

Once the pipeline is ready, fuel products, except heavy fuel oil, will be pumped directly from the port of Mombasa to Uganda, leaving road transport to deal with peak demand only. However, the regional hinterland countries like Rwanda, Burundi, Eastern Congo, and Southern Sudan will be able to pick their fuel from the depots near Kampala, also giving them a break on transportation costs and border formalities, as they, too, then no longer need to go to Kenya to collect their fuel supplies.

The new pipeline is majority owned by Libyan state company Tamoil (51 percent) while Kenya and Uganda hold the balance of the shares. The 340 KM pipeline is expected to cost nearly US$100 million. Tamoil won the concession in a public bidding process in mid 2006, and the exact circumstances of the delay until now are still not entirely clear; also the political situation in Kenya a year ago has been partly blamed for the slow pace.

Latest news from Kenya, however, now casts doubts on KPCโ€™s ability to secure or service loans for the construction project on the Kenyan side of the border as the company got deeply engulfed in yet another massive scandal, which also cost their CEO his job while driving the company to the brink of bankruptcy. The company, in a crooked scheme devised by company personnel, apparently released fuel products to one non-intended beneficiary (whose CEO fled to India when the scandal broke) to the tune of over 125 million liters of fuel worth some 7.6 billion Kenya Shillings or nearly US$100 million โ€“ no wonder Uganda and beyond suffered hitherto inexplicable fuel shortages when their ordered stock was fraudulently diverted.

NEW US VISA RULE AFFECTS EXPATS IN EASTERN AFRICA
Travel agents and airlines were busy informing would-be travelers to the United States, effective January 12, 2009, that even if they are citizens of countries enjoying the so called โ€˜Visa Waiver,โ€™ they will now have to register โ€˜on lineโ€™ several days ahead of their intended travel dates to be sure that they can enter the US on arrival. Stark, and reportedly at times rather graphic warnings, were given by travel agents and airlines that travelers may be detained upon attempted entry or be sent straight back home, if this registration is missing. Would-be travelers without home or office access to the Internet (yes they still exist) will have to visit an โ€˜Internet Cafรฉโ€™ or get assistance at their travel agent or the airline offices.

And expatriates in Eastern Africa thought that the hassles of getting a Visa to visit our East African neighbors was a headache, yet they only have to fill a form and pay the fee on arrival and, presto, they are admitted as visitors, albeit US$50 per person poorer.

As to โ€˜at the spur of a momentโ€™ visits to the Big Apple, no longer my friends; how one yearns for the good old days.

SOUTH COAST HOTELIERS UP IN ARMS OVER FERRY SERVICES
The ferry services at the coast, taking traffic from the Mombasa island to the โ€˜South Coastโ€™ at the Likoni harbor crossing, have once again incurred the wrath of the business community. Only a few days ago, one of the ferries again was out of service, causing delays of several hours for commuters, business people, and tourists wanting to either reach their hotels further down the coast or else coming to the city for a day of shopping or returning to the airport for their flight home. New ferries are on order, apparently, but delivery is still a way off, and every breakdown causes huge backlogs of traffic on both sides of the harbor opening.

The ferry company has, as usual, expressed their regrets, but for a change, now promised the introduction of a โ€˜fast lane,โ€™ which tourists can probably use to ensure they do not miss their flights home or else take hours on end to reach their hotels after a long flight from Europe. Watch this space for updates.

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST
Just before going to press, more bad news emerged from Nairobi, that the CEO of Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) had been sent on โ€˜forced leaveโ€™ by his board, just weeks before his present term of office is coming to an end and probably pre-empting his request for a contract renewal. This is another casualty in the extended tourism industry since mid last year, when first the CEO of the Kenya Tourist Development Corporation was fired by the Minister of Tourism, before his erstwhile colleague at the Kenya Tourist Board followed him into the doldrums.

KAA has been under fire for some time over allegations of improprieties over the renovation and expansion of the countryโ€™s main aviation gateway Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, but also over constant wrangles with the air operators at Wilson Airport in Nairobi, the state of other aerodromes and airports, and more recently, over their failure to provide transport from the terminal to planes parked on the apron (see story on Kenya Airways introducing their own busses).

Mr. Muhoho is often seen as a close ally of President Kibaki, and the present wrangles and sharp differences in the coalition government, seen as an attempt to further curb the presidential powers, may well be one of the reasons behind the sudden decision. While KAA had in recent years improved the financial performance, it was also subject to enquiries and scrutiny during Mr. Muhohoโ€™s tenure, not something an airport operator of this magnitude would otherwise prefer.

OBAMAโ€™S GRANNYโ€™S HISTORIC JOURNEY TO WASHINGTON
Sarah Obama, the paternal grandmother of president-elect Barack Obama, earlier in the week traveled to the United States where she will witness the swearing in of her grandson as the 44th President of the United States of America on January 20.

The journey started last Sunday at the Kisumu airport, from where she took a Kenya Airways flight to Nairobi, connecting via Europe to her final destination of Washington DC.

She carried tribal leadership gifts for her famous grandson according to the Luo tradition, consisting of a fly whisk (instead of the traditional spear, which she was apparently told was a โ€˜no noโ€™), a shield, and a three-legged stool, which are traditionally bestowed by the clan when an individual rises to become a leader.

Barack Obama has in the past repeatedly visited Kenya and his late fatherโ€™s home village and area, getting well acquainted with his African roots and Kenya. In fact, all of Eastern Africa is now looking forward to him being sworn in as President, knowing that there will be a friend of Africa in the White House, but โ€“ adds this correspondent โ€“ a friend who will demand improvements in governance and best practice from his African counterparts, if the friendship is to become and remain mutual.

In any case, the spotlight during his presidency will always shine a little, or more, on the home country of his father, and tourism to Kenya and Eastern Africa will undoubtedly benefit from the attention his global fan club will give to his โ€˜rootsโ€™ โ€“ no harm intended of course to Hawaii, where he grew up.

RWANDA TO CONSTRUCT HYDRO POWER STATION
The Rwanda government has announced that the construction of a 27 MW hydro-electric power plant will start shortly. Tapping into such renewable energy sources, which are literally carbon neutral once in operation, will be welcome news to the countryโ€™s tourism and conservation sector, but also for the commercial sector at large, as the new power plant, once ready, will add 50 percent capacity to the countryโ€™s energy needs. Environmental and economic impact studies have been carried out and have been sanctioned by the relevant public bodies. Rwanda is taking pride in being a green and eco-friendly tourism destination.

CHANGE IN PHONE NUMBERS FOR RWANDA
Just as we were going to press, news was received from Kigali that the telephone-numbering system will change from the previous 8-digit to the internationally adopted 10-digit numbering system. As the change seems imminent, consult your business contacts in Rwanda to get the details so as to stay in touch and not loose contact with the โ€˜Land of the Thousand Hills.โ€™

SOUTHERN SUDAN TOURISM MINISTRY HOLDS WORKSHOP
The Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism (MWCT) has confirmed that they will hold their final workshop next week in Juba, where the new draft tourism policy is to be presented to stakeholders from the public and private sectors for briefing and adoption. The work has been ongoing for over a year due to constraints at the Ministry. Once the tourism policy has been accepted, it will form the foundation of the Southern Sudanโ€™s return as a safari and adventure destination. It is understood that a new tourism draft law and regulations are also being worked on by a team of consultants appointed by MWCT.

The Southern Sudan holds a significant potential for safari tourism and adventure activities, like white water rafting, but it remains still untapped until infrastructure and security issues have been adequately addressed.

GOOD NEWS FOR eTN CORRESPONDENT IN THE SEYCHELLES
Alain St. Ange, eTurboNewsโ€™ regular contributor and leading tourism and hospitality personality from the Seychelles, was last week appointed as vice chairperson of the Seychelles Tourist Board where he will oversee marketing and funding. Alain was, at the same time, also appointed as a member of the board of directors of the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority. Congratulations galore for this achievement.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

TULLOW OIL SHOWS CONSERVATION SPIRIT

TULLOW OIL SHOWS CONSERVATION SPIRIT
It was learned during the week, that one of the two major oil exploration companies, Tullow Oil, has now confirmed that their planned mini refinery will be built outside the so called โ€˜protected areas,โ€™ i.e., not inside a national park or game reserve. An area has been identified and earmarked in the recently-submitted Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study, which is now available for stakeholders to scrutinize and comment on before NEMA makes a final decision.

Tullowโ€™s decision has been applauded by large sections in the conservation fraternity across Uganda, including the local offices of the WWF, the Wildlife Conservation Society WCS, and Nature Uganda although it can be expected that hardcore elements amongst the conservationists will continue to oppose any oil drilling, production, and processing along the confirmed deposit sites near Lake Albert and Murchisons Falls National Park.

THREAT TO FORESTS CONTINUES IN 2009
News emerged late last week that plans are underway by the National Forest Authority to de-gazette more than a dozen โ€˜urbanโ€™ forest reserves, including the Kitubulu Forest Reserve in Entebbe, which forms part of a continuous ecosystem along the lake shores, protecting from soil erosion and keeping biodiversity intact. Kitubulu was being encroached by developers for the construction of resorts and top of the line residences, and the Municipal Council of Entebbe and the NFA did not always see eye to eye over the reserve, in particular after NFA halted developments sanctioned by the council. At least some developers have shown this correspondent evidence, that they legally acquired their plots as shown on municipal maps outlining plots bordering the reserve, but they were stopped by NFA anyway and found their projects at the brink of collapse when they could neither complete them nor get compensation for the money spent up to that point.

It is recalled, in fact, that the then Norwegian executive director of the NFA displayed almost unbelievable arrogance when dealing with complainants, some of whom had been licensed by the Uganda Investment Authority. His behavior when dealing with the highest office in the land, was later on โ€˜punishedโ€™ when he was compelled to resign his position and leave the country.

It was also established that many of the reserves now earmarked for de-gazetting, which in any case requires an act of parliament first, are already heavily encroached, but NFA sources insist that when forest reserves inside or adjoining city or municipal areas are considered for de-gazetting, that the responsible bodies must offer equal sized land elsewhere for re-forestation, which would then be gazetted as โ€˜replacements.โ€™

Meanwhile, the executive director of the National Forest Authority, Mr. Damian Akankwasa, has decried the loss of forest cover in the Kibaale district in Western Uganda, underscoring the challenges which await NFA in the coming year. He did also mention that some 20,000 acres of forest have been replanted by both NFA and private developers, but mostly with fast-growing species of trees rather than tropical indigenous hard-wood trees, which may take 50 years to mature while the โ€˜commercialโ€™ types only take 20 or less years until harvesting.

EMIRATES GETS 4TH A380 AND OWNERSHIP CHANGE
Sources at Emiratesโ€™ Kampala office confirmed that the airline took delivery of their fourth A380 aircraft in Hamburg, Germany just before the end of 2008, allowing further expansion of their A380 routes in coming weeks. There is some speculation, though, about the scheduled delivery of their next A380 due in March 2009, which according to some sources may be delayed by a month or more as Airbus Industries continues to struggle to meet their ambitious production deadlines.

Just around the same time, ownership of the airline was also transferred by governmental decree from direct government control and ownership to the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD), itself a fully government-owned parastatal company.

The source also informed that DNATA, Dubaiโ€™s โ€˜nationalโ€™ air travel company, was also transferred to ICD at the same time. No reasons could be established for this move, which in practice, however, changes little for the affected companies in the near future.

AIR UGANDA STAFF NEWS
It was learned that effective January 1, 2009, Mrs. Julie Otage-Odur has been appointed to the position of cabin crew manager, based at the airlineโ€™s airport offices in Entebbe. Julie looks back at a long and distinguished career in the aviation industry as a flight attendant, purser, and senior purser with several airlines before joining Air Uganda in 2007, and her latest career advance can only be seen as a stepping stone towards even more important roles in the industry in coming years.

GOVERNMENT ISSUES SHIMONI ULTIMATUM
In a remarkable turnabout, government has now apparently given a one year ultimatum โ€“ thought by many to be too generous after the time already elapsed โ€“ to either build the promised hotel complex or else the land would be repossessed. This column has repeatedly reported in the past that the failure of the Saudi tycoon to commence work on the 17+ acres site given to him for near free has fueled public anger and put the โ€˜proโ€™ advocates on the spot. Inspite of all assurances in the past, the project never did take off and when the matter was taken on by a number of parliamentarians, government did finally react in the described manner. Watch this space for updates.

SUDAN ROAD AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
One of the major road construction projects connecting Uganda with the Southern Sudan seems, for a change, ahead of projected completion schedule, unlike Kampalaโ€™s Northern Bypass road, which is now three years behind completion and no end in sight. The road construction between Soroti and Lira is substantially advanced already according to press and on-site reports. From Soroti in North Eastern Uganda, the road will then cut across to the border crossing point at Nimule.

Work is also underway on the Kampala โ€“ Gulu โ€“ Nimule road, and the road between Arua to Koboko is also being rehabilitated, which leads towards the Southern Sudanese towns of Yei and Juba.

On the Sudanese side, mobilization by the construction companies is ongoing to commence construction of the new Juba โ€“ Nimule road.

TURKISH AIRLINES TO START NAIROBI FLIGHTS
News was received from Nairobi confirming that the Turkish national airline will start flights from Istanbul to Nairobi by the end of February, offering convenient connections either way from and into their growing network. Kenya Airways had launched the route, via Cairo, some years ago but eventually had to drop it when fuel prices went rocketing and the global economic downturn set in. There is no word from KQ if they would resume flights to Istanbul directly again soon or if they would rather code share with Turkish Airlines, as was the case in reverse when KQ operated on the route. As Kenyaโ€™s tourism sector continues to recover and grow, this will be generally good news as more seats often translate into more passengers and speak visitors to Kenya and Eastern Africa. No confirmation could be received at the time of going to press which type of aircraft will be used or about the number of flights per week.

In any case, it will add yet another airline and destination to Nairobi, where the airports authority is frantic to advance expansion and renovation projects for JKIA as the airport is bursting at the seams.

KENYA โ€“ UGANDA RAILWAY ON COURSE
A meeting between the two governments last week decided that instead of wasting time and resources on a US$10 million โ€˜feasibility study,โ€™ the construction of the railway would commence just as soon as the new route has been mapped out. Media reports in both countries attribute comments to the meeting that the โ€˜feasibilityโ€™ was beyond any doubt, and that an international standard gauge railway line must be constructed to facilitate movement of goods and passengers from the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa via Nairobi and the Kenyan highlands to Uganda and beyond.

Already the construction of a standard gauge line between Juba and Uganda has been sanctioned, which will link the Southern Sudan also to the harbor in Mombasa and will strategically reduce the reliance on other more vulnerable supply routes.

Rwanda is teaming up with Tanzania to extend a railway line from the proposed inland dry port of Ishaka to Kigali, which would allow further extensions to Burundi and the Eastern Congo.

KENYAN PRESIDENT SIGNS DRACONIAN MEDIA BILL INTO LAW
Inspite of growing pressure from dissenting members of parliament, the general public, the media, and international organizations and groups, the Kenyan president has assented to a draconian amendment in the countryโ€™s media bill. Governmentโ€™s security organs now need little if any cause to raid newspaper offices and television stations, whenever one of the โ€˜rulersโ€™ feels aggrieved over reporting or the tone of articles and broadcasts.

In 2006, a major attack on the media took place in Nairobi by government agents while the presidentโ€™s wife at the time also slapped a journalist and got away with it.

It is now deemed safer for international journalists to report on Kenya from the outside, which is not much different from Zimbabwe, where major world news organizations have been banned from and have to file reports from neighbouring South Africa or under cover, an option the Kenyan journalistic fraternity sadly does not have, putting them now at daily risk to be arrested and harshly questioned while going after the daily business.

Having emerged from the fallout of botched elections just about a year ago, when reportedly 1,000 people lost their lives, Kenya formed a โ€˜coalitionโ€™ government which is also divided over many pressing political issues, not the least these latest shackles put on the media. The Prime Minister in fact had assured the Kenyan public that the President would not sign the bill into law, only to be publicly shown off by his political senior. Watch this space as another round of political drama unfolds in Kenya early in 2009.

In a related development, it was learned by the time of going to press that the immense pressure exerted by media organizations, the business community, civil society, and a growing number of politicians, a review of the draconian law will be carried out soon with the aim of meeting many of the demands made since the President signed the bill into law, while at the same time probably delaying the โ€˜effectiveโ€™ date of the law to avoid further confrontation.

EXPLAIN THIS
Serious discrepancies have emerged in figures provided by immigration departments for travelers crossing the Namanga border post between Kenya and Tanzania. The Kenyan immigration department reported figures higher by 207,000 as exits compared to a figure lower by 207,000 given by the Tanzanian immigration offices for entries over the same period of time, according to recent media reports. Are there over 200,000 people living in the no manโ€™s land or have the calculators malfunctioned? Similar discrepancies were reportedly also found when comparing figures at other major crossing points between the East African states although the numbers quoted in the media were considerably lower.

FLY 540 NOW OFFERS DAILY FLIGHTS TO KILIMANJARO
The Kenyan low cost airline, now increasingly an airline with a fully regional outlook, will commence daily flights from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro/Arusha on ATR 42 aircraft offering 48 seats. This will be the first scheduled destination in mainland Tanzania after Fly540 had some months ago already commenced daily flights from Nairobi via Mombasa to Zanzibar.

Dar es Salaam is due to be added next to the growing number of destinations, and the setting up of the airlineโ€™s offices is said to be nearly complete.
It was also learned that political interference over traffic rights has led to the suspension of flights to Juba, but it is hoped that the situation can be sorted out in due course.

AIR TANZANIA GETS LICENSE BACK
No sooner had the last column gone out did news break that the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority had restored the AOC, or Air Operator Certificate, to Air Tanzania, permitting them to resume flight operations. It is understood that the airline had finally produced the required documentation for TCAA and ironed out the discrepancies which had led to the AOC to be withdrawn some weeks ago under unclear circumstances.

Sources in both ATCL and TCAA again reiterated that the airlineโ€™s planes had been and continued to be completely airworthy and the suspension of the license was entirely over documentation issues, a statement which again raised more questions than it provided answers.

However, the precarious financial situation of the airline caused a further delay in starting flights again, while waiting for government to make good of promises to inject much needed fresh capital into the parastatal and sanction a new cooperation partner. It was, in fact, learned that the Tanzanian government did eventually inject some 2.5 billion Tanzania Shillings into ATCLโ€™s accounts and has promised to avail further funds to get the national airline back into the air. It is expected that just as soon as this is happening, IATA will then also restore full membership to ATCL.

It is also expected that a few individuals in management positions may be sacrificed – speak fired – over the airlineโ€™s suspension, once probe reports by two committees set up to investigate the causes of the suspension and problems have been handed over to the government.

The Chinese airline initially lined up for this purpose, however, has not moved any further with their plans, probably as a result of the global economic slowdown and the decree of the Chinese government to slow down or temporarily halt aviation expansion plans until an economic recovery is well underway.

TANZANIA WILDLIFE CENSUS OUT SOON
The Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, which was contracted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, will soon release the figures of a wildlife census taken across the country. The task was given to them to establish the real numbers of game left in protected areas and elsewhere in the country, as claims are being made by the conservation fraternity that there is a rapid deterioration of numbers going on, which affects bio diversity and is potentially hurtful to the lucrative safari tourism industry.

RWANDA TOURISM OUTLOOK JUDGED EXCELLENT
The following statement was obtained from ORTPN/RDB during the week and is reproduced here to shed some light on the hopes and aspirations for Rwandaโ€™s fast growing tourism sector:

TOURISM AND CONSERVATION PERFORMANCE IN 2008
Tourism has had another successful year, with a significant impact on Rwandaโ€™s economy, contributing to job creation, local community development, and a variety of local and international investments. It is the leading export sector in the country and is growing continuously.

โ€ข Visitor numbers have increased from 826,374 visitors in 2007 to an estimated 1 million visitors in 2008, a 30 percent increase. Projections for 2009 see numbers growing to 1.14 million.

โ€ข Revenues are estimated to increase by 54 percent compared to 2007, rising from US$138 million in 2007 to an estimated US$214 million in 2008. Revenues in 2009 are projected at US$224 million, demonstrating the industryโ€™s growing potential. Leisure visitors have so far doubled in 2008 compared to 2007.

The tourism industry contributes significantly to benefiting the lives of Rwandans, generating 343,000 jobs in 2008 โ€” an increase of 26 percent from 2007. Local communities benefit from tourism through ORTPNโ€™s Revenue Sharing Scheme which grants 5 percent of its revenues towards supporting community projects so as to improve their welfare. Total support given in 2008 (including the Revenue Sharing Scheme) totaled Rwf 460, 522, 154 and contributed to the following projects:

โ€ข Support for 11 schools comprised of 2600 students;
โ€ข Health centers at Banda, Ngange, and Gasumo, benefiting approximately 30,000 community members surrounding Nyungwe National Park;
โ€ข Water tanks and taps were built for communities surrounding Nyungwe National Park and Volcanoes National Parks, benefiting nearly 5,800 families; and
โ€ข From revenues generated by Kwita Izina, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge was launched and is fully owned by communities and contributes greatly to poverty alleviation. Revenues generated from the Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge were used to construct 26 houses for vulnerable families living around the Volcanoes National Park.

As an institution, ORTPN and her partners have set up a Genocide memorial fund, which in 2008 assisted child-headed genocide survivors in Nyamata and the Ntarama Genocide Memorial. ORTPN through her social responsibility initiatives, also assisted earthquake victims in the western province and survivors of Kirehe floods morally and financially.

Investments in tourism can be seen through an increase in the number of hotels around the country from 148 hotels with 2,391 rooms in 2007 to 163 hotels with 3,552 in 2008. Tour operators and travel agancies have increased from 34 in 2007 to 48 in 2008.

Other investments see accommodation improvements in Kigali, Kinigi, Akagera, and Nyungwe; tourism products and experiences being developed at Nyungwe National Park and Lake Kivu; and investments in service development and capacity building in conservation through the Kitabi College for Conservation and Environment Management (KCCEM).

Maintenance of the integrity and biodiversity of the national parks is a priority for ORTPN. The Transboundary Executive Secretariat of the Greater Virunga Massif Ecosystem was set up to protect the mountain gorillas of Rwanda and Uganda, and DRC was inaugurated and headquartered in Kigali and chaired by Rwanda. An MOU between ORTPN (Rwanda) and INECN (Burundi) for Transboundary collaboration for the protection of the Nyungweโ€“Kibira ecosystem was signed. A business plan for Akagera National Park was developed and agreed upon by ORTPN and Dubai World in the framework of investment through public and private partnership. All these endeavors are being undertaken to ensure good conservation practices between Rwanda and her neighboring countries.

The following efforts have contributed greatly to the positive image Rwanda is developing as a popular tourism destination: Rwanda won African Best Exhibitor for the second year running at ITB Berlin, the worldโ€™s biggest tourism trade fair. A recent achievement saw Rwanda being voted among the โ€œTop 10 Countries to Visit in 2009โ€ by Lonely Planet, one of the worldโ€™s leading travel guides. Rwandaโ€™s main tourism event, Kwita Izina, which attracts tourists and conservationists alike to the base of the Virunga mountain chain, has been instrumental in communicating the success of Rwanda tourism and conservation.

Rwandaโ€™s up-and-coming ideal destination that will be featured in 2009 is Nyungwe National Park. Investments in the park include a state of the art eco-lodge and a mid-range lodge; a unique, interactive interpretation center; a canopy walk allowing visitors to experience the park from a new vantage point; and a new boat on Lake Kivu to facilitate the primate product that links Volcanoes National Park with Nyungwe National Park. Nyungwe boasts 13 primate species, 275 bird species (of which 25 are endemic to the mountainous Central African region), 250 tree species, and 148 varieties of orchids. Nyungwe is one of the regionโ€™s most distinctive natural attractions and is a great asset to Rwandaโ€™s tourism portfolio.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

I wish all readers a Happy New Year 2009, health, peace, and prosperity!

I wish all readers a Happy New Year 2009, health, peace, and prosperity! Many thanks for all the encouragement and the feedback to my column throughout 2008, which has kept my enthusiasm up and the news coming week after week. Expect more news and sector updates about the tourism, hospitality, and aviation industry in Eastern Africa for the upcoming year of 2009.

NO CHRISTMAS SPIRIT FROM US EMBASSY, NOR COMPASSION
The Tanzanian media reported that the wife of the Arusha member of parliament, who had applied for a visa to visit her daughter in the US who was hospitalized following a car accident, was refused a Visa as she reportedly could not produce an โ€˜invitation letter.โ€™ Dr. Mrema, a Kenyan citizen married in Tanzania, was compelled to travel to Nairobi to apply for a Visa there, in spite of being a resident in Tanzania and married to a member of parliament and was then denied a Visa by the US Embassy in Nairobi, while her daughter was in critical condition in a hospital in Los Angeles, unable to send the required โ€˜invitation letterโ€™ – hard to produce when drifting in and out of a coma.

Mrs. Mrema subsequently only managed to speak to her daughter briefly by phone before the young woman passed away, leaving a grieving mother a continent apart instead of at her bedside. The daughter was, according to reports, pursuing post graduate studies in law in California where she suffered grave injuries when her car was hit.

SKYJET NEWS UPDATE
During the holiday period, a break in at the Skyjet offices in Entebbe apparently led to theft of property and vandalism, throwing a bit of a spanner into the launch activities. Police are apparently holding two suspects, both seemingly junior employees of the company, but are searching for other suspects, too, who managed to escape from the scene of the crime.

In view of the holiday period the envisaged press briefings and meetings with travel agents and corporate clients were also shifted into early January.

FLY 540 UGANDA OFFERS REGULAR REGIONAL CARGO SERVICES
A few weeks after introducing their two 5.5 ton uplift Fokker 27-500 cargo planes to Uganda, the airline has now published a wide range of destinations across the region for cargo delivery. Amongst the airports served are, of course, Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, Kilimanjaro/Arusha, Kigali, Bujumbura, and Juba, but also โ€˜lesserโ€™ airports like Malakal, Rumbek, Bunia, Goma, Kisangani, and Bukavu. Other destinations can be accessed depending on runway conditions and security at the particular airfield, which in particular applies to destinations in the Eastern Congo. The airline operates โ€˜on demandโ€™ as a dedicated charter service although there are plans to consider more regular flights on the routes in greater demand.

Sometime in 2009, the airline will also begin passenger operations from Entebbe but has kept a tight lid on their planned destinations, obviously not giving too much away for the competition to react too soon to their plans. Watch this space for updates.

FUEL SUPPLEMENTS DROP FOR LONG-HAUL DESTINATIONS
Across Eastern Africaโ€™s main aviation gateways, flights are now cheaper as airlines have started to seriously reduce their fuel surcharges. Several airlines have also offered travelers, for selected flights over the holiday period, substantially reduced fares to attract passengers for flights with low-booking numbers. However, regulators have not joined hands with the airlines and kept both airport taxes and landing/navigational fees at their previous levels, which is not helpful towards attracting more visitors to the region and travel from Eastern Africa abroad.

Most notably British Airways offered a return fare from Nairobi to London at US$349 on selected flights, but as usual, subject to a massive add-on caused by taxes and other regulatory dues. Virginโ€™s โ€˜specialโ€™ fare has been pegged over the same period at US$499, i.e., US$150 more per person and again subject to taxes and other regulatory fees.

Brussels Airlines has offered special fares from all their East African gateways, as has Kenya Airways and KLM. Call this a Christmas bonanza for those wanting to travel.

BRUSSELS AIRLINES TO IMPROVE SERVICES AHEAD OF STAR ALLIANCE ENTRY
The Belgian flag carrier has, just before Christmas, released news of a fleet increase in 2009 with two more A330-200 aircraft, which will be added to the existing four already in service. There was also talk of an increase in African destinations in 2009 and the opening of a dedicated โ€˜Africa Terminalโ€™ including a separate business class lounge, likely a requirement by other Star Alliance members to offer maximum comfort to their premium passengers when, in the future, connecting to Africa in Brussels.

The airline is also expected to revisit their European routesโ€™ in-flight service, and it is speculated that a dedicated business class may be added again in all their short/medium-haul aircraft. This was abandoned in 2007 when SN joined hands with Virgin Europe. SN is presently flying to Entebbe four times a week but may add more frequencies when the process of joining the worldโ€™s most important airline alliance is concluded and more long-haul aircraft have been acquired.

Meanwhile, Brussels Airlinesโ€™ local sales and marketing manager Roger Wamara was appointed to serve an initial three-year term of office as a director of the Uganda Tourist Board (see separate news item). Congratulations for this well-deserved recognition of his contributions to the sector and the expertise he is bringing to Tourism Uganda.

DOMESTIC AVIATION FUEL COST REMAINS SKY HIGH
Again, like with petrol and diesel, the cost of AVGAS is only fractionally down from its Ugandan peak, when a liter of this type of aviation fuel cost US$2.38 delivered at the Kajjansi airfield. Presently a liter still costs US$2.28, and the fuel companies are obviously not telling the truth when asked about the reasons.
JET A1, however, has dropped more substantially to US$0.78 per liter, which, however, is still considerably higher than for instance in Nairobi, Mombasa, or Dar es Salaam.

It was also learned, at the same time, that supplies at the Kajjansi airfield were literally โ€˜dryโ€™ as the fuel companies have once again failed to deliver new stock in time in spite of standing orders by the airlines operating from Kajjansi, such as KAFTC, Ndege Juu, and MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship). No comments were available from the fuel companies.

KAMPALA AERO CLUB PLANS FOR BIGGER HANGAR
It was learned just before the end of the year that KAFTC (Kampala Aero Club and Flight Training Centre) has purchased more land adjoining to their present hangar to allow for the construction of a larger facility capable of servicing their growing fleet of larger-sized aircraft. The Aero Club is, incidentally, the only company in Uganda licensed to carry out commercial flight operations, train pilots to the levels of PPL โ€“ private pilot license through to CPL โ€“ commercial pilot license, while at the same time also holding a license as a maintenance facility (MCO). KAFTC now operates a fleet of Cessna Grand Caravans, several other single- and twin-engine, light aircraft and special training aircraft. It was also learned that the company is expected to take delivery of their first helicopter in the early part of 2009. Well done Jeremy and Russell.

LIONS RETURN TO LAKE MBURO
After years of having to do without the lion prides inside Lake Mburo National Park (they were killed by herders trying to protect their cattle illegally grazing inside the park and nearby), news broke just around Christmas that not only were footprints found at several places, but three lions were eventually seen by tourists and UWA staff. This will increase the attraction of the park, which is located some 200 KM West of Kampala en route to Mbarara and the main national parks in the South West of Uganda like Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth.
After a period of bad news about the lion population in the parks, in particular Queen Elizabeth, this is finally some good news and a befitting Christmas present for the conservation fraternity.

STAR RATING NOW NEEDS โ€˜EACโ€™ APPROVAL
Hospitality businesses across the East African Community will now need to undergo a fresh round of gradings and classifications before an EAC-sanctioned scheme will then award the much-coveted star rating, which defines hotel and restaurant standards and can make or break a business in a strongly-contested market across the region.

It was pointed out by one of the directors at the EAC Secretariat in Arusha, Dr. Weggoro, that self-styled and self-awarded star ratings would no longer be recognized, removing a long-standing thorn in the side of advocates for honesty and truth.

Unscrupulous operators in the region had, in the past, often awarded themselves star ratings with no affinity to reality, leaving guests wondering who was responsible for the mischievous and misleading presentations by marketers and owners.

The national tourist boards will be best situated to clarify to would-be visitors what the true category or status of a hotel, resort, or lodge is while all other hospitality businesses not then contained in tourist board directories may have to be treated with caution.

TRAVEL FARES DOUBLE WHILE FUEL GOES MISSING
The ongoing shortage of petrol and diesel across much of Eastern Africa also saw bus fares to upcountry destinations literally double over the holiday period, as the bus companies ruthlessly exploited travelersโ€™ needs to get to their rural homes for Christmas and New Year. Fuel prices in Uganda also crept higher once again. In spite of crude oil prices tumbling in recent weeks, the main fuel companies have kept prices continuously high in Uganda, not passing on any savings under the pretext of higher cost elsewhere in the value chain, a claim much disputed by business associations, economists, columnists, and the public at large. While in Kenya, a new law has become effective in the New Year to stop profiteering of this nature. Much of the rest of Eastern Africa is held at ransom by the big fuel companies and their dealer network as the liberalized market conditions there prevent governments from active intervention and limiting prices. Ugandans, too, have been demanding similar action to protect them from such blatant exploitation.

In a related development, the permanent secretary in the Kenyan Ministry of Energy had blamed the situation on the consumers for โ€˜panic buyingโ€™ โ€“ his conclusion after meeting with the oil companies, the pipeline company, the refinery bosses, and Kenya Revenue Authority personnel.

MINISTER LAUNCHES NEW BOARD FOR UTB
Tourism Uganda, aka Uganda Tourist Board, finally has a new board of directors after months of pondering and an agonizing wait. The former board chairman, tourism and business personality, Roni Madhvani, had resigned when no funding was forthcoming from the home ministry and many other promises were left unfulfilled, which left UTB in a lurch of sorts but also made a loud statement of how governmental support for UTB was viewed and perceived by the sector and society at large.

The minister responsible for tourism, in a low-key function at the Metropole Kampala Hotel she attended in person, launched the new board, which now also includes one representative each from the Civil Aviation Authority and the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Notably of sector substance on the board, with real private sector experience in the tourism industry, is Mr. Roger Wamara, the long-serving sales and marketing manager of Brussels Airlines. Mr. Wamara is well respected in tourism and society circles as a past chairman of the board of airline representatives in Uganda and a past chairman of the Rotary Club of Kampala North. Roger is also a long-standing member of the Skal Kampala Chapter.

UGANDAโ€™S ATA MEMBERSHIP IN SUSPENSE
It was learned just before Christmas, that the Uganda Chapter of the Africa Travel Association, the worldโ€™s premier body to promote travel to the African continent, is in suspense as the private-sector members have reportedly failed to keep their dues payments up to date. Probably in view of the holiday season, no authoritative comments could be obtained from former members or former office bearers as to the reasons for this sad state of affairs or any possible plans to revive the chapter and make a befitting contribution to ATAโ€™s efforts to promote the country. This is even more embarrassing as the Ugandan tourism minister is apparently a member of the ATA board during its current term of office.

The problem, however, is not entirely new as Ugandaโ€™s membership to the UN World Tourism Organization is also suspended owing to years of non-payment of annual dues by the Ministry of Tourism Trade and Industry, denying the country many opportunities otherwise granted to paid-up UNWTO members in regard of human resource development and marketing support opportunities. This fact has often been lamented, but little if anything has been done by government to make amends and restore Ugandaโ€™s memberships.

MORE ASSURANCES FROM THE AYAS – ACCIDENT AT THEIR BUILDING SITE
The Ayas group issued a Christmas statement to the Ugandan public assuring them that their hotel project would be complete by September 2009. In view of past deadlines and promises, it is โ€˜wait and seeโ€™ for industry observers and the public at large. Meanwhile, the project seems struck further with bad luck when the local media reported an accident on site after a material and personnel lift collapsed. Some workers died on the spot, while others passed away in a hospital, leaving many more injured. Investigations by the police and the Kampala City Council are now said to be underway to establish the exact cause of the accident and establish culpability and liability for the affected workers. The staff member operating the lift was also reported to have been arrested for โ€˜overloading,โ€™ while another injured worker was quoted in the local media to have received 10,000 Uganda Shillings (which at present exchange rates is less than US$6), a towel, a blanket, and a pair of bed sheets.

In a similar case some years ago, a collapsed building at a site along Entebbe road, where a hotel was due to be built ahead of the Commonwealth Summit, led to the demise of many workers there, too, and caused construction to be suspended while an investigation was carried out. That hotel, in the end, never was ready for the summit and continues to resemble a sorry building site, bare of visible activity to complete many of the partly-erected buildings, while only a small section seems operational. A case over that property is pending between Barclays Bank of Uganda and the developers about unpaid loans.

PARLIAMENTARIANS DEMAND RETURN OF SHIMONI LAND
Calls are getting louder again, this time by a large number of members of parliament, that government should repossess the land given out literally free to a Saudi Arabian prince and business tycoon who had promised to build a hotel in time for the Commonwealth Summit. This, of course, never happened, leaving advocates for the โ€˜dealโ€™ with egg all over their faces. Officials involved with the saga have, at periodical intervals, tried to defend the company and set one new date after the other for start of the construction, but as regularly reported in this column nothing really ever happened at the site other than erecting a fence and then using it for exhibitions and other purposes.

The public at large is already disgruntled over the hasty demolition of a leading primary school and teachers training college, which was located at the site and is now awaiting results from this latest initiative to reign in a defaulting โ€˜investorโ€™ and either get him started with the construction work or else return the land to Uganda for other developments. The school and training college are, however, gone to the detriment of the former pupils, teachers, and staff.

ENVIRONMENT MINISTER HALTS TOURISM PROJECT
This article about a ministerial directive to the National Forest Authority was picked up from Ugandaโ€™s leading daily newspaper, The New Vision, just before Christmas and is available at the web via: http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/220/665634
In view of the holiday period, no comments could be obtained from the National Forest Authority or from the ministry for additional background information to shed more light on the story or how this scenario developed at all. The article that appeared on December 21 is titled โ€˜Adrift suspended from Kalagalaโ€™ and reads:

The environment minister, Maria Mutagamba, has directed the National Forestry Authority (NFA) to suspend all Adrift activities in Kalagala until further notice, writes David Muwanga.

The directive follows a stakeholders meeting who included NFA, Cultural Heritage Exchange Centre (CHEC), and Adrift on November 28.

โ€œIt was agreed that all stakeholders suspend activities at Kalagala Cultural Site until the necessary considerations are taken for the benefit of all,โ€ the minister said in a letter dated December 8.

CHECโ€™S director Darius Kabona earlier said NFA had allocated land to Adrift to construct a hotel despite President Museveniโ€™s directive to stop the leasing and selling of forests. โ€œNFA has defied the Presidentโ€™s ban of July 2008.โ€ NFAโ€™s publicist Moses Watasa said Adrift was licensed in 2006.

UN TO AGREE ON UGANDAโ€™S MILITARY ACTION
News broke before Christmas that the UN Special Envoy for the failed peace negotiations, former Mozambique President Joachim Chissano, endorsed the military action against the rebels in the Congolese jungle. It was, in fact, reported in the local and regional media that he was urging the UN Security Council, of which Uganda is now a non-permanent member for two years effective January 1, to formally sanction the action taken by the UPDF, the SPLA, and Congolese army units based in the area. Mr. Chissano was quoted as saying that he saw the โ€˜merit of the action.โ€™ Having been a victim of the rebelsโ€™ delaying tactics several times when he was stood up for meetings, his feelings can be well understood and are mirrored by almost everybody this correspondent spoke with in Juba and Kampala.

The rebels, meanwhile, have again resorted to taking innocent villagers hostage, abducting young boys and girls and killing dozens indiscriminately as they are on the run, which includes a single massacre of at least 45 people worshipping at a Catholic church not too distant from the border with the Central African Republic, towards which the terrorists seem to try and escape to.

Military operations have been continuing over the holidays, but information officially released in Kampala and Juba has been sparse and patchy. Across Uganda and the Southern Sudan, support for the offensive continues to be overwhelming with everybody waiting for news that the objectives of the pursuit have been achieved.

In light of the atrocities committed by the rebels, their local and international propagandists, as well as โ€˜peace advocates,โ€™ have gone notably silent, clearly embarrassed by the events, now that the terror goons have shown their true faces once again.

KENYA FOREST SERVICE DESIGNATES NEARLY 200 ECO-TOURISM SITES
The Kenyan Forest Service has now identified up to 200 sites which could be developed into eco-tourism sites for the diversification of tourism products in the country.

Protection of forests across Eastern Africa is a great challenge as the onslaught of developers, charcoal burners, and timber companies has been relentless in recent decades. Any effort therefore to extend further protection to forest systems through environmentally-friendly tourism developments will, therefore, be welcome, but in general, governments in the region have to do much more in order to restore sections of forests which have been degraded and need replanting with indigenous trees.

Reportedly, interest in the 13 sites initially earmarked for immediate development was very substantial from possible investors, although 12 of those sites are located inside the Mount Kenya National Park and the surrounding conservation zone.

OMAN AIR NOW ADDS LONDON NON STOP
The Oman Air office in East Africa has informed travel agents and the general public that the airline will commence non-stop services on January 15 from Muscat to London Heathrow, the only such flight between the UK and Oman. Passengers from the airlineโ€™s East African destinations now have another choice in how to travel to the UK.

BOOM IN LICENSE APPLICATIONS FOR ASLโ€™S IN TANZANIA
The Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority has approved applications by nearly 20 new players in the aviation industry, the majority of them for domestic charter operations. This seems to belie the present trend in the tourist industry, where cause of concern exists due to the global financial and economic crisis, as new entrants into the local air charter business seem to have suddenly multiplied after some time of stagnation. The decisions were taken and communicated to applicants by the boardโ€™s licensing committee only recently, following the public hearing at the end of October.

The country is home to nearly 100 national parks, marine parks, game reserves, wildlife reserves, and controlled wildlife areas, underscoring the massive commitment made by Tanzania towards wildlife conservation and retention of biodiversity, making it attractive for wildlife and nature-based tourism activities.
As most parks and reserves are found in more remote areas and considering the constraints on road transportation, safaris by air are an ever more popular option for visitors from abroad intent on travelling without loss of time to the parks and spending their holiday with game drives rather than traversing the entire country by road just to reach their next destination.

PRECISION AIR NEWS
Precision Air, Tanzaniaโ€™s โ€˜most-respected companyโ€™ according to a recent EAC-wide poll of chief executive officers, will add another Boeing 737 to the fleet early in the new year to be able to continue with its expansion plans. The airlineโ€™s chairman of the board of directors also bagged an individual award late in the past year when he received the AFRAA (African Airlines Association) award for exemplary leadership in the aviation sector, a further affirmation that being voted most-respected company in Tanzania was no fluke.

Meanwhile, the Tanzania Revenue Authority has declared Precision Air the second largest tax payer in the country, again a remarkable achievement but certain to attract more tax consultants to assist the airline from losing this particular distinction.

AIR TANZANIA UPDATE
More woes have befallen Tanzania’s national airline just before Christmas, when news broke on Thursday, December 19 that IATA had suspended the membership of ATCL until further notice, while the carrier was battling a narrow timeline to submit relevant documentation to the country’s aviation regulators in order to get their operating permits restored. The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority had, the previous week, pulled the AOC from the airline over differences in documents filed by the airline but apparently not in compliance with the latest international aviation regulations.

The suspension by IATA of ATCL is a heavy blow as it prevents numerous interactions with other airlines, such as the acceptance of tickets and transactions via the IATA clearing house or participating in the BSP scheme through which travel agents and airlines/IATA are linked.

Meanwhile, the Tanzanian government, blamed by insiders within ATCL for their financially near broke status over failure to remit the monthly subsidies and clearing long outstanding loans and debts to which government had committed when the separation agreement was signed with SAA two years ago, has also acted when the Prime Minister met with the ATCL CEO and the board of directors to discuss the future of the airline.

Air Tanzania also pointed out that following their suspension by the TCAA, there was no other option for IATA but to suspend their membership, although reinstatement to full services would be equally swift, once the regulators had cleared the airline to resume operations, after accepting revised documents. It was again mentioned that the airlineโ€™s airworthiness of their aircraft was not under question. However, this is surely a headache the airline could have done without, considering the challenges it had meet in the days prior to Christmas.

At the same time, a government minister waded into the debate blaming โ€˜lazy elementsโ€™ for the situation, knowing little that his remark would be attributed to the government department writing the monthly subsidy check to the airline, which government committed to when separating Air Tanzania from SAA at the time. It was also generally felt that government has only itself to blame over the situation by not heeding the warning signs and pleas by the ATCL management to step up and pay the long-outstanding dues, and that any attempt now to seek โ€˜other culpritsโ€™ is one of washing hands after the fact.

At the time of going to press with this column, the airline had not yet returned to operational status and efforts to get an update proved impossible. Watch this space in coming editions.

RWANDAN HOTELS, LODGES, AND RESORTS TO BE GRADED
The Deputy CEO of the Rwanda Development Board and former head of ORTPN โ€“ Rwanda Office for Tourism and National Parks before it was merged into the RDB โ€“ Mrs. Rosette Rugamba, has now confirmed that starting in 2009, Rwanda will apply the East African Community guidelines for grading and classification of their hospitality businesses. This action is aimed to ensure a common standard across the EAC for the quality control of the sector.

Hotels, lodges, resorts, inns, motels, and even restaurants will undergo a process of evaluation before they are eventually awarded a star rating, which will be similar to international practice. Tourist guides can then give travelers a more accurate picture about the standards of a certain establishment.

LATE JUSTICE FOR RWANDAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS
Just before the Christmas holidays, the International Tribunal on Rwanda convicted several key suspects in the holocaust by Hutu killer militias, including one of the main masterminds of the crimes. Theoneste Bagosora was convicted as a ringleader and instigator of the unspeakable horrors inflicted upon the Tutsi and moderate Hutu populations of Rwanda in 1994 and will now, with several others, serve a life sentence, while nearly a million Rwandese lie in their graves as a stark reminder of how the world, and in particular the UN, in early 1994, failed them.

Other key suspects are still said to be on the run although several have of late been discovered and arrested, awaiting their own trials.

CHRISTMAS AT HOME FOR ROSE KABUYE
The charges brought by a magistrate in France against Rwandaโ€™s Head of Protocol Rose Kabuye, were further dented when Mrs. Kabuye, already released from remand to move freely in France, was permitted to fly to Rwanda for the Christmas and New Year holidays by another member of the French judiciary, who modified her bail conditions yet further.

The unusual move demonstrates how other magistrates and judges within the judicial system in France view the charges brought against her, and it is generally expected that at the first formal hearing, these will be dropped now that the only witness has withdrawn his statement and admitted to having misled the investigation before. Welcome home Rose.

Meanwhile, Germany has re-arrested a real genocide suspect whom they had previously released for โ€˜lack of evidence.โ€™ Discussions appear ongoing between Rwanda and Germany over the extradition of the suspect, who could, however, also be handed over to the UN tribunal in Arusha for trial. Watch this space for updates.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

This correspondent and his family would like to wish all readers a merry and peaceful Christmas 2008.

This correspondent and his family would like to wish all readers a merry and peaceful Christmas 2008. The next column will be published on January 2, 2009, so I am also taking the opportunity to extend our best wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year in 2009.

UWA EXTENDS โ€œCHRISTMAS GIFTโ€
Ugandans and East African citizens can once again enjoy a 50 percent reduction in park entrance fees between December 15 and January 15 when visiting the countryโ€™s national parks and game reserves. This measure has, in the past, attracted extra numbers of visitors to the protected areas during the main holiday period, which traditionally includes the long holidays for children between school years.

Meanwhile, news has also emerged that the five East African community-member statesโ€™ wildlife management bodies have agreed to recognize East African citizens like their own, when it comes to park entrance fees across the entire region. Citizens of any member state can now visit national parks and game and wildlife reserves in other countries at the same reduced rates accorded to the citizens of the respective country. There has been no movement, however, in extending a similar status to resident expatriates who are classified as foreign visitors in spite of paying taxes in the country they are registered in. Maybe the upcoming hard times in tourism, as international markets reel from the financial crisis and the subsequent economic slump, may change this and cause an EAC-wide agreement on Visa fees and entrance fees to the parks, in order to attract this important domestic/regional source for visitors.

In a related development, UWA has suspended their community-support programs for several projects around Mt. Elgon National Park due to accounting issues, which arose when over 30 million Uganda shillings were spent but not accounted for. Some of the projects are said to have provided only partial accounts while others provided no details at all by the time of going to press, prompting UWA to put on the brakes until the matters are resolved to the satisfaction of their auditors. The Uganda Wildlife Authority, by law, shares 20 percent of the park entrance fees with neighboring communities across the country.

CHIMPS NEST IN KIBAALE NATIONAL PARK – NOW OPEN
A Dutch-owned new eco-friendly lodge has opened just outside the Kibaale National Park catering to tourist visitors, from outside and within Uganda, coming to the park to track chimpanzees, spot some of the nearly 350 species of birds, or simply enjoy the forest environment. Located only a few minutesโ€™ drive away from the starting point of the UWA-organized tracking, the lodge is ideally suited for visitors to the wider area including visits to the nearby Rwenzori Mountains or the township of Fort Portal.
Self-contained accommodation is available in cottages and notably one tree house, along with a nearby campsite that is also available for clients bringing their own tented equipment. The lodge offers full-board accommodation for guests booked, but casual day visitors can also use the restaurant. Visit www.chimpsnest.com for more information.

UGANDA TOURIST BOARD CONFIRMS ITB PARTICIPATION / TO GET NEW BOARD
Following agreements with the Uganda Wildlife Authority by UTB, it is now clear that the country will be represented in Berlin next year. The countryโ€™s stand at the WTM this year attracted a lot of attention, and a similar effort can be expected for Berlin 2009. Arrangements for meetings can be made in advance via [email protected] .
It was also learned that after increasingly acid comments from the stakeholder community about the pondering mode at the ministry in recent months, a new board of directors will finally be appointed very soon in accordance with the new tourism act passed earlier in the year. The Uganda Tourist Board, as required by the new law, will then undergo restructuring and reorganization to meet the challenges of the new millennium. Expect more information in the New Year about what is going to happen and when it is going to happen.

DISGRUNTLED OPERATORS TO FORM THEIR OWN ASSOCIATION
It was learned that the fragmentation in the association framework is set to continue with the formation of a new association for tourism โ€˜providersโ€™ โ€“ speak-tour operators. It seems that a fraction of former and even present Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) members is set to start their own rival outfit, reportedly to participate in the allocation of gorilla-tracking permits, which were until now distributed under the auspices of UWA exclusively to members of the AUTO. According to the information received, not everyone was happy about the handling of the arrangements and the allocation of permits, and hence a break-away faction is now making preparations to get their own piece of the cake. There was no comment available about any possible mediation between the two fractions to avoid this development. Watch this space for emerging news.

PROMPT REACTION TO BOGUS PRESS REPORTS
The Ministry of Works and Transport, through the National Roads Authority, has reacted swiftly to dispel the baseless rumors spread last week about the state of the main bridge across the river Nile in Jinja. A consultative workshop was called for last Friday, bringing all stakeholders together, during which the real state of the bridge was discussed before turning the attention to the building of a second bridge nearby. It could also be ascertained that no further reduction of the speed limit across the bridge was introduced, and that the limit remained at 20 KM per hour for all vehicles with no overtaking allowed while on the bridge as a matter of long-standing rule.

Sections of the local media had portrayed the bridge as unsafe last week, causing concern amongst bridge users and the public at large.

BRUSSELS AIRLINES SET TO JOIN STAR ALLIANCE
News was received last weekend from a Brussels Airlines contact in Belgium, that the airlineโ€™s application to join the worldโ€™s biggest airline alliance has been accepted and a formal joining process is now underway. Once SN is officially part of Star Alliance, a process expected to take up to a year due to audits and quality-control requirements; it will be the third airline of the group flying to Entebbe, after South African Airways and Egypt Air. The development will also make undoubtedly a positive impact on Brussels Airlineโ€™s passenger and cargo loads to their East African destinations Entebbe, Bujumbura, Kigali, and Nairobi, as alliance members normally feed extra traffic into destinations served by other alliance partners.

Lufthansa, the leading founder of Star Alliance, has recently acquired a stake in Brussels Airlines adding weight to SNโ€™s standing in the market as a โ€œfamilyโ€ member of the extended Lufthansa group.

This column only recently reported that Ethiopian Airlines had entered into an extended code share agreement with Lufthansa now also covering flights from Addis Ababa to Entebbe, probably a harbinger of things to come. For SN passengers from Entebbe, it will mean better and wider connections to destinations presently not served by Brussels Airlines, the use of lounges and service points across the world, and access to the most extensive frequent-flyer program presently available on the market. In turn, Star Alliance will be able to feed into one of the most extensive Africa networks any airline operates from Europe, connecting via Brussels โ€“ the capital city of the European Union.

EMIRATES NOW ADDS SAN FRANCISCO โ€“ AT LAST
Following the delivery of additional aircraft, the main reason for the delay in starting flights to SFO, Emiratesโ€™ Kampala office has informed travel agents that bookings are now being accepted for their latest US destination. The airline is using a B777-200LR in their standard 3-class configuration, and the inaugural flight earlier in the week was operated under special parameters to reduce emissions throughout the flightโ€™s duration. According to airline sources, the aircraft carried about 200 passengers and crew to the Golden Gate and took nearly 15.5 hours to cover the distance. According to airline sources, over 2,000 gallons of fuel were saved during the flight by employing newly-developed techniques and flight-management options.

Emirates now flies to 5 cities in the US so far, but going by their track record, they will be intensely looking at adding further destinations in the future. Ugandan travelers to the west coast of the United States now have additional options to travel and can choose connecting points in either Europe or Dubai.

KINGโ€™S SELECTION TO BE REPEATED
News broke earlier in the week that the selection of a new king by a group of chiefs in the Busoga Kingdom was to be repeated. Reasons cited, following meetings of the chiefs with President Museveni, were the Constitutional Court injunction but probably more important was that the number of chiefs present did not meet the Kingdomโ€™s requirements to legally select a new โ€œKyabazingaโ€ or King. A new date for the process will be announced soon, while government in the meantime clarified that they would not recognize the results of the flawed first round of selection. Several chiefs had boycotted the meeting, while others had walked out of the meeting in protest. Watch this space for more news on this saga.

SHERATON KAMPALA GETS ENERGY AWARD
The Kampala Sheraton Hotel received the โ€œAnnual Energy Management Awardโ€ from the Energy Institute of Uganda earlier in the week, following a further 5.5 percent savings in electricity consumption through the use of best practice and investment in energy-saving measures. As the only ISO-certified company in the hospitality sector in Uganda, the Sheraton had already cut electricity use over the past years, and their latest achievement will go a long way in reducing the hotelโ€™s carbon footprint even further.
Meanwhile the Sheraton has also blitzed the local market with their Christmas and New Year offers, which include room rates of only US$100 per night, inclusive of a full breakfast, use of the Kidepo Spa, and complimentary newspapers.

Sales and marketing director Janet Mzigo is off on maternity leave, and it is understood that both mother and baby are doing well back home in Kenya. She is expected to resume her duties at the Sheraton before Easter 2009. Congrats Janet.

BONANZA FOR PRINT MEDIA
The imminent entry of France Telecomโ€™s Orange brand into the Uganda market has spurred a flurry of PR and marketing activities by existing telecom companies. Massive prices, including cars and even houses, in schemes aimed at rewarding customer loyalty, go along right now with reduced tariffs across the board, all brought to the publicโ€™s attention through full page, four-color adverts in the local newspapers and also in radio station and TV adverts. Hotels and restaurants, too, are using the run up to the holiday season to advertise their special offers for Christmas and New Year, often, however, with misleading prices when in the smallest possible print a mention of โ€œsubject to 18 percent VAT and service chargeโ€ is easily overlooked โ€“ imagine the rude awakening of clients who then have to fork out 20 โ€“ 25 percent more than budgeted for. A little more honesty in advertising may go a long way, especially ahead of the festive season. In any case, it is a welcome revenue bonanza for the print and electronic media who are profiting from the competition over clients.

ORANGE KENYA CHRISTMAS OFFER EXCITES UGANDANS, TOO
The prospect of Orange, the France Telecom mobile brand, extending operations very soon to Uganda has caused excitement, when the company advertised in Kenya the Apple iPhone 3G – the first time a mobile telecoms company has put this phone on the East African market. The company has entered operations with a state-of-the-art 3G network and is expected to launch in Uganda early in the first quarter of 2009, widening the choice of operators in Uganda to 5 overall and hopefully bringing the cost of calls, text messages, and internet usage further down. Uganda presently has MTN, Zain (formerly Celtel), Uganda Telecom, and Warid Telecom operating across the country with fixed and mobile communications.
Orange Uganda has also advertised in the local media that they are seeking business partners across the country that are interested in running franchises and sales outlets. No firm date for the launch has been given yet.

In a related development reported today, Zain โ€“ formerly Celtel – has now added Ghana to their network and has promptly added the new destinations to their โ€œOne Network,โ€ which allows Zain customers to make calls across the African continent at โ€œdomesticโ€ call rates without roaming charges when abroad. Well done to support the Pan African ideals.

KINGDOM HOTELS UGANDA SHOW NO SIGN OF BUILDING
The free gift of land to the hotel company some years ago has still not resulted in any visible building activity on the site, where a leading city primary and demonstration school was hurriedly demolished at the time to make way for the venture. Although earlier in the year a fence was erected around the entire site, no evidence of construction has emerged since then, as neither materials nor site offices were put up. The sad situation also reflects badly on public officials who, at regular intervals, issued statements over the fate of the hotel project whenever the public got restless and demanded, in letters to editors of the leading daily newspapers or in call-in radio shows, that the land be returned. Notably, the company has invested mega millions into Fairmont Hotels Kenya, where a major upgrade and renovation exercise is going on, while ignoring the goodwill of the Ugandan people, from whom the land was taken with nothing in return so far.

A DECADE FOR JACANA
The Jacana Safari Lodge, located at Lake Nyamusingire inside Queen Elizabeth National Park, has just celebrated its 10th anniversary. The ecolodge, owned and managed by GeoLodges Africa, is offering 10 twin-bedroom cabins and a two-bedroom family cottage and is set right on the shores of the crater lake under thick tropical forest canopy. Other lodges in their stable are the Nile Safari Lodge outside Murchisons Falls National Park established in 1993, the award-winning Rain Forest Lodge at Mabira Forest, and the most recently established Silverback Lodge outside Bwindi Gorilla National Park.
Visit www.geolodgesafrica.com for more information.

KENYA SUFFERS FUEL SHORTAGE
Across towns in Kenya, motorists were hard pressed to find available fuel in the face of a growing shortage of the commodity. Earlier in the week, Rwanda imposed rationing of fuel to about 20 liters a day due to insufficient deliveries. Uganda is just emerging from a fuel shortage, but the development in Kenya now renews memories of the crippling fuel shortage which hit the country a year ago over the New Year holiday. Longer transit routes of oil tankers enroute to Mombasa, due to the piracy around the Horn of Africa, have capacity issues with the main pipeline and are suspected of hoarding fuel products, which is the main suspected cause of the shortage, plus panic buying, of course, which takes place whenever rumors begin. This column will monitor the situation and file updated reports as and when news breaks.

NAIROBIโ€™S WILSON AIRPORT NEGLECTED
Air operators, already in argument with the Kenya Airports Authority over the state of the main international airport in Nairobi โ€“ see previous weekโ€™s column about Kenya Airways CEOโ€™s complaints โ€“ are also questioning the KAAโ€™s commitment to the rehabilitation and modernization of the busiest airport in the entire region – Wilson Airport. This column has in the past reported about the woes of air operators based at Wilson and has also periodically mentioned KAAโ€™s commitments towards major work on facilities.

MOU WITH SPAIN SEEKS DIRECT CHARTERS
Kenya has, during the week, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Spanish government allowing charter flights to connect the two countries for tourism purposes. Presently no direct air links exist, although many years ago, Iberia operated scheduled flights between Nairobi and Madrid. Kenya is due to participate in the biggest Spanish tourism fair, FITUR, early in the new year to make further contacts between the Spanish tour operators, aimed to bring more holiday visitors to Kenya.

RWANDA INAUGURATES NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK
The โ€œLand of the Thousand Hills,โ€ as Rwanda is fondly known by her friends around the world, has earlier in the week inaugurated the countryโ€™s largest national park to date. The status of the Nyungwe Forest has been raised to national park to attract more tourist visitors to the area, as Rwanda continues to diversify her tourism products in search of new markets. It is Rwandaโ€™s third national park proper, after the Akagera National Park and the Parc de Volcanoes, the latter best known for gorilla tracking. Nyungwe is said to be home to a large number of chimpanzees and nearly 300 species of birds, although it is expected that this number is set to rise when further research is carried out

Deputy CEO of the Rwanda Development Board and former head of ORTPN, Mrs. Rosette Rugamba, also reiterated Rwandaโ€™s agreement with Dubai World to build a five-star, eco-friendly lodge at Nyungwe, which is expected to be ready by mid-2009. She invited other investors in the tourism and hospitality sector to Rwanda and also revealed a partnership agreement with Burundi, into which the forest extends and where it is known as โ€œKibira Forest.โ€ Burundi, as recently reported in this column, is also set to restart tourism to the country, and cooperation with Rwanda, in particular, for this border-transcending ecosystem will go a long way to set Burundi on the road to success.
It was also revealed during the formal function that a new College for Conservation and Environmental Management will be started in the area, supported by the American government and the McArthur Foundation. The college will offer research and study opportunities in particular for the Albertine rift countries of which both Rwanda and Burundi are part.

USAID, in the meantime, has already embarked in supporting community tourism projects to the Nyungwe area in a further effort to integrate the neighboring communities into the economic aspects of tourism, aimed to reduce poverty and create livelihoods.

PATIENCE RUNS OUT WITH REBEL DELAYING TACTICS
News broke last weekend that Ugandan army units, SPLA troops, and apparently even Congolese units, are now attacking the LRA rebel bases deep inside Congo. For months on end now, the rebel chiefs tried to delay talks, stood up international envoys, issued more outrageous demands, and missed one meeting and signing ceremony after the other, all with apparently no sanctions or repercussions at all, while living off allowances provided by countries supporting the peace process, which was ongoing since the middle of 2006.

The LRA has been terrorizing the Northern Ugandan population for over 15 years and has become notorious for abducting thousands of young boys and girls, turning them into rebels and sex slaves and also for cruelties like cutting victimsโ€™ noses, lips, and ears off as โ€œpunishment.โ€ Several major massacres are also laid on the rebels, in which hundreds of innocent villagers were burnt and butchered. Some of their most inhumane acts were:

– Atiak in April 1995, where over 250 civilians were massacred in cold blood.
– The abducting of over 100 girls in Lalwa in Kaberamaido for use as sex slaves.
– The Barlonyo massacre, which took place on February 21 and in which over 400 were killed.
– Pabbo IDP killings spread over several months in 2004, where about 5,500 residents were killed and in some cases bodies cooked to instill fear among the populace.
– The storming of St. Maryโ€™s College in Aboke, Apac district on October 10, 1996 from where 139 girls were taken captive and later 109 released.

Subsequent to these and numerous other atrocities, their entire leadership came under indictment by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and are wanted for trial, although going by experience, with their stubbornness it seems more likely that they are now facing the same fate as Savimbi and his goons in Angola, who could also not lay down arms and live in peace with the rest of their fellow countrymen and countrywomen.

Patience in Uganda and Southern Sudan has finally run out with the key players in the equation โ€“ both the mediators, as well as Uganda and Southern Sudan. No longer are the rebelsโ€™ militarily off limits, as was the case during the sham peace talks, but a combined force is now hunting for them, reportedly supported by the Ugandan air force, airborne units, and helicopter gun ships. Military action started last Sunday around mid-day and is said to be ongoing, although the main rebel camp was destroyed in the first wave of attacks.

The Khartoum regime, meanwhile, was warned not to stir up any trouble, as they were long suspected to have given sanctuary and support to the rebels (prior to signing a peace agreement themselves with the SPLM for the Southern Sudan), before military pressure forced the rebels then to withdraw into Congo โ€“ first the Garamba National Park, where they decimated wildlife to sell rhino horns and ivory, and then to bases further away near the border with the Central African Republic.

Khartoum has in recent weeks been massing troops in South Kordofan, near the demarcation line with the south, by their own reasons given, to prevent an imagined rebel attack from Darfur, which is generally perceived to be a far-fetched excuse for adding unilaterally more troops into the volatile area near Abyei, an oil-rich state claimed by the south, disputed by Khartoum, and a hotspot in relations between the south and the regime in the north. However, in view of the latest military action against the LRA, there may well be an ulterior motive behind these maneuvers.

It is hoped that the ongoing military action will be swift and decisive and either catch and deliver the rebels to the ICC in The Hague, or else solve the problem with military means. It also appears that the regime in Kinshasa has, albeit reluctantly, given permission for both SPLA and UPDF units to cross into Congo in pursuit of the rebels, which lends credibility to the military action.

Public opinion during the week was overwhelmingly in favor of the military action, except for the few isolated voices of known rebel supporters. The two campsโ€™ peace negotiation, and also the mediator teams in Juba, have packed up their things and taken an early Christmas break, leaving several hotels in Southern Sudanโ€™s capital city suddenly with empty rooms. None of the hotels reportedly have any provisional bookings for their clients to return on a later date, which in itself is quite revealing. Watch this space for updates.

WORRIES SPREAD IN SOUTHERN SUDAN ABOUT MILITARY ACTION
Reports from Juba indicate a rising level of concern about isolated LRA gangs causing havoc in southern Sudan now, as they have done in the past, whenever the ditched peace negotiations were not going their way. The Ugandan rebels, however, have so far refrained from engaging directly with the SPLA, probably knowing their fierce response and fighting tactics, which prior to the CPA, held the Khartoum regime at armโ€™s length.
With the SPLA, however, now pursuing the rebels jointly with the Ugandan UPDF and Congolese units, fear has been rising that villages, trading posts, and small towns may be targeted by the rebels to get supplies and abduct young boys and girls and press them into service. Security patrols and aerial surveillance has been stepped up to counter any rebel efforts to either cross into southern Sudan from their hideouts in Congo or have other rebels inside the southern Sudan go active. A higher state of alert has been enforced across the border areas with the Congo, and reinforcements are said to be deployed. Hotel occupancies in Juba are not said to have substantially dropped, however, besides the negotiating and media teams now gradually vacating their rooms and facilities.

SOMALIA PIRACY UPDATE
The UN has extended the mandate of coalition naval forces operating around the Horn of Africa to permit them hot pursuit on land, which may include attacking the piratesโ€™ land bases with troops and also airborne strikes.
Kenya has, in the meantime, also announced that their navy and air force will attack pirate boats found inside Kenyan territorial waters, which extend 200 miles offshore. It was said that boats belonging to pirates will be sunk by Kenyan military sources.

The Chinese government has, according to latest reports, also dispatched some naval units to join a large multinational coalition near Somalia, and as numbers of navy ships and personnel grow, it will become more difficult for pirates to hijack ships, especially now that their land bases are no longer off limits.

It was also learned that cruise ships, in particular, will be closely watched and shadowed by naval units to prevent any attempt to hijack them. Many cruise liners traditionally come through the Suez Canal and then enter the Indian Ocean for port calls at the Seychelles, Mombasa, and Zanzibar, having to pass off the Somali coast when either leaving or entering the Red Sea. Watch this space for updates.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

IN MEMORIAM โ€˜NETA PEALโ€™

IN MEMORIAM โ€˜NETA PEALโ€™
No sooner had last weekโ€™s edition gone to press, did news reach me of the passing of an old friend from my Mombasa days, and someone I owed a great deal to โ€“ her work inspired me to take up writing myself. Neta Peal, a โ€˜fixtureโ€™ in Mombasa in post independence days and, in fact, until the time of her passing last week, was for decades the journalistic face of the coastโ€™s tourism sector. I met her first when I came to Mombasa, and besides her regular articles in national dailies, various coastal weeklies, and later on in the โ€˜Coast Week,โ€™ she used to do successful PR work for hotel and safari companies, including the one I used to work for in those days.

For ages, she used to drive an old beaten up Fiat 127, and many a company and individuals periodically contributed to have the vehicle fixed up again, as her income never was enough to cover all those extra and unbudgeted expenses, leave alone to buy a new car โ€“ she simply loved that old thing as we all loved her for her bubbly spirit and her warm, friendly personality.

At one time, while serving as a committee member for the Mombasa and Coast Tourism Association MCTA, I learned that she was doing MCTAโ€™s PR work for free, a service she also extended to the Skal Club of Mombasa for a long time in her desire to make a difference. And what a difference she made over those years โ€“ if Neta had not been there, one surely would have had to invent her.

Together with the then MCTA chair, Lorna Hayes, she was never afraid to speak up on controversial issues, in particular matters impacting on the tourism industry, and many a politician harbored grudges against her and, as far as I recall, even threatened her when her articles put a thorn into the sore side of misleading politicians and do-nothing municipal council members.

Yet, Neta always put her perspective and her own interpretation to things, and her truthful articles all stood the test of time.

I recall one particular incident, when Neta had joined me and my wife Esther (who was expecting our first child at the time) on a charter flight from Kilimanjaro Buffalo Lodge just outside Amboseli after a Skal Club of Mombasa social weekend, for which we had offered her a seat in the small Cessna 186. Just after becoming airborne, the plane lost power โ€“ we later on learned it was too hot at the time – and the instructor pilot miraculously brought the plane down on the strip again from some 15 feet up and evaded the rocks at the end of the strip by diving into the โ€˜bushโ€™ where we came to a full stop not more than a foot from a tree. As we got out of the plane to stagger back to the lodge, the late John Arkle came running along with some others, all glad to see us unhurt. Neta and I downed, in quick succession, some glasses of brandy at the bar, while the pilot inspected the plane and brought it back to the parking area, not a scratch on it either. And then, undeterred, Neta declared that the drinks had steadied her enough to start getting back home and so we did, although we split ourselves and the bags into two planes – Esther and I in the Cessna, and Neta and the bags in a Seneca, which was passing through to drop off a passenger. As the story is told, we all made it back to Mombasa safely, of course, and this was the beginning of a fast friendship which spanned decades.

It is one of the unforgettable stories I remember her for, never one to give up in the face of adversity and ever ready to meet another challenge, just as soon as she had dispatched of a previous one.

I use my column to express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the late Neta Peal, a good soul sorely missed and a reminder just how fast time runs through our hands.

BAD NEWS FOR EAST AFRICAN B787 CUSTOMERS
Boeing at last owned up to their mounting problems by shifting the dates for the first test flights of their new aircraft into the second quarter of 2009, which will undoubtedly delay deliveries yet further for Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines. The first test flights are now probably commencing in late May 2009, although, going by Boeingโ€™s recent track record, this remains to be seen, until it actually happens. Both carriers have a substantial number of the โ€˜Dreamlinersโ€™ on order, which were supposed to replace their ageing B767 fleets while offering greater capacities for passengers and cargo, as well as better flight economics.

It is understood from sources at both airlines that they are negotiating, not only penalties for the late deliveries with Boeing, but are also exploring the interim use of other aircraft to fill the inevitable gap which the late deliveries will leave in routes and fleet-expansion plans.

Meanwhile, launch customers ANA of Japan and Jetstar of Australia reportedly expect their first deliveries as late as 2011, which might be indicative of when โ€˜lesserโ€™ customers can receive their first โ€˜Dreamliner turned nightmare.โ€™ General problems within the Boeing supply chain, more recent problems with โ€˜fasteners,โ€™ and a nearly two-month-long strike at Boeing added to the earlier woes for the aircraft made largely of composite materials to save weight and reduce fuel burn. Watch this space for updates.

CHOBI LODGE RECONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Information received from the Madhvani Group, owners of the countryโ€™s most prestigious safari lodges – Mweya (Queen Elizabeth National Park) and Paraa (Murchisons Falls National Park) – indicates that construction of the Chobi Lodge in the upper part of Murchisons Falls National Park, above the Nile falls, is a little behind schedule due to adverse weather conditions over the past few months, which impacted on construction work. Soft opening of the reconstructed fishing lodge on the river Nile may now take place some time in June or July 2009 (instead of April), after which the lodge is expected to become, once again, a magnet for fishing aficionados attending competitions or for simply enjoying the riverโ€™s first-class sport fishing.

Meanwhile, the group has also commissioned a 20 MW private power plant at their main Kakira Estate (between Jinja and the border with Kenya), fired by biomass leftover when producing sugar. Ugandaโ€™s leading sugar company is selling some 12 MW into the national grid and still covers all of their own electricity and power needs from this internal source. Notably, it was President Museveni who commissioned the power plant, and he is also anticipated to eventually open the new lodge when it is complete.

The Madhvanisโ€™ are one of Ugandaโ€™s most prominent families of Asian origin and renowned for their generous scholarship schemes allowing Ugandan students to complete primary, secondary, and university education free of cost, once selected for their talent and skills. Unlike the Mehta sugar barons, who have discredited themselves in recent years over a scheme to erase nearly 8,000 hectares of the Mabira tropical rainforest in favor of expanding their sugarcane fields, the Madhvani Group has engaged in better environmental practices and brought outgrowers on board to fuel their expansion, an option the Mehtas rejected over cost arguments.

OPPOSITION BLAMES GOVERNMENT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGES
In a hard-hitting statement last week during an environmental forum at Hotel Equatoria in Kampala, the leader of the opposition in parliament blamed the government for environmental damages and degradation. Other opposition MPโ€™s joined the chorus while the national association of professional environmentalists cited statistics, showing the reduction of forest cover since independence from 44 percent or over 106,000 square kilometers to now only 18.4 percent or just over 43,000 square kilometers. The full article can be found on the website of Ugandaโ€™s leading daily newspaper, The New Vision, via http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/663820 .

PIPELINE RECONSTRUCTION TO EXTEND TO ELDORET
A month after commissioning the pipeline extension between Mombasa and Nairobi, the tender for the second part of the expansion project was awarded to one of the bidding companies. The main contractor is again the Chinese company, China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau, and work will commence just as soon as all documents are signed and sealed. The expansion will eventually bring relief to Uganda and the African hinterland nations, depending on fuel imports from Mombasa, as the construction of the Eldoret to Kampala pipeline will then be adding a โ€˜newโ€™ supply route and substantially reducing the transportation cost of fuel in Uganda.

UGANDAN TOURISM INDUSTRY FEARS FOR MARKET SHARE
The tourism fraternity in Uganda seems at last to have woken up to the stark reality of the global economic crisis, which this column predicted months ago would affect the countryโ€™s traditional exports like fish and flowers but also force market changes for tourism in view of the economic woes in the main โ€˜producer marketsโ€™ of North America and Europe. As the crisis also extends to the tiger states in the Far and South East, including India and China, those emerging new markets, too, are now suffering from having to tighten their belts, and holidays and travel will slip down the list of priorities of potential tourists.

The Uganda Tourist Boardโ€™s marketing manager Edwin Muzahura urged the government to support tourism and believes that the missing support would further dent chances of marketing Uganda. โ€œThe private sector has been trying their best, but without government support, we are not going to move.โ€ Yet, government has a dismal record in financially supporting the Uganda Tourist Board, and the Ministry of Tourism, Trade, and Industry has a lesser budget for the present financial year compared with the 2007/8 period. The potential financing mechanism for the tourist board through the tourism development fund levy is also hanging in the balance, as the provisions of the tourism law have not been made operational yet – more than half a year since President Museveni assented to the law. The restructuring demanded by the same law for the tourist board has also hit a snail’s pace, giving little hope to the sector that things will fundamentally change in this time of need.

Mr. Leopold King, reportedly the manager of the Gorilla Forest Camp inside Bwindi National Park at Buhoma, is reported to have said in the New Vision, that Uganda would be affected in a big way because the country is overly dependant on the US and European market, which were hardest hit by the credit crunch. โ€œTourism is a luxury. Already there are a lot of cancellations of bookings,โ€ he said.

King said October is usually a good month for Uganda, but this year, the number was just slightly above half of the bookings, and he expects the situation to worsen.

AIR UGANDA TO LET GO OF ZANZIBAR?
The latest aviation talk in town is that the only recently-started route from Entebbe to Zanzibar might soon be a thing of the past, due to low passenger numbers. The airlineโ€™s former Italian commercial director, since then, of course, relieved of his duties as reported in this column, apparently believed some of the travel agencies in town who said they โ€˜would fill the plane,โ€™ but none of them actually committed money for seats other than the few lonely passengers booked for a weekend on the island, who could be convinced by them not to fly with Kenya Airways via Nairobi or with Precision Air or Air Tanzania via Dar es Salaam. Sadly, should the development become reality, it will reduce the choice for travelers from Entebbe once again. However, some culpability is attributed to the senseless Visa regime, which requires duly-registered residents across Eastern Africa to obtain expensive Visas โ€“ at US$50 per person โ€“ when traveling to any of the other East African nations for a holiday – just the same as overseas visitors. This makes โ€˜home madeโ€™ holidays in Eastern Africa more expensive than they should be, and this has, in the past, diverted traffic to the UAE or Southern Africa, where most of the expatriate community residents in East Africa do not require any Visa at all. It is high time that the endless talk about integrating East Africa further shows some tangible results for travelers from within the region, like dropping Visa requirements for duly-registered expatriatesโ€™ resident within the East African community.

COMPLAINTS MOUNT OVER FUEL PRICES
Inspite of a reduction of petrol prices in Kenya by well over the equivalent of 350 UShs, no such move was made by the fuel companies in Uganda. The oligopoly is sticking together, citing higher transport cost, reduced loads on fuel tankers, and a weakened Uganda Shilling โ€“ yet the Kenya Shilling, too, has depreciated considerably and in comparable percentages in recent weeks. It was also revealed in public last week that too little fuel is being imported by rail, but change here requires a political decision involving both Kenyan and Ugandan governments and the rail operator, Rift Valley Railways. Meanwhile, the Ugandan public is angered and getting more and more enraged that they continue to pay near-record prices for fuel, while on the global market crude oil now trades at less than a third of their peak.

Oil company executives also continue to peddle misleading information about their โ€˜value chain,โ€™ whose sole purpose seems to be to enrich the companies and shamelessly exploit the general public. Unlike in Kenya, where legislation is going to kick in on this type of profiteering, the Ugandan government has done little to compel fuel companies to pass on the lower purchase prices to the public. It has also transpired that the government-owned fuel reserves have run low and have not been replenished for some time now, preventing a strategic intervention to bring prices down. Watch this space for updates.

MINISTRY ADVERTISES FOR RAILWAY CONSULTANCY
The Ugandan Ministry of Works and Transport has invited tender submissions for consultancy services geared towards the rehabilitation and expansion of the Kampala โ€“ Kasese railway. Regional governments have of late paid more attention to rail transport in view of deteriorating roads and the high cost of transport of goods to and from the main East African ports of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam.

Meanwhile, scaremonger reports were peddled to the local media, and happily reproduced by some of them, over the state of the main bridge across the Nile at the Jinja hydroelectric dam. The โ€˜reportsโ€™ were quoting unspecified sources of having stated that the bridge is โ€˜unsafe and about to collapse.โ€™ Yet, under planned arrangements, a team of consultants and engineers from Japan only arrived last month in the country to carry out a full assessment of the bridgeโ€™s condition and what immediate measures would be needed to expand its lifespan, before โ€“ again with assistance from Japan โ€“ a new bridge is being constructed nearby. Government has also allocated several billion shillings in the current financial year to carry out repairs and strengthening at the bridge, belying the media fiction.

FRANCE TELECOM TO LAUNCH โ€˜ORANGEโ€™ SOON IN UGANDA
The French national telecoms company, which bought into HITS Telecom a few months ago, has given first indication that they are to launch soon in the new year. They are presently sourcing their advertising and marketing agency in Uganda, and going by the Kenyan experience where they launched two months ago with big fanfare and low tariffs, the Ugandan telecoms market is due for a shake up once again. In Kenya, post-paid customers have been offered free Internet access, and if reports are true, Ugandan subscribers can expect free or subsidized handsets, the lowest tariffs in the market, and a range of other goodies. Excellent news, of course, for visitors to Uganda who will soon have wider choices and arguably have to pay a lot less when roaming with their home networks.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF KENYA ON CELEBRATING THEIR INDEPENDENCE DAY ON DECEMBER 12 โ€“ IT HAS BEEN A LONG ROAD SINCE 1963.

KENYA โ€“ US FLIGHTS SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS
The American ambassador to Kenya, during the week, addressed members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Nairobi. In his address, he raised matters related to starting air traffic between the US and Kenya and called for a speedy implementation of inspections and improvements in aviation security. What, however, raised some concerns – as flagged to this correspondent – was the envoyโ€™s inclusion of other unrelated matters like Kenya having to drop their demand for the use of the International Standardization Mark, which has nothing to do with questions on air transport. Said one attendee in an email regarding the lunch: “Let the Americans not raise the threshold again for starting air transport between the two countries. I appreciate there are technical issues to be resolved like the Category One rating by the American FAA, but there it has to stop. The ambassador should not try to mix all the other things America has been pushing us for and not link one with the other and, for all purposes, threaten that one thing will not happen if Kenya will not concede on other areas. Is he a diplomat or a dictator of terms?” Oops.

KENYA AIRWAYS BLAMES AIRPORT FOR WOES
The chief executive of Kenya Airways delivered a fitting Christmas gift to the Kenya Airports Authority when he launched a blistering attack on them for their inefficiencies and congestion at Nairobiโ€™s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The blame game emerged at the launch of passenger busses, which the airline had to introduce themselves to carry passengers to aircraft parked on the apron, as the airport operator was obviously unable or unwilling to provide such services to their clients (the airlines), except, of course, at a cost. The Kenya Airports Authority and KQ had run-ins before, mostly over the state of aerodrome runways like in Kisumu, to which the airline had, in the past, suspended flights over safety concerns, as well as at the Lamu aerodrome. There were also complaints over botched procurement procedures when planning for the expansion at Nairobiโ€™s international airport, but KAA has shown little concern over such complaints by their main users or the public at large.

KAA reacted by placing adverts for tenders to expand passenger facilities at the airport, including terminal space and additional parking areas, but this will take years to be accomplished, going by present experience with the modernization and expansion of the airport.

Mr. Naikuni also confirmed that the airline would receive two new aircraft, one before the end of the year and the second before Easter 2009, but he was cautious with his remarks over the delays for the Boeing 787 deliveries, other than confirming ongoing โ€˜discussions.โ€™

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA ON THEIR 47TH INDEPENDENCE DAY, WHICH WAS CELEBRATED EARLIER IN THE WEEK.

SAUTI ZA BUSARA MUSIC FESTIVAL JUST TWO MONTHS AWAY
The sixth edition of the annual Sauti za Busara music festival in Zanzibar is now only a few weeks away, taking place between February 12-17, 2009 on the island of Zanzibar. The โ€˜Sounds of Wisdomโ€™ festival will this year feature such eminent groups, performers, and artists as Samba Mapangala & Orchestre Virunga (DRC/Kenya), Natacha Atlas (Egypt/UK), Msondo Ngoma Band (Tanzania), Oudaden (Morocco), Nawal (Comoros/France), Culture Musical Club (Zanzibar), Khethi with Kibo Sounds (South Africa/Tanzania), The Moreira Project (South Africa), Comrade Fatso and Chabvondoka (Zimbabwe), Bi Kidude (Zanzibar), TY (UK), Carola Kinasha & Shada (Tanzania), Jagwa Music (Tanzania), Jangโ€™ombe Nursery School (Zanzibar), Joh Makini (Tanzania), Elemotho (Namibia), Mamillion (South Africa), Segere Original (Tanzania), Katapila โ€˜Sangulaโ€™ Ngoma (Tanzania), Sansa Troupe (Uganda), Best of WaPi (Pan Africa), Mohamed Ilyas & Nyota Zameremeta (Zanzibar), Iddi Achien’g (Kenya), Rachel Magoola (Uganda), Wahapahapa Band (Tanzania), Omega Bugembe Okello (Uganda/USA), Mutinda (Kenya), Safar (Zanzibar), Kiumbizi (Pemba), Zinduka Ngoma (Zanzibar), Tarbia (Zanzibar), Zimamoto (Zanzibar), DJ Side (Zanzibar), DJ Yusuf (UK/Zanzibar), and more to be announced closer to the event.

Entrance to the event is again free of charge from 4:00 pm until sunset, whereafter passes and tickets will be required by visitors. For more information, write to [email protected] or visit their website for news updates at www.busaramusic.org .

Visitors to the festival are advised to book their flights and hotels as soon as possible to avoid disappointment, as the festival normally attracts โ€˜full houseโ€™ signs all over Zanzibar.

RWANDAIR NEWS UPDATE
Earlier in the week, Rwandair gave further indications of their future plans for route and fleet developments in coming months and years. Plans were revealed that the airline is looking at new destinations like Dar es Salaam and Mwanza in Tanzania, Lusaka/Zambia, and Addis Ababa, besides considering Kinshasa in the DR Congo. The airline presently operates a leased B737-500, a CRJ 100ER, and a โ€˜Dash 8โ€™ turboprop but intends to acquire additional suitable aircraft to commence flights on their planned new routes. It was also announced that Rwandair has now passed the IATA operational safety audit and has been certified as an IOSA-compliant carrier.

No news, however, could be confirmed on the status of their discussions with a strategic investor, leaving this correspondent to conclude that they are either in their final stage or have gone nowhere. Watch this space as news emerges.

Meanwhile, it was also learned that the Rwandan government has signed a contract with a British consultancy firm to develop plans for the redesigning of the international airport, which is part of a masterplan development for major infrastructural projects. The final agreed designs should become available by early 2010.

PRIVATE SECTOR ALLIANCE TO TRAIN TOURISM ADMINISTRATORS
The Rwandan Private Sector Foundation, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Office for Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN) – which is now part of the Rwanda Development Board – have joined hands to commence a โ€˜train the trainerโ€™ program for tourism disciplines, aimed at strengthening the human resource component in the sector and making the destination more competitive through better trained personnel. Technical assistance is given by a German-based consultancy firm associated with the Cologne Business School. Watch this space for updates.

ETHIOPIA PERMITS TOURIST VISITORS TO SEE ELEPHANT HERDS
A news flash from Addis Ababa confirmed that the country is now gradually allowing tourists to see their remaining elephant herds at the Babile Wildlife Reserve located nearly 600 KM east of the capital city. Elephant populations in the past suffered from poaching and declining ecosystems from which they could sufficiently feed and reproduce. Reportedly, some 300 elephants are presently found in and near the reserve, and the herds, plus other wildlife, of course, can be visited under packaged-tour arrangements made in Addis Ababa from licensed safari operators.

And as usual the weekly tourism news update from Livingstone/Zambia by Gill Staden, who has once again produced some great stuff. Visit the new tourism website www.victoriafallszambia.travel for regular news and updates on the destination, including a guide for hotels, lodges, inns, guest houses, and, of course, information on where to go and what to do – not to be missed by any visitors to Zambia in general and Livingstone in particular.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

AIRLINES BAG TOP BUSINESS AWARDS

AIRLINES BAG TOP BUSINESS AWARDS
The annual PriceWaterHouseCoopers-sponsored, regional, โ€˜most respected company awardsโ€™ yielded some interesting results this year, as both Kenya Airways and their Tanzanian partner airline, Precision Air, bagged top honors. Kenya Airways came second overall in Kenya, a remarkable comeback and vote of confidence by regional CEOs in spite of a hard year for the aviation sector, and Precision took the top honors in Tanzania as most respected company. The collective vote by CEOs sampled from across the region underscores just how highly rated the business model of Precision Air is in the region. Well done to the Pride of Africa and to Precision Air.

Most-respected, Ugandan company was telecoms giant MTN, while in Kenya it was telecoms industry leader, Safaricom.

SKYNET OBTAINS KEY CAA CERTIFICATIONS
It was just learned that Skyjetโ€™s aircraft has been registered by the CAA in Entebbe, now carrying the registration 5X โ€“ SKA. A โ€˜C of Aโ€™ โ€“ or certificate of airworthiness โ€“ has been issued, clearing one of the last hurdles for the airline before going operational.

The now mandatory โ€˜test flights,โ€™ required by the CAA for new applicants to obtain an AOC, or air operator certificate, will be carried out within days now and should then be followed by the formal announcement of their operations launch. Handling agents in Entebbe, Juba, and Khartoum have already been selected, and the airlineโ€™s offices in Entebbe are receiving their final touches before opening the doors to the traveling public. Happy Landings.

ETHIOPIAN ANNOUNCES MORE CODESHARED FLIGHTS WITH LUFTHANSA
A contact at the airlineโ€™s Kampala office has confirmed that Lufthansa has signed an extended codeshare agreement with Ethiopian Airlines. Travelers from Frankfurt can now travel on Lufthansa tickets via Addis Ababa to Entebbe (daily flights) and also to Nairobi, Kigali, Kilimanjaro (Arusha), Dar es Salaam, and Zanzibar. This will undoubtedly assist ticket sales in Germany to those destinations on scheduled flights and will in particular benefit Entebbe, which has not seen a Lufthansa flight number on the arrival and departure board for over three and a half decades โ€“ other than an occasional cargo flight.

In turn, Ethiopian can now sell additional Lufthansa destinations on their own tickets as code-shared flights, like Stockholm, Geneva, and Amsterdam within the European network and San Francisco and Los Angeles on their long-haul network.

BWINDI CELEBRATES ANOTHER GORILLA TWIN BIRTH
Uganda Wildlife Authority has released information about the birth of twin gorilla babies a few weeks ago at Bwindi Gorilla National Park. The newborns are part of the Nkuringo gorilla group, whose dominant male had passed away earlier in the year before a new โ€˜silverbackโ€™ emerged as undisputed leader. The group is reportedly being monitored by veterinary staff of UWA to ensure the well-being of the gorilla babies and to assist them as much as possible to see them through maturity in a few year’s time.

UWA EXTENDS BID DEADLINE
The Uganda Wildlife Authority has extended the bid deadline for proposals by investors for recently-advertised opportunities in national parks to December 17, 2008 at 11:00 am, and the formal opening of bids will then take place half an hour later in the UWA board room. Contact [email protected] for more information or visit www.uwa.or.ug .

SIMBA TRAVELCARE ADVERTISES โ€˜HONEST FARESโ€™
In a remarkable departure from industry-wide practice, Declan Peppardโ€™s Simba TravelCare has offered all-inclusive, holiday-season fares to Europe and North America. Airlines in the region are notorious for advertising misleading fares on top of which unsuspecting travelers then have to add a variety of airport taxes, fuel surcharges, and other creative inventions, making the ultimate price for the tickets often substantially more expensive than initially โ€˜advertised.โ€™ The EU has now banned such deplorable behavior, and it is hoped that across Eastern Africa, too, common sense prevails eventually before the matter ends up in consumer courts for misleading advertising.
Even with all the charges included in the fares, Simba TravelCare is offering excellent deals, valid for the period from the December 13 with the return journey at the latest by March 31, 2009.

Thank you for the honesty, and hopefully the airlines and others will now stop misleading the general public when advertising fares.

EMIRATES STARTS A380 FLIGHTS TO LONDON
The airlineโ€™s Kampala office has confirmed that effective immediately they will be using one of their new A380 aircraft for flights to London Heathrow. The airline is flying several times a day from Dubai to the UK, but travelers will be trying to get their booking on the new giant aircraft to sample the inflight service and comforts. Emirates connects Entebbe daily with Dubai, via Addis Ababa, offering one of the broadest ranges of connections available to Ugandans.

CAA INVITES TENDERS FOR AERODOMES WORK
The Civil Aviation Authority has advertised regravelling work at Kidepo Valley National Park airfield, the Tororo airfield, and the Jinja airfield, all of which are owned and operated by the CAA. The work, once completed, will be welcomed by the aviation fraternity, as it will improve operational safety for planes landing and taking off from those facilities. Tender awards are expected in early 2009, whereafter works should start by mid-2009.

THAI POLITICAL SITUATION AIDING EAST AFRICAN TOURISM RECOVERY
Conversations held with leading hotel operators in Mombasa would indicate a strong and growing demand for beach holidays in Kenya, probably accelerated by the political turmoil in Thailand, which saw up to 300,000 passengers stranded in and around Bangkok and elsewhere in the country. Understandably, major tour operators in Europe have stepped on the brakes before sending more tourists to the country torn up by strikes and protests, and the latest High Court decision dissolving the ruling party โ€“ by some accounts a politically-inspired verdict โ€“ will not help restore confidence in the destination anytime soon. While thousands of protestors continue to block the two main airports in Bangkok, in contrast the airports in Nairobi and Mombasa are continuing to operate without interruption, and the forthcoming Christmas season is, therefore, expected to be a sellout across the Indian Ocean beaches of Eastern Africa, i.e., Kenya, Tanzania, and Zanzibar.

As Thailand benefitted from the political troubles of Kenya earlier in the year, so it is now the turn of others to provide safe holidays for the sun seekers from Europe and elsewhere.

SHELL KENYA LOWERS FUEL PRICES
Following intense pressure from the Kenyan public and under threat by the Kenyan government to introduce legislation in January against profiteering and overcharging by fuel companies, Shell Kenya earlier in the week lowered their pump prices by 15 Kenya Shillings or the equivalent of about 350 Uganda Shillings. However, in Uganda prices continue to remain as high as during the peak of crude prices; by public opinion, a shameless exploitation of motorists in a near monopolistic market. Aviation fuel prices also remain high in both Entebbe and Kajjansi, a mindboggling situation considering the drop of crude oil prices to around US$50 a barrel, a mere third of its former peak earlier in the year.

NEW TERMINAL FOR SHARJAH
The home airport of Air Arabia has announced plans to add another terminal building to the airport to cater to the sharp growth of passengers traveling to, from, and via Sharjah. This will be good news for Air Arabia passengers from East Africa, where the airline presently flies several times a week to Nairobi. While construction may take a while, the new facility is, according to sources close to the Air Arabia office in Nairobi, likely to be open before Sharjah reaches its present capacity limits, expected to happen early in the next decade.

Air Arabia flights have taken the Kenyan market by storm in view of their value for money fares, and traffic in both directions is reportedly ahead of budget on the route – no wonder with fares starting at US$286 return plus, of course, the hidden charges, which few airlines or travel agents dare to openly reveal.

TANZANIAโ€™S MAFIA ISLAND AIRPORT COMPLETES UPGRADE
The year-long rehabilitation of the islandโ€™s main aerodrome has been completed, and the nearly 1.7 km-long runway has been strengthened and resurfaced to cater for larger aircraft. Commonly used are ATR turboprops, but even small jets are now able to land and take off safely from Mafia, giving a boost to tourism and trade between the island and the mainland. Before the work, Mafiaโ€™s aerodrome was only able to operate safely during the dry season but faced operating restrictions during the long rains, even during and after heavy downpours.

The work was part of Tanzaniaโ€™s ongoing effort to upgrade the countryโ€™s aviation infrastructure to boost connections across the country and promote increased use of air transport. Tarmacking and lengthening of the field is foreseen in the next phase of works, which would then allow the use of commercial jets.

EGYPTAIR PONDERS RETURN TO DAR
Several years after dropping their single weekly flight to Tanzania due to economic reasons at the time, Egypt Air is now said to plan their return to this Eastern African nation by the middle of 2009. The airline is looking at 4 flights per week on brand new B737-800 equipment, while previously they only operated one flight per week, which made using the airline less attractive for travelers.

The 144-seater Boeing aircraft will offer 120 seats in economy class and 24 seats in business class, and flight schedules will be timed to allow for prompt onward connections in Cairo in both directions.

RWANDAโ€™S VENERABLE GORILLA โ€˜KINGโ€™ DIES
News emerged last weekend of the passing of the dominant โ€˜silverbackโ€™ male gorilla of the โ€˜Shindaโ€™ group, reportedly aged over 30 years, due to ill health. Sources from ORTPN confirmed that there was no foul play suspected as the ageing gorilla chief had been suffering from ill health for a while before succumbing. The animal, owing to its strength and utter domination of his extensive family, was often dubbed โ€˜kingโ€™ amongst game rangers. It was also reported that a new dominant males have already emerged within the gorilla family structure.

TOURISM FUTURE BRIGHT FOR RWANDA
Projections published in the Rwandan media paint a rosy picture for the countryโ€™s booming tourism sector. With new hotels and meeting facilities being built by such investors like Dubai World, the promotion of such new assets will also be assured, hand in hand with a very proactive ORTPN, now under the auspices of the Rwanda Development Board. ORTPN expects earnings to top some US$150 million this year alone, and the new focus on meetings, conventions, and exhibitions could add a further US$40 million in earnings by 2012. ORTPN will also spend further funds on creating MICE promotional tools in the coming months, underscoring their commitment to promote tourism with determination.

Wolfgang’s East Africa Tourism Report

OXFAM UK RELEASES CLIMATE REPORT

OXFAM UK RELEASES CLIMATE REPORT
Oxfam, an internationally acclaimed NGO, in conjunction with the Kasese district council, has last week released a detailed study on climate change, as experienced in the Rwenzori region of Uganda. The report deals with such issues as degradation of the environment, caused by human activities and changes in the regional climatic conditions. In conclusion the report called upon the developed nations, Russia, India and China to compensate developing countries for the disproportionate carbon emissions produced by them, which were identified as a major cause of climate change in Africa to the detriment of African populations, whose own โ€œcontributions: towards global warming in comparison with industrialized and industrializing nations are โ€œminute.โ€

FUEL COMPANIES DIAL BACK PRICES
Following sustained complaints from the business community and consumers, fuel companies have slowly โ€“ some in fact say reluctantly โ€“ started to reduce their record prices at the pumps, which had rocketed when global crude oil prices touched the US$150 per barrel. Meanwhile however these prices have reduced by over US$40 per barrel but consumers continued to pay a high price, filling the pockets of the fuel companies. The volatility in recent days in the global crude oil trade however is something to watch out for in coming weeks, and is certainly going to be a factor for fuel companies to drag their feet in making further reductions in the cost of aviation fuel, petrol and diesel in Uganda. Again, no comments were received from several fuel companies contacted by the time of going to press.

UMA INTERNATIONAL SHOW FOR OCTOBER 06 โ€“ 13
The annual international trade show, hosted by the Uganda Manufacturers Association at their Lugogo show ground, will kick off in a weekโ€™s time. Over 850 exhibitors from 31 countries are expected to showcase their products and services and more than 170,000 visitors are expected to come to the show ground during the exhibition days. The information was revealed during a briefing by UMAโ€™s Executive Director Gideon Badagawa for members of the Diplomatic Corps and business leaders.

KENYA AIRWAYS ENGINEERS ON STRIKE
The go-slow strike action by KQโ€™s engineering staff is now taking its toll, with flights being consolidated or even cancelled due to aircraft not coming out of maintenance fast enough or being signed back into service by engineering staff. The staff in question, as presented by their union, is demanding salary and benefit increases of some 400 percent, besides other work related demands, something the airline is unlikely to afford in view of the global upheavals in the aviation industry, which has also affected Kenyaโ€™s aviation sector.

Sources in Nairobi close to this correspondent are also suggesting that [in their own words] โ€œvultures,โ€ i.e. recruiters from airlines in the Gulf region, are already circulating in Nairobi with the aim of luring some of the engineering staff with better offers to join Gulf based airlines, most of which are on a massive expansion course, requiring more trained engineering staff for their fast expanding fleets of aircraft and the route expansion carriers like Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Air Arabia and others are pursuing at the moment. Watch this space.

KRIEGLER COMMISSION DELIVERS KENYA ELECTION REPORT
Retired South African Justice Kriegler late last week delivered the commission of enquiry report to the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who arbitrated the coalition government power sharing deal after the post election violence rocked the very foundations of Kenyaโ€™s society. The report was also handed over to the Kenyan government, notably President Kibaki. The diplomatic corps in Kenya already pledged to support the implementation of the findings and recommendations made in the report, which includes changes to the electoral laws and a total overhaul of Kenyaโ€™s tainted electoral commission, which was widely blamed for the post election mess. A portion of the report, absolving the electoral commission of rigging at the national tallying centre in Nairobiโ€™s Kenyatta International Conference Centre however also drew criticism from sections of the political spectrum. Church groups and labor unions were equally divided over whether to accept or reject the findings of the commission.

Related reports partly published last week also fingered at least four of the ODM ministers now in cabinet for allegedly having had a hand in the planning of violence, which cost over 1,000 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of innocent Kenyans from their homesteads. One minister from President Kibakiโ€™s PNU was also alleged in those reports to have been behind the subsequent counter violence which spread in reaction to President Kibakiโ€™s Kikuyu tribe being targeted and hunted by the opposition at the time. The formation of a coalition government however has put an end to the violence across the country and efforts are now underway to repatriate the last internally displaced people from their camps to their homes.

GOOD PROGRESS AT MPANDA AIRPORT
Reports reached during the week that work commissioned by the Tanzania Airports Authority to modernize the aerodrome at Mpanda is well on track. The improvements, made by the Tanzanian government under an East African Community scheme to improve aviation infrastructure, is not only aimed to improve connectivity for the local populations but will allow tourists easier access to the nearby national park of Katavi, the Gombe conservation area and other sites near and at Lake Tanganyika. Once work on the aerodrome is completed by early November the runway will then be able to cater for large twin-engined turboprop aircraft like the Bombardier Q300 used by Air Tanzania and ATR 42 and ATR 72 used by Precision Air, paving the way for the introduction of scheduled services.

NEW PARK IN THE MAKING IN RWANDA
The Gishwati Forest Reserve in Western Rwanda is on the way to become a national conservation park, if governmentโ€™s plans materialize to upgrade the status of the forest. Rwanda is partnering with and American NGO supporting the survival of great apes and other international organizations. The forest is home to chimpanzees and upgrading the forestโ€™s status will support Rwandaโ€™s aim to diversify its tourism industry. The project also seeks to restore additional degraded areas of the forest with newly planted indigenous trees. Through related environmental protection effort in recent years these areas have already regrown some 2,500 acres of forest. At one time the forest size stood at over 100,000 hectares but has since reduced to less than a quarter of its original acreage.

RWANDAN TOURISM STUDENTS TO BENEFIT FROM MOU
The Rwanda Tourism University College reportedly signed a Memorandum of Understanding last week with the Mount Kenya University, permitting students from both institutions course credit transfer and study opportunities in specialized courses, not available at one campus but taught at the other. Sadly, the integration of Ugandaโ€™s national Hotel and Tourism Training Institute โ€˜HTTIโ€™ into the new public Busitema University has been delayed due to budgetary constraints, denying Ugandan institutions and students similar opportunities at this stage.

REVENGE RULING DETHRONES MBEKI
A long standing feud and battle for supremacy in South Africanโ€™s ruling ANC has come to a head last weekend, when an ANC party organ convened and after a relatively short discussion decided to demand from President Thabo Mbeki that he resigns. The president was accused of having masterminded the prosecution of ANC party leader Jacob Zuma and it is notable that no formal commission of enquiry was held nor was the president impeached, allowing for due process of the law.

President Mbeki only a week earlier triumphed over his critics of handling the Zimbabwe crisis, when he witnessed a power sharing deal, but even that is now standing on knifeโ€™s edge, as dictatorial Mugabe continues his dirty tricks campaign and is trying to torpedo the agreement he called in recent days โ€œhumiliatingโ€ by making outrageous demands over the composition of the cabinet.

President Mbeki has reportedly agreed to step aside, having lost the confidence of his party and a successor until the next election is due to be elected by parliament in Pretoria, once President Mbeki has formally stood down.

Mbeki had during the last ANC convention tried to be re-elected as party leader for another term of office but lost to Jacob Zuma, who in all likelihood will lead the ANC into the general elections next year and is then expected to take over from an interim president, whoever may succeed Mbeki until the next general elections are due.

It is hoped that the thriving tourism industry in South Africa and the preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2010 will not be affected by the political developments of the past week, as a shaky South Africa would immediately have a profound impact on the entire region and in particular the SADC economic grouping.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

US DOLLAR CONTINUES TO FALL

US DOLLAR CONTINUES TO FALL
The value of the US dollar against the Uganda shilling has now dropped into the 1.550/1.560 bracket although it is understood that Central Bank intervention is now imminent to boost the dollar value once again. Exporters have been complaining bitterly about earning less in shillings, which makes meeting their production cost difficult if not impossible. Only weeks ago the currency still traded in the 1.700+ region and the change is hard to explain, as the US currency did not fall that sharply on the international market during that period. The drop in the dollar value may also have an influence on any safari packages quoted in US currency and would be travelers are well advised to check with their respective tour operators on any imminent changes in quotations. The Ugandan currency over the same period also appreciated notably against the euro, the UK pound, the Swiss franc and the Japanese yen, making visits to Uganda considerably more expensive should the trend not reverse in due course.

Hotels charging guests in US dollar rates are also said to be considering a way out of the situation and maybe express rates in the future in Uganda Shillings, but going by the wild fluctuations in recent years we will probably then see another reversal again some way down the line.

UWA EXTENDS CONCESSION DEADLINE
The Uganda Wildlife Authority has now announced that the deadlines for applications / tenders for two of the recently advertised concessions opportunities were extended to the 11th July this year. One of those still available is for a fishing concession in the Karuma Wildlife Reserve along the river Nile while the other one is for the development and management of a tented camp in the Ntoroko area of the former Tooro WR, now called Semliki Wildlife Reserve. International bids are welcome but require some local assistance to obtain the hard copies of bid documents and to make the required cash payment of the prerequisite fees.

More information can be obtained via [email protected] or by visiting the UWA website at www.uwa.or.ug

KINGDOM HOLDINGS ADDS AIRLINE TO ITS PORTFOLIO
The Saudi Arabian owned company, under which diversified interestsโ€™ also fall Kingdom Hotels โ€“ owners and operators of the prestigious Fairmont and Moevenpick brands โ€“ has now bought into the Saudi kingdomโ€™s first private airline NAS Air, when taking over a 30 percent stake in their mother corporation NAS from Abraaj Capital, also of Saudi Arabia.

NAS Air, first licensed by the Saudi aviation authorities in late 2006, presently has some 5 aircraft operating but expects to have a fleet of at least 18 by 2010. NAS itself is said to have over 150 aircraft on order, most of them thought to be for leasing on to other Gulf carriers and airlines from around the world. No figures were available on the value of the acquisition as yet. Here in Uganda it is hoped, that this will not have a financial impact on their plans to build a luxury hotel in Kampala, where only recently โ€“ after years of waiting โ€“ their 17 acre site was fenced up in preparation for construction.

FALLOUT OF AIR CRASHES CONTINUES GO GROW
News have reached from Juba and Khartoum, that Sudan Airwaysโ€™ licence and AOC were suspended by the Sudanese aviation regulators for initially a month, following the crash of their A310 recently upon landing in Khartoum. While thankfully most of the passengers and crew survived the flaming inferno of the burning plane, some 30 passengers and at least one crew member lost their lives. This means that effective immediately Sudanโ€™s national airline cannot operate a single flight until the end of the suspension, which sources from Khartoum say may in fact be extended, if Sudan Airways cannot satisfy the regulatorsโ€™ directives. There is open speculation over the causes of the suspension but the crash has certainly not helped, if indeed other reasons caused the regulatorโ€™s nearly unprecedented step.

Contacts known to this correspondent within Sudan Airwaysโ€™ circles have politely declined to be drawn into the debate and refused to make any comments.
Meanwhile in Kenya accusations are flying towards the KCAA for having licensed the crash pilot, whose records suddenly are made look dubious by latest revelations in the media and hushed talk within the aviation fraternity at Wilson Airport, how he could have obtained a CPL (commercial pilotโ€™s license) within an apparently very short period of time after completing his initial PPL (private pilotโ€™s license) course. It now appears that, in spite being on VFR operations mode (visual flight rules) the pilot was flying through thick clouds on the fateful day which is not permitted under VFR and air traffic control hence did not communicate as extensively with the pilot as would otherwise be the case under IFR operations. It could not be ascertained if the pilot was indeed even cleared for IFR operations or was only checked out for VFRs. The aircraft in question also seems to have suffered a previous accident while in Kenya and it is alleged that subsequently the registration was changed. The plane was initially imported from the United States and there are now also belated questions on discrepancies of data between what was in the American documents and what now appears in the Kenyan documentation.

Pressure on the Kenyan CAA meanwhile continues to grow and changes at the helm and across the organization are no longer ruled out in coming weeks and months.

RVR NOW SAYS RAILWAY OPEN
Rift Valley Railways has now belatedly clarified, that the forced line closure between Nakuru and Kisumu would not affect traffic to Uganda after all. While the Kisumu branch line remains closed due to theft of rails and sleepers, traffic to Kampala by rail is now possible again following the re-opening of the line in Uganda. Heavy rains had swept culverts away some weeks ago and repairs were concluded late last week. However, RVRโ€™s Kampala office had at the time failed to respond in a prompt manner regarding the impact of the Kenyan line closure, showing further evidence of their eroding relations with the media after being hammered by sections of the East African media houses over their performance since taking control of the Ugandan and Kenyan railway systems.

SOUTHERN SUDAN TO CARRY OUT GAME CENSUS
In the past two years some partial aerial game counts were carried out, one notably by renown conservationist Dr. Richard Lamprey โ€“ whose father was the first Principal of the institute now known as Mweka Wildlife College near Moshi in Tanzania โ€“ but no full count of all areas yet has been established todate. GoSS, the Government of Southern Sudan, has now decided it needs a comprehensive aerial and ground count to support their wildlife policy, under which some 5 national parks and 13 game reserves have already been restored, since the government was put in place in 2005. It is understood that IFAW, the international fund for animal welfare, has pledged nearly 100.000 US Dollars towards the exercise.

GoSS is also embarking on an ambitious target to train sufficient numbers of game rangers to guard its national resource base, which in time to come should be able to offer yet more options for wildlife safaris in Eastern Africa. GoSS is also seeking funds towards demarcating the parks and reserves while also restoring infrastructure like bridges, roads and tracks to allow increased tourism use of the areas. The biggest โ€˜Southern National Parkโ€™ at present is said to be over 23.000 square kilometres large and should form the back bone for the newly emerging tourism sector in coming years.

GORILLA MONUMENT REVEALED IN KIGALI
As part of the Kwita Izina festival activities, ORTPN โ€“ the Rwanda Office for Tourism and National Parks โ€“ has unveiled a statue of two gorillas in the centre of Kigali near the City Council offices. Gorilla tracking is a key activity in Rwandaโ€™s tourism industry and the monument will be a permanent reminder for visitors and residents alike of what natural treasures Rwandaโ€™s mountain forests hold.

Elsewhere in the country other activities marked the festival celebrations, like bike races and football tournaments, involving the local communities in the conservation activities of the Rwandan government.

Most lodges and hotels in the country were fully booked during the festival which attracted thousands of Rwandese as well as hundreds of visitors from the region and from overseas. The festival itself was an overwhelming success. Since the inauguration of the festival four years ago 85 young and new born gorillas were โ€˜namedโ€™ and attracted major contributions towards wildlife conservation in general and gorilla protection in particular. Key guests at the main ceremony were the Rwandan First Lady and the countryโ€™s prime minister, adding political high profile to the event. Details of the 2009 Kwita Izina festival will be available from ORTPN in due course for potential participants and sponsors.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

CHANGES AT THE SHERATON

CHANGES AT THE SHERATON
Long serving director of Food and Beverages at the Kampala Sheraton Hotel, Mr. Kwashie Gbedemah is moving into the Gulf region for Starwood Hotels, having in recent years turned around the hotelโ€™s F&B department and having injected a new lease of life into the service and kitchen brigades. He and his team are credited for matching the service and quality of food at the hotel with the revamped rooms and public areas, making the Sheraton once again a focal point in Kampala for the business community and socialites alike.

Ghana born Kwashie will be succeeded by Eric Wendel, who is returning to Kampala for a second innings as Director of Food & Beverages after serving some time further abroad and more recently on the Arabian Peninsula in similar positions with Sheraton. It is a very fond โ€˜Kwaheri ya Kuonanaโ€™ for Kwashie and his family, who will be much missed by staff, guests of the Sheraton and their many friends in Uganda and an equally warm โ€˜welcome backโ€™ to Eric.

SHERATON KAMPALA UPGRADES APARTMENT FACILITIES
The Golden Leaves Apartments, which are owned and managed by the Sheraton Kampala Hotel and just across the road from the main hotel complex, have now been equipped with wireless Internet access, which is free for residents. Normally used by longer staying clients requiring a little more space, residents of the apartments enjoy full access to the Sheratonโ€™s other facilities, including pool, tennis, squash and the Kidepo Gym and Health Club. All facilities got a face lift prior to the Commonwealth Summit in November last year, making the apartments one of the most sought after places in the city and free internet connectivity will only add to their appeal.

FLY 540 PARTNERS WITH HOTELS TO OFFER PACKAGES
The soon to be fully regional low cost carrier, already incorporated and licensed in Kenya and Uganda, has now packaged special offers in combination with their flights. Ugandans travelling to Kenya can book not only their tickets with Fly 540, the most affordable in the market at a cost of US$79 (plus huge regulatory charges) between the Entebbe and Nairobi, but also get hotel accommodation in the bargain. Heritage Hotels in Kenya are the first to have teamed up with Fly 540 to achieve generally more affordable travel across the region, but other hotel, resort and lodge companies are expected to follow suit soon. Fly 540 has also reiterated that they will soon establish more destinations across the region, offering their client more and better choices for air travel.

MTN CONNECTS KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
Most national parks, game and forest reserves have already for a while now been able to receive signals from one or more of the mobile phone operators in the country, with the notable exception of the Kidepo Valley National Park. This has now been rectified through the ongoing roll out of telecoms services by leading operator MTN. The latest โ€˜connectionโ€™ will benefit communications between the UWA head office and the park head quarters in Kidepo but also make communications easier between Kampala and the Apoka Safari Lodge, which until now had to rely on radio communication and costly satellite phones. Another beneficiary will be the Civil Aviation Authority, which operates the airfield in Kidepo and has staff permanently stationed in the park. The air field is also designated and gazetted as an international entry and exit point for charters from across the region, and phone access is going to be helpful for aircrews, passengers and CAA staff in case of any delays or technical problems arising but also to obtain weather reports and field conditions prior to take off to the park.
Visitors to the park and the lodge will be relieved also to now have access to national and international phone systems, which will undoubtedly help to improve security in the entire park area and immediate neighborhood.

HIMA / LAFARGE SUED FOR โ€˜ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMESโ€™
A coalition of environmentalists and conservationists has now filed suit in the Kampala High Court against Hima, a subsidiary of Lafarge of France, for their aggression against nature in Queen Elizabeth National Park. This took place after ascertaining that the company had indeed gone on site inside the gazetted park area and began preparations to create an open quarry area for lime stone, with all the sad consequences for nature and biodiversity โ€“ a Ramsar site adjoins the proposed dig โ€“ taken in their stride for profit reasons. The case, should in fact an injunction be granted, may substantially delay Himaโ€™s plans or even force the company to shelve the quarry altogether, while in the international arena efforts are underway to expose the owners, directors and management of Lafarge in a โ€˜name and shameโ€™ exercise, which often in the past succeeded in Europe and North America to compel companies to become compliant with environmental global best practise, something neither Lafarge nor Hima presently seem to endorse.

The case is of particular irony, as the World Bank has in the past financed conservation efforts in the same park through their PAMSU program, for which nearly US$40 million were spent over the past decade to support conservation and eco friendly tourism developments. The World Bank Group in fact declined Lafargeโ€™s and Himaโ€™s applications to finance their ill considered and largely thought misguided plans, although Hima some time ago made public comments, that they had withdrawn the loan application to the IFC, the World Bankโ€™s private sector lending arm, in an effort to save face.

REGIONAL BUS SERVICES STARTS DAILY JUBA TRIPS
Regional Bus has now began a daily return trip by road from Kampala to Juba at the present cost of Uganda Shillings 75,000 per person, one way. The busses leave from the Regional Bus depot at 2:00 am very day and are scheduled to arrive in Juba at 16:30 hrs, i.e. the late afternoon of the same day. Permits to cross into Southern Sudan are said to be available at the border on arrival at a fee of about US$50 but it would be advisable to obtain Visa in advance of travel from the Southern Sudanese diplomatic mission and consular offices in Kampala near the Fairway Hotel. The daily return trip from Juba then commences the journey in the early morning at 7:30 am and is normally back in Kampala by 23:00 hrs. The bus has a seating capacity of 60 passengers and can also carry parcels and some other small loose cargo upon prior arrangements.
The Regional Bus Service depot is located along Johnstone Street at Arua Bus Park, where many domestic bus services into the North of the country are also operating from.

RUNGWE MOUNTAIN FOREST RESERVE UPGRADES STATUS
Tanzaniaโ€™s Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism has now acted to tighten the status of this prized forest reserve and designate it a nature forest, which will in the future rule out human activity other than eco friendly tourism and research. Only last year was a primate species discovered in the forest and the reclassification of the forest will undoubtedly strengthen the Southern safari circuit. Residents of neighbouring villages to the forest appear to have been consulted in length over the status change and agreed to the new measures to protect their environment and profit in the future from tourism activities.

RWANDAIR SEEKS STRATEGIC PLAN CONSULTANTS
In further news from Rwandaโ€™s national airline, the carrier is now seeking consultancy services for the development of a 10-year strategic plan and a five-year business plan. This is the clearest indication yet that earlier intentions to seek a strategic partner may have been put โ€˜on iceโ€™ or even shelved altogether. Rwandair had with the help of the IFC, the private sector lending arm of the World Bank, advertised two years ago for partial privatization, but this process has never been concluded nor any explanation offered by the airline as to the delay of selecting a suitable partner. One of the remaining two โ€˜biddersโ€™ was Brussels Airlines, a company of real substance with extensive experience in aviation, having emerged from the former Sabena and the SN Brussels / Virgin Europe merger, which has the most extensive network from Brussels to Africa and currently also serves Kigali several times a week. However, SNโ€™s attempt to introduce BAe 146 aircraft, presently being phased out from their European fleet, has not helped their bid, as these aircraft are thought to be unsuitable for the routes and type of operation Rwandair conducts across their network. In contrast the other bidding company was considered by industry analysts, and individuals closely connected to Rwandair, to be of even less consequence in the process. That company is operating a relatively aged and outdated fleet in Italy, was trying to pass on such aircraft fossils to Rwandair and is anyway said to be financially struggling with their two airline adventures in West Africa. Interested consulting firms and suitably qualified individual consultants are invited to contact the airlineโ€™s head office in Kigali via [email protected] or obtain further details through www.rwandair.com

RWANDA TO CONSTRUCT NEW ROAD TO BURUNDI
After both countries joined the East African Community last year, a major infrastructural development is to go underway soon, with a new state of the art highway being built to connect the two nations better and facilitate easier movement of passenger and cargo traffic.

Some US$355 million have been secured for the project which is supported by the African Development Bank and other multilateral lenders and agencies. The new highway will follow existing routes, which along several sections will see the rehabilitation and improvement / enlargement while in some sections an entirely new road will be constructed.

Rwanda has embarked on a major infrastructural development program since the country rose from the ashes of the 1994 genocide and has become a model country in Africa and a โ€˜darlingโ€™ of Western development partners. Burundi in contrast will have a way to go to achieve similar stages of modernization and rebuilding, although the last active rebel group has now reportedly agreed to a negotiated settlement with the government in Bujumbura.

Wolfgang’s East Africa tourism report

โ€˜THE EYEโ€™ INTRODUCES REMOVABLE KAMPALA MAP

โ€˜THE EYEโ€™ INTRODUCES REMOVABLE KAMPALA MAP
Ugandaโ€™s premier entertainment and reference guide, published every two months and distributed through travel agents, hotels and airline offices for free, has just introduced a separate map of Kampala, which can be removed from the booklet and carried as a street and location guide by visitors. Inside the publication is also a map of Uganda, as well as maps of Entebbe and Jinja municipalities, two of the most visited places in the country. For would be visitors to Uganda โ€˜The Eyeโ€™ is also available on the Internet via www.theeye.co.ug, where valuable information can be sourced ahead of an actual trip to Uganda. For more details contact [email protected].

MONEY TALKS LOUDEST
French multinational Lafargeโ€™s local company Hima Cement has now managed to persuade members of the parliamentary select committee on natural resources to give them the green light for mining of lime stone inside protected areas. Environmental pressure groups without equally deep pockets to counter Lafargeโ€™s PR offensive with their own research, studies and PR activities were exasperated to learn of the decision to cut yet another piece from Ugandaโ€™s protected areas. It is also feared that this success of Lafarge will set a precedent for further assaults on the environment and biodiversity in Uganda. Part of the affected area is a designated โ€˜Ramsarโ€™ site and the consequences of this action will likely only show in time to come, when global environmental and eco bodies will put Uganda into their respective black books for failing to protect our priceless natural resources.

A reaction from the World Bank is also expected soon, as the bank had financed a nearly US$40 million program for wildlife conservation and park protection under the PAMSU project (protected areas and sustainable use). Queen Elizabeth National Park, where the open mining for limestone is to take place, was a major beneficiary of this program.

Meanwhile, in a twist of reality, Hima Cement, according to a press report, has blamed Umeme, Ugandaโ€™s power distributor, for pollution in the plant area near Kasese, which Hima says is due to power outages.

FUEL SHORTAGE PERSISTS
The previously mentioned shortage of diesel, due to a failed delivery at the Mombasa port, has intensified and prices for the commodity have now substantially exceeded the cost of petrol. Sources from fuel companies have admitted the supply problems and expect the crunch to ease within a matter of days, after another tanker carrying diesel has been landed in Mombasa and began to discharge its cargo. This is of little comfort however to owners of diesel propelled vehicles and has began to impact on both cargo and passenger traffic across the country. Diesel driven thermal electricity plants are also affected and load shedding has once more increased, as the plants are faced with the diesel shortage, too.

BRIDGE REPORT SHOCKS PUBLIC
Newspaper reports have emerged that the bridge across the river Nile in Jinja, leading across the Owen Falls dam, has developed cracks and โ€œis surviving on borrowed time.โ€ Before the parliamentary committee for budget, where the matter was raised, it was also mentioned that the cost of a partial rehabilitation, starting at the next financial year, would immediately require 9 billion Uganda Shillings, while the Ministry of Finance had only set aside about half of that amount. The bridge is the sole lifeline for all road traffic to the Western part of Uganda beyond the Nile but also for the hinterland countries of Rwanda, Burundi, Eastern Congo and Southern Sudan, all of which depend almost entirely on import and export commodities crossing this bridge by truck. While there is a railway bridge a few hundred meters upstream from the dam, this is not a feasible alternative to bring the massive tonnages hauled by road across the river.

There is now some speculation that the Bujagali dam, now under construction, would require to have a bridge incorporated to offer some feasible alternative way and allow for a full rehabilitation of the existing bridge to eventually have two crossing points available in case of an emergency. However, the new dam is not due to be ready before about late 2010 or early 2011, until which the country, as well as the hinterland nations, will have an anxious wait ahead of them.

Efforts are continuing in the meantime to lobby government to set aside sufficient funds for repairs and safe the nation from a possible disaster, should the bridge indeed become impassable. The private sector and business community in particular are said to be worried about the implications of the reports and are pushing for a formal statement from government and inclusion of the repair bill in the next budget.

KENYA AIRWAYS PLANS TO RESTORE PARIS ROUTE
With traffic figures steadily growing once again, the Kenyan flag carrier is now considering to restore the Paris route, which was suspended earlier in the year, when passenger numbers plummeted. Airline sources preferring anonymity gave June as the month when flights to France will resume. The suspended Mombasa to Johannesburg service is also due to be restored later in the year, when the tourist high season starts again. The airline has also given indication of widening their Africa network by adding Antananarivo to Madagascar later this year. Frequency increases to West Africa and China are also being considered by the airline as well as into the Middle East. Kenya Airways is the regionโ€™s primary carrier connecting Nairobi with the entire region and the rest of Africa on a regular basis.

During a press briefing earlier in the week the airlineโ€™s CEO, Mr. Titus Naikuni, also explained KQโ€™s market approach and their safety measures and the airlineโ€™s Technical Director added that KQ had an annual budget of nearly US$200 million for maintenance of their combined fleet.

KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICES SEEK โ€˜NOVELโ€™ WAY FOR FUNDING
A recent proposal by KWS, to add a levy on water and electricity bills in favor of funding KWSโ€™ operations met with cynical laughter and derision from the general public. Revenues for KWS have of course reduced sharply since the outbreak of politically inspired violence, following the end December elections in Kenya, forcing the organization to tighten their belts. In 2007, they, however, recorded an all time high in gate receipts, but they were clearly ill prepared for the downturn in their earnings. Not satisfied however to wait, as the entire tourism sector is compelled to do until tourism has revived and reached its previous high occupancy levels again, the wildlife managers tried to dig the pockets of their fellow citizens with little regard of already high tax levels, leave alone sharply rising inflation rates and wide spread unemployment as a result of the post election violence. Hence, scorn was poured by the general public over KWSโ€™ attempt of persuading legislators to grant them this extra source of income. KWS is no stranger to controversy and has once again lived up to this billing.

AIR TANZANIA TAKES OVER ENTEBBE ROUTE
A belated code share agreement, likely pushed upon Ugandan upstart Air Uganda by their poor financial and load factor performance of their own flights from Entebbe via Kilimanjaro to Dar es Salaam, has now vested all the flight operations on the route to Air Tanzania. The code-share flights will now all be operated exclusively with Air Tanzania aircraft while the Ugandan airline will be allowed to sell tickets on these flights. The Tanzanian flag carrier is presently engaged in a substantive fleet overhaul and new aircraft have started to arrive and been put into service, bringing the airline โ€“ which suffered sharp losses when under South African Airways management โ€“ back to financial viability. In contrast, Air Uganda is rumored to have burned substantial money on the Tanzanian route and in order to stop the financial bleed may have been compelled to opt for a code-share, rather than withdrawing from the route altogether, as their performance would have suggested.

Air Uganda continues to operate two daily flights to Nairobi against the four daily flights by regional giant Kenya Airways, but of late faces yet more competitive pressure since Fly540, the regions first true low cost carrier, has entered the route with two daily flights between Nairobi and Entebbe. Fly540 is now also incorporated in Uganda and was recently granted a license by the Civil Aviation Authority. Air Uganda is expected to feel the financial heat some more in coming months in particular in view of their operating expenses, as they continue to use comparably aged and fuel inefficient aircraft versus KQโ€™s modern jets and Fly540โ€™s fuel saving ATR turboprops. Part of Air Ugandaโ€™s explanation was โ€˜opening new services without inflating the market with unnecessary capacityโ€™, a belated recognition of what exactly they have been doing so far on the Dar es Salaam route.

PRECISION AIR EXPANDS THEIR DAR ES SALAAM BASE
Tanzaniaโ€™s main privately owned airline has now invited expressions of interest towards the eventual construction of a new maintenance hangar and adjoining offices at Dar es Salaamโ€™s Julius Nyerere International Airport. The new maintenance (MRO) facility became necessary as a result of fleet expansion and IOSA inspired safety demands. Construction is expected to commence towards the later part of 2008 and likely to be completed by late 2009.

Precision Air has a pending order for several brand new ATR aircraft worth over US$100 million and is also due to receive jet aircraft in the near future to permit for network and capacity expansion and additional frequencies on their main routes.

Major shareholder in Precision Air is Kenya Airways, holding 49 percent of the shares, while 51 percent of the shares are held by a Tanzanian citizen. This share split is living up to aviation nationality rules unlike some other airlines in the region, which are totally foreign owned and yet claim to be a โ€œnational airline.โ€

Wolfgangโ€™s East Africa tourism report

LEADING CONSERVATIONIST PASSES ON

LEADING CONSERVATIONIST PASSES ON
Dr. Yakobo Moyini, a past chairman of the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the immediate past chairman of the Uganda Wildlife Society (a leading conservation non-governmental organization), passed away earlier in the week after some period of illness. Yakobo spent much of his life dedicated to conservation and the cause of protecting the environment and the flora and fauna of Uganda, in particular after he had returned in the early ’90s from Canada (where he had attained his Ph. in forestry) to Uganda, his native country. As many others Yakobo had gone into exile to avoid the past dictatorships in the country, before returning home to help building the โ€œnew Uganda.โ€ Yakobo hailed from Adjumani in Northern Uganda and was laid to rest in his ancestral land.

He was well known to this correspondent in both a personal and professional collegial capacity and his loss will be felt for a very long time to come. Rest in peace my friend!

CHOBI SAFARI LODGE REBUILDING UNDERWAY
The works contracts were signed this week between the Madhvani Group, owners and operators of the two key safari lodges in the country, and their selected contractors, to restore the Chobi Safari Lodge to its former glory. With security returning to Ugandaโ€™s North, after the LRA was expelled from Uganda in a concerted security effort nearly two years ago, more and more tourist visitors came to Murchisons Falls National Park and the previously closed gates into the park from the Northern side were reopened. Chobi was famous in the late โ€˜60s and โ€˜70s for fishing the Nile between Karuma Falls and the better known Murchisons Falls and restoring the lodge is expected not only to serve the fishing aficionados but also regular tourists wanting to visit the forested part of the park above the main falls. Road works are also going on to restore game viewing circuits, create more access points to the river and provide materials specially created for that hitherto inaccessible part of the park.

The reconstruction is going to take about one year to completion and will add much needed room capacity to the park. Packages will be available in conjunction with the groupโ€™s sister lodge Paraa, which is located overlooking the main river crossing in the heart of the park.

The other sister operation is the Mweya Safari Lodge in the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park, arguably the most popular safari lodge in the country.

UWA GIVES PARK LAND AWAY FOR LIMESTONE MINING
The Uganda Wildlife Authority board of trustees, incidentally headed by a corporate lawyer, has given the green light to the executive director to sign away a substantial piece of land in a mining concession to Hima Cement. The locally incorporated company is owned by Lafarge of France and early indications are that global conservation bodies and activists are now going after the French company and put not only the company, but also its executives, board members and shareholders under the spotlight. The highly controversial decision to allow Hima open quarry mining and crushing of limestone is also bound to bring Ugandaโ€™s development partners into the fray. The World Bankโ€™s private sector lending arm, the IFC, had already indicated that they would not finance Hima/Lafargeโ€™s plans, as in particular the World Bank itself has poured mega millions of dollars into the rehabilitation of Ugandaโ€™s protected areas and in especially into Queen Elizabeth National Park. The brewing controversy is following closely on the heels of more recent efforts to dissect the Mabira Forest and turn a quarter of the sprawling central forest reserve into a sugar cane plantation. These plans, as earlier plans to turn the Pian Upe Game Reserve into a farm/ranch, presently stand defeated, but it will only be with the help of development partners and global institutions, that conservation stands a chance to survive this latest onslaught on Ugandaโ€™s natural beauty.
One of the main issues conservationists have with the project is the noise of blasting and crushing the stone, the inevitable dust, subsequent water and landscape pollution and damage to the flora and fauna, all of which is right at the edge of a globally recognised Ramsar site. Uganda is a signatory to the Ramsar Convention and other global treaties to protect biodiversity and nature, and in fact hosted not long ago a global Ramsar meeting, in which verbal commitments were made towards conservation and protection, which now sound hollow and unreal.

Tourism to Uganda is largely wildlife and nature based and has suffered of the Ebola scare in late 2007, now formally declared over by WHO and health ministry officials, before being further affected by the present Kenyan situation, which has a severe impact on tourism across the Eastern African region.

The company has meanwhile decided to avoid loans from major banking consortia, including the World Bankโ€™s IFC, ostensibly to avoid the environmental demands coming with the loan packages, and has vowed to use internal funding for the project. The company has also given vague assurances as to mitigating measures to be employed for the project, but this latter point has met with both stony silence as well as derision from conservation groups, tourism stakeholders and sections of civil society. Watch this space as the saga continues.

OBJECTIONS TO LODGE/PERMIT DEAL BASED ON ENVY
Misguided stakeholders, speak disgruntled individuals pretending to speak for a wider constituency in the Kisoro area of Uganda have belatedly expressed their concerns over the contract UWA has entered into with the Nkuringo community, granting them concession rights and guaranteed gorilla tracking permits for a group habituated in the immediate neighbourhood of their villages and homesteads.

A process which started way back in 2003/4 saw a commendable effort being made by Uganda Wildlife Authority to engage with and benefit communities surrounding national parks, here in particular the Western side of Bwindi National Park, only accessible by road via Kisoro to Nkuringo. The area is gifted by both habituated and non habituated gorillas and a separate forest nearby is home to chimpanzees, a unique combination for primate tourism. UWA at the time engaged the community, together with the AWF and finally reached a ground breaking agreement, granting the community, through a cooperative type development association, a licence to market the tracking permits and have an upmarket eco lodge built on their land, catering for tourists.

After a sustained open bidding process, in which such companies as Serena Hotels endlessly dragged their feet over this golden opportunity, Wild Places Africa / The Uganda Safari Company won the tender by offering the best package for the community. This involves a royalty agreement and job creation for โ€œreal locals,โ€ where the company has already excelled in their other safari properties in Kidepo National Park and the Semliki Game Reserve. It was the winning combination of these proposals cum an impressive lodge design, which impressed the tender committee at the time and won Wild Places the concession.

Building of โ€˜Cloudsโ€™ โ€“ incidentally mentioned before in this column, has now commenced and up to 10 stone cottages are nearing completion on the site, which is located in one of the most scenic parts of Uganda. Barbs therefore for the envious objectors and bouquets for Wild Places to add another key attraction to the tourist circuit in Uganda, incorporating โ€œgreen principlesโ€ as well as giving direct benefits to the people of Nkuringo.

TOURISM BILL FINALLY PASSED
In spite of assurances, and press reports to the contrary and apparently owing to โ€œa more important bill takin g up our time,โ€ to quote a senior member of parliament, the long overdue tourism bill was last week still stuck in the hearing process. Some 10 chapters had been addressed by parliament, but the remaining balance of the billโ€™s chapters was still due for the full process in the house. This development, once it became public knowledge, disappointed and angered the tourism private sector to no end, causing emotional outbursts by some stakeholders known for such, and others saying โ€œgovernment has no visible interest in tourismโ€ while yet more complained that โ€œgovernment has absolutely no idea about the tourism sector at all.โ€

Other more level headed individuals however went on to lobby parliamentarians and once again explained the urgency to have the bill passed. These efforts, especially towards select influential members of parliament, finally seems to have done the trick as the bill was then eventually passed on Tuesday afternoon and is now only awaiting assent by the President to make it the law of the land for the tourism sector. A regulatory framework has also been prepared and is expected to be promulgated by the minister in due course. The new law has also repealed the Hotels Act of 1964, the Tourist Agents Licensing Act of 1968 and the Uganda Tourist Board Statute of 1994, now providing for one comprehensive piece of legislation for the entire sector.

RAIN FOREST LODGE BENEFITS FROM MABIRA SOLIDARITY
The award winning lodge in Mabira Forest has of late become a focal point for mid week and weekend trips by prominent Kampaleans as not only a luxurious getaway but also, as confirmed by many guests staying there, to demonstrate solidarity with the โ€˜Save Mabira Movement,โ€™ which has successfully stood up against governmentโ€™s ludicrous plans to dissect the forest and turn a large portion into a sugar cane plantation. It is believed that the commercial success of the lodge will undoubtedly add weight to the argument that more is to be gained by keeping the forest intact for tourism and conservation purposes than giving it away for free to a greedy sugar baron, whose sugar factories are amongst the least productive in the entire country.

However, in a recent Uganda Wildlife Society annual general meeting more reports emerged on a continuous assault on Ugandaโ€™s protected areas for commercial and industrial purposes. The society vowed to strongly oppose such attempts to encroach on national parks, reserves and forests for short-sighted commercial gains, when in the long run tourism and conservation, including the upcoming carbon trading, may yield a multiple in financial terms for the country. Prof. Derek Pomeroy was re-elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees of UWS for a second and final term of office.

KAMPALA TO HOST AFRO โ€“ ARAB YOUTH SUMMIT
Over 2,500 youth leaders from across the African and Arab countries will assemble in Kampala between March 07 and 14 to hold a cultural and youth issues summit at the lakeside resort of Munyonyo. Some 18 presidents and prime ministers have also confirmed attendance of this ground breaking meeting.

HOLLAND BOOSTS GORILLA CONSERVATION
The Dutch government has given a grant of 4 million euros for gorilla conservation projects across the region, involving Uganda, Rwanda and Congo DR. The International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP) is closely involved in the project, which also includes the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Rwandaโ€™s ORTPN and Congoโ€™s wildlife management body. The endangered mountain gorillas are found in all the three countries along their respective national parks straddling the frontiers across the border triangle. Gorilla tracking is a major tourism activity in Rwanda and Uganda, but Congo has been falling short of the achievements and standards of the other two countries, as they continue to struggle with security in the areaโ€™s national parks, poaching of the prized animals and almost total indifference, in fact what often appears as contempt, towards wildlife conservation by their regime in Kinshasa.

GARAMBA NATIONAL PARK NEWS
It has emerged in recent days, that the Ugandan rebel and terror gang headed by one Joseph Kony, wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, has began leave their hideout in the park and is now moving towards the Central African Republic, giving hope that the park will soon come under formal park authority administration again. It was in this park where the last remnants of the Northern White Rhino were found some years ago, which were then wiped out by the Congo regimeโ€™s own intransigence and callous attitude towards wildlife conservation and the heavy poaching by the rebels of the entire rhino population (now thought to be extinct), elephant and other species.

Congo has been sitting on the fence in regard of the rebel groupโ€™s continued presence on its territory, as it has incidentally done in regard of the Hutu militias, which found safe haven after committing the 1994 Rwanda genocide before running to safety in Congo.
The LRA was due to assemble at designated points under the โ€œcessation of hostilitiesโ€ agreement signed with the Uganda government, while engaged in โ€œpeace talksโ€ in the Southern Sudanese capital city of Juba, but this now seems less likely to be done by the rebels. The talks have also been dragging on with rebel representatives being changed at will by Kony or โ€“ as in the case of his deputy Otti โ€“ being killed by his goons. Both the Ugandan armed forces (UPDF) and the Southern Sudanese SPLA have taken all possible precautions to avoid the rebels re-infiltrate sections of Southern Sudan and Northern Uganda, while covert support seems to once again reach the rebels from the Khartoum government, which has long actively fuelled this conflict to divert attention from their own criminal conduct, first in the South of the Sudan and now continuing in Darfur.

CHANGES AT KENYA AIRWAYS
It was learned just a fraction too late for last weekโ€™s column, that Kenya Airways commercial director Hugh Fraser will be leaving the airline, as will his colleague Neil Canty, holding the portfolio of finance director. In particular, Hugh was enormously instrumental in the team supporting and surrounding CEO Titus Naikuni, to build Kenya Airways into the success story it was prior to the opposition inspired post election violence, which hit Kenya on a broad basis and ripped the carpet โ€“ speak business โ€“ from underneath the feet of many leading companies including KQ. Recent reports filed in this column already spoke of the problems the airline was encountering in particular on the European routes and routes in and out of Mombasa. Staff have been asked to take paid leave (for the time being), although no formal lay offs are presently underway. A strict cost saving and cost reduction programme is presently being finalised and implemented to keep Kenyaโ€™s national airline financially balanced, until the recovery of the tourism sector goes underway and passenger numbers return to normality. However, it is sadly noted that this recovery will apparently be without Hugh, whom this correspondent wishes the very best in the future.

It is also noted that other senior staff had left the airline over the past few months, probably making way for a major top management shake up and organizational revision, including creating the position of chief operating officer (COO). Kenya Airways CEO Titus Naikuniโ€™s position is reportedly however not under review as he continues to enjoy the ongoing confidence of key shareholders like Air France/KLM and the Kenya Government.

The airline has been struggling before the Kenya post election violence started affecting the passenger and cargo performance, with a huge network and fleet expansion and related problems, but was reported to be on the way to getting things on the straight and narrow once again before the current crisis began to depress the financial results and drove the share price to sharply lower levels.

Hot on the heels of these changes come further news that the airline suspended the Paris route for the time being, owing to a sharp drop in passenger numbers. Passengers already booked will now connect to Paris via Amsterdam, where the onward flight is operated in code share with KLM or via London, where the onward codeshared flight is operated by Air France. The route may be restored at a later date, once demand levels have risen sufficiently again to justify the service.

Franceโ€™s anti travel advisory has been particularly aggressive, warning off would be travellers with grave language, but this may change in view of a political agreement coming nearer and the situation in Kenya in general stabilising in recent days, after the opposition goons apparently got the message from their puppetmasters to stop the unwarranted attacks on fellow Kenyans. Germany, Italy and the UK already lifted their anti travel advice which will be a welcome boost to restore tourism arrival from these countries to their per-election levels.

BUSH VISIT TO RWANDA WILL BOOST TOURISM
The just concluded visit by President Bush to Rwanda โ€“ and Tanzania, for that matter โ€“ is expected to boost tourism arrivals in coming months due to the excellent press coverage received during the state visit. Rwanda has been hailed as a model nation, recovering from the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi ethnic community and moderate Hutus in 1994 by hardline Hutu militias, spurred on by incitement from politicians, many of whom have now been jailed or are facing trials in Rwanda and at the Arusha special court set up by the UN. The present government led by President Paul Kagame has turned the economy around and supported tourism to the hilt, while also excelling in fighting corruption and meeting democratic benchmarks.

While in East Africa, President Bush demanded an end to the violence in Kenya and a swift political settlement, having dispatched Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Nairobi in support of former UN Secretary General Kofi Annanโ€™s initiative for an early agreement between the two protagonists. He demanded in even sharper terms an end to the violence in Darfur, where the US is engaged with massive food aid for the starving population, displaced from their land by Khartoum sponsored militias as well as direct military action by a ruthless government. President Bush also visited the Genocide Memorial in Rwanda and, with his wife Laura, paid respects to the over 800.000 innocent victims of ethnic slaughter.

While in Kigali President Bush also formally commissioned the newly built American Embassy.

Rwandaโ€™s ORTPN will be present at the forthcoming ITB once again and will be happy to meet tourism trade visitors to showcase the โ€œland of a thousand hills.โ€

There were, however, disgruntled undercurrents about the security regulations ostensibly imposed by US agencies, and several tourism stakeholders complained about airport and road closures impacting on their day to day business, delaying clients arrivals and departures in and out of Arusha and subsequently also in and out of Kigali. Said one operator from Arusha: โ€˜it was nice of sorts to have them here and get global coverage, but thank God they are gone again, not to imagine they had been around for a week and what this would have done to our businesses and day to day lifeโ€™.

RWANDA/TANZANIA RAILWAY LINK ON COURSE
As reported in this column some time ago, Rwanda was also seeking to develop an alternate route for its imports, probably hastened by the present Kenya crisis, which seriously affected imports and exports for this land locked East African hinterland nation. Progress has now been made in the various stages of preparation to eventually link Kigali with the Tanzanian inland dry port of Isaka, from where the railway would continue to the Indian Ocean seaport of Dar es Salaam. Construction of the railway link is expected to commence later this year and will take approximately five years to complete.

Wolfgangโ€™s East Africa tourism report

KAMPALA AERO CLUB SUSPENDS TRAINING FLIGHTS

KAMPALA AERO CLUB SUSPENDS TRAINING FLIGHTS
The ongoing shortage of AVGAS has now claimed a further victim amongst the aviation fraternity. The only Ugandan private pilot training facility at the Kajjansi airfieldโ€™s Kampala Aero Club and Flight Training Centre has halted pilot training for the time being, owing to the acute shortage of AVGAS fuel, which their Cessna 172 trainer aircraft require. Commercial operations are also at the edge, as stocks have now run so low that only key regular clients can count on getting their flights into the air, while โ€˜casualโ€™ sightseeing and other less essential air travel has been postponed for the time being. Aviation sources from Kajjansi speak of possible imports of AVGAS from Tanzaniaโ€™s Lake Victoria airport of Mwanza, but red tape and usual bureaucracy are making a swift solution difficult. However, KAFTCโ€™s Cessna Grand Caravan fleet continues to operate normally as these aircraft run on Jet A1, the common aviation fuel for jet- and turbine-engined aircraft.

Other domestic airlines and private aircraft owners also suffer of an AVGAS supply shortage for their piston-engined small and light aircraft and confirmation of charters now depends on the level of urgency demonstrated by clients, at least until regular supplies have been restored.

This situation will have a severe impact on the financial performance this year of the few Ugandan domestic scheduled and charter airlines and a leading aviator said his sector felt โ€˜abandoned by governmentโ€™. He claimed that attention seems focused on getting enough fuel for the international airlines coming to Entebbe, rather than giving equitable attention to the smaller and mostly indigenous owned airlines, which operate from both Entebbe and the Kajjansi airfield and require a different fuel type.

No confirmation on the status of training flights and fuel supplies for the East African Aviation Academy in Soroti could be obtained, as no single person approached for a situation report or a statement would be prepared to comment, neither on nor off the record.

UWA STATEMENT CALLED โ€˜HOGWASHโ€™ BY SOME STAKEHOLDERS
Following the killing of a Belgian woman tourist on Mt. Elgon, Uganda Wildlife Authority called a press conference to try and explain the circumstances. According to press reports published, UWAโ€™s executive director admitted that the spot was known for some time to be frequented by cattle rustlers and criminals, speculating over who โ€˜could have done itโ€™. Sections of the tourism private sector took grave exception with the press report of the statement, saying that if UWA had known of such problems, then why would their guides and rangers have taken the tourist to that spot for an overnight stop. They also said that they suspected complacency and a level of incompetence and took further issue with UWAโ€™s statement, that โ€˜all tourist sites in Uganda are safeโ€™. Said one leading safari operator to this correspondent: โ€˜one death is one too many. UWA and others in charge of park security should stop looking for excuses. Trying to explain this away in such a contemptuous fashion is an insult to the victim. If UWA had known this to be a trouble spot and that criminals are hiding in the park forest, then why wait for this to happen and then crying over spilt milk. I suggest they are afraid to act in a timely manner, because they fear political repercussions in the context of past eviction actions they took at Mt. Elgon park and the tourist now paid the price for this. The director should have concentrated in the past on what should have been done to prevent this incident and not now assume the CID role and speculate who could have done itโ€™

Members of the Belgian community in Uganda also expressed anger aimed at, what a leading figure amongst them called an โ€˜inept statement if the press report is accurateโ€™, โ€˜full of contradictionsโ€™ and aimed at โ€˜exculpatingโ€™ the institution of blame and liability. He went on to say that his organization had in the past faithfully and generously supported tourism activities and developments and felt โ€˜very much let downโ€™ by this incident.

Subsequently, tourism to Mt. Elgon, in any case not a front runner in terms of numbers for both domestic and international visitors โ€“ inspite of its scenic beauty โ€“ is expected to take a setback and safari operators in Uganda and tour operators abroad will be keeping a keen eye on the situation to see if actions will match the words which are too often and too casually spoken after such events.

HOTEL DEVELOPER IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE
The main proprietor and promoter of the building site hotel along Entebbe road โ€“ projected to become the Protea Entebbe Hotel โ€“ has ran into a severe financial storm, as Barclays Bank Uganda has taken control of a number of his properties, including his downtown shopping mall, over an alleged defaulted loan of some 4.7 billion Uganda Shillings, equivalent to nearly 3 million US Dollars. The hotel venture, due to have been ready for the Commonwealth Summit last year, has been gobbling up money for construction and loan finance, while the awaited CHOGM guests failed to materialize, as the hotel then, as it does now, resembles the building site it still is. The size of the project, given by the owner as reaching 1.000 rooms, shopping malls and other amenities half way between Kampala and Entebbe, has also mind boggled industry observers, one of whom described the project as โ€˜developing cuckoo landโ€™.

The financial implications of the seizure of assets by the bank is expected to also have repercussions on the hotel projectโ€™s progress, which has already been visibly slow in past weeks already.

The receiver appointed by the bank has given a deadline to clear all outstanding interest on the loans, fees and the principal amount owed by March 14th or else auction off the seized assets to clear all debts.

The proprietor, a Mr. Joseph Behakanira, denied the charges however and vowed to start a legal defense to overturn the bankโ€™s decision and seizure of his properties.

NEW EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE UNDERWAY
An EU funded educational initiative was launched during the week, when the F+U University Group / IBA University from Germany signed an agreement with Makerere University to start cooperation, also extended to the University of Dar es Salaam, the University of Nairobi and Moi University in Kenya. Named โ€˜East African Academic Alliance for Curricula in Logistics and Tourism (EA3CLAT) the 500.000 Euro project is aimed at reviewing existing tourism and hospitality curricula across the region in universities but also at other tertiary institutions like Ugandaโ€™s national Hotel and Tourism Training Institute. This will be done in conjunction with the regional academia and the private sector and past efforts by HTTI to redevelop a skills based curriculum will be used as a foundation for the process in Uganda.

It was observed during the signing, that much of the tertiary education in the hospitality and tourism sector at universities is presently theory based and requires additional practical input, to make graduates more employable. Employers in particular have long criticized the lack of practical skills of degree holders, resulting in added expenses to retrain the newcomers to the workforce.

The notable exception in this is the national hotel and tourism training institute, which is fully committed to a curriculum rooted in practical training of the students to give them โ€˜hands on trainingโ€™, resulting in all graduates from HTTI finding employment in the sector and the hotel school in fact being unable to produce enough quality certificate and diploma holders.

The project will also facilitate training of selected participants, i.e. lecturers and instructors, in Germany at the participating institutions to promote in particular the โ€˜dual systemโ€™ of education practiced in Germany for vocational and skills programs. Internships for the best students are also available.

The head of the F+U University Group was part of the visiting German business delegation which came to Uganda and Rwanda last week as part of President Prof. Horst Koehlerโ€™s state visit to East Africa, underscoring the importance of private public partnership to meet development goals.

PARLIAMENT PICKS ON LACK OF UTB FUNDING, PASSES TOURISM BILL
Following persistent complaints in the local media over the pathetic funding for the Uganda Tourist Board and the previous failure to pass the new Tourism Bill and subsequent regulations, the parliamentary committee overseeing the sector has now also voiced concern over these issues. The MPโ€™s called upon government to better facilitate the sector and pour more resources into marketing the country, while debating the report of the sessional committee and its recommendations about the tourism bill. It does so appear that the bill was then passed in parliament but further details are being sought to ascertain this fact. If correct, and once assented to by the President โ€“ as required by law โ€“ the bill would trigger new regulations to be issued for the sector and create a tourism development levy, besides causing the restructuring of the Uganda Tourist Board / Tourism Uganda into a private sector driven and more proactive organization, also taking care of licensing, monitoring and enforcement of regulations for the entire sector.

KENYA AIRWAYS BAGS WINE AWARD
During the annual Sky Award ceremony Kenya Airways came globally a respectable third behind Singapore Airlines / Qantas (joint second place) and Germanyโ€™s Lufthansa (category winner) for their excellent choice of champagne for inflight service in their much lauded business class.

This follows special efforts last year to select a new range of wines and champagnes to accompany the airlineโ€™s applauded in-flight meals, and tasting sessions to gauge passengersโ€™ tastes and feedback. The Piper Heidsieck NV from France hence made all the difference with the judges and gave โ€˜The Pride of Africaโ€™ another exhibit for their trophy cabinet.

The airline is also expected to contest for the top honours again in the regional recognition of excellence annually held by TN East Africa, the leading regional magazine for travel, leisure and life issues.

FLY 540 STARTS REGIONAL FLIGHTS
Kenyaโ€™s low cost airline Fly 540 has now commenced work daily flights to Juba, Southern Sudan as part of their regional expansion. This adds more capacity to the route, on which several other Kenyan airlines already fly, with the notable, and hard to explain exception of Kenya Airways. They are Jetlink, East African Safari Air, Marsland Aviation and African Express. The latter is also flying in codeshare with Royal Daisy Airlines between Nairobi and Entebbe already via a wet lease agreement with Royal Daisy. It could not be ascertained if Delta Connection is still on the Juba route.

More flights into the greater East African region are said to be planned for later in the year by Fly 540. Certainly flights between Nairobi and Entebbe would be most welcome as recent route upstart Air Uganda has broadly failed on the expectations to bring fares down to a more affordable level. Fly 540 has recently signed a major purchase agreement with French manufacturer ATR for 8 more of their aircraft to allow for this expansion and 4 of them are due for delivery in 2008 already. Watch this space for emerging news.

RWANDA AIMS AT 50,000 TOURISTS FOR 2008
The Rwanda tourism sector is intend to increase tourist arrivals for the current year to 50,000, in spite of the present problems caused for the entire region by the Kenyan post election situation. In 2007 tourism has replaced Rwandaโ€™s traditional exports as the leading foreign exchange earner, exceeding projections and proving the general theory right that tourism can indeed โ€“ if properly structured and facilitated โ€“ become the regionโ€™s undisputed number one economic activity. ORTPN, the Rwanda Office for Tourism and National Parks, together with a sizeable private sector delegation, will attend ITB where it will once again showcase the โ€˜Land of a Thousand Hillsโ€™ from its sunniest side. To make appointments for meetings at the Rwanda stand please contact [email protected].

RWANDAIR PRIVATIZATION STILL PENDING
While a request for comments from the airline was not responded to it could nevertheless be established, that the exercise has not been concluded in January, as was widely expected. Informed sources confirmed under cover of anonymity, that Rwandairโ€™s review of the proposals took in particular issue with the types of aircraft floated by the two remaining bidders. Meridiana, an airline based in Italy, had proposed to introduce some of their own aged MD 87 series, but Rwandair had disposed of a similar model some time ago due to the cost of operation of this particular aircraft type in favor of a Boeing 737-500. There is also negative perception in the region about such โ€˜investorsโ€™ bringing old equipment and peddling it as โ€˜state of the artโ€™ as does the travel market not appreciate the use of old aircraft, when regional giant Kenya Airways has a truly modern fleet in operation.

Brussels Airlines too ran into predictable questions when they initially offered to use the BAe 146, which the airline is progressively retiring from the European fleet. Again, this particular aircraft type is not considered suitable to the climatic operating conditions and elevations across Eastern Africa, nor would it allow non stop flights from Kigali to Johannesburg.

A decision is now expected in coming weeks, after updated proposals are being reviewed at present, though no precise timeframe is available from the airline. Meanwhile, application deadlines for several advertised positions for personnel were extended this week to allow for more applications to be submitted to the airlineโ€™s offices in Kigali, Entebbe, Kilimanjaro, Bujumbura, Johannesburg and Nairobi.

Wolfgangโ€™s East Africa tourism report

DAILY FLIGHTS TO JOHANNESBURG FROM MARCH

DAILY FLIGHTS TO JOHANNESBURG FROM MARCH
No sooner had South African Airways announced, that they would add another flight between Johannesburg and Entebbe from the beginning of February, are news coming out of the airlineโ€™s offices in Kampala that from March 2008 they intend to fly daily on the route between South Africa and Entebbe. In view of the downturn of traffic between Johannesburg and Nairobi this may be a re-deployment of traffic to the non-stop route, and the aircraft used will continue to be a Boeing NG 737-800. The present timings will be maintained, allowing SAA network connections both ways. This will be a further boost for tourism and trade relations between Uganda and South Africa but also allow long haul traffic passengers from the global SAA network and their alliance partners to fly seamlessly on to Uganda.

KENYA AIRWAYS MOVES TO ZERO COMMISSION
Kenyaโ€™s national airline has announced that effective April 01st (no foolโ€™s day joke) they will cease paying commissions to travel agents across East Africa for ticket sales, following the international trend started some years ago in other parts of the world. KLM / Air France, which own a major stake in Kenya Airways, has made a similar announcement a few days ago. The airline had paid 6 percent for the past two years, after reducing commission levels by one and then two percent respectively at the time from the initial 9 percent standard rate. Travel agents had sufficient warning of these developments and will now charge a service fee to their clients, while the airlines promote on line bookings to further lower their own distribution costs. However, some airlines, i.e. Virgin, flying to East Africa, continue to pay a modest commission, which under the circumstances is also very likely to be phased out in coming months, finally eliminating the main past source of travel agency income.

Further consolidation in the travel industry is now expected across the region with mergers, buy outs, take overโ€™s and even outright business closures and many smaller agencies are expected to find the going probably too hard to survive, unless they managed over the past to widen their range of paid for services. In the meantime, KQ has also increased the fuel surcharge for flights out of Entebbe due to the scarcity of aviation fuel, supplies of which have still not reached pre-crisis levels.

PARLIAMENT INVESTIGATES 2005 CNN DEAL
The public accounts committee of the Ugandan Parliament has now taken the CNN publicity deal of 2005 into their cross hairs, with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry the first high profile individual having to appear before the panel. It was also reported in the local media, that a letter attributed to the then Minister had strongly warned that the US$1.35 million equivalent drawn from the ministryโ€™s accounts for the activity โ€œwould crippleโ€ other projects and commitments in the absence of finding the money from other sources. The parliamentarians also took issue with the fact that a company linked to an in-law of the president was receiving allegedly some SS$350,000, acting in their capacity as agent for CNN. Judging by the mood of the committee they will call other personalities linked to the expenditure to testify before them and seek out culprits for appropriate sanction.

The campaign at the time developed a new tag line and branding for Uganda, shifting emphasis from โ€˜Uganda โ€“ the Pearl of Africaโ€™ to โ€˜Uganda โ€“ Gifted by Natureโ€™. The CNN campaign of advertising for Uganda ran for a period of 6 months in conjunction with CNNโ€™s โ€˜Inside Africaโ€™ program, but then expired in the absence of sustainable funding, something much decried by the tourism sector since then. Other critics also bemoaned the fact that the screening of the commercials did not take place globally but only in markets of lesser importance for Uganda, which as everything connected to this matter will be arguable. The results measured after the initial campaign did show improved visibility of Uganda as a tourist destination and yielded results in rising visitor numbers, but the effect โ€“ by general consensus of the tourism private sector and industry observers and analysts โ€“ has since then completely evaporated, in the absence of follow up and in the face of constant heavy advertising by other tourist destinations competing for tourist dollars and euros.

The failure of government to bring the draft tourism bill โ€“ which incidentally was ready for submission to cabinet in 2005 โ€“ to the law makers in parliament, is also being cited as a main reason for lack of funding for the Uganda Tourist Board, which presently lingers in a near broke state, unable to fulfil its mandate. The bill was to create a “tourism development fund levy,” from which marketing and vocational and educational services linked to the tourism industry were to be paid. None of this however has materialised inspite of assurances given by government to the tourism private sector, leaving the tourist board and the national hotel and tourism training institute chronically underfunded. Donor support has also largely expired for the sector, as government has not made tourism a priority with the countryโ€™s development partners, as a recent EU evaluation of their tourism support programme has candidly revealed.

The parliamentary public accounts committee has become increasingly assertive over, what they term “unauthorized government expenditure” and “investments” such as payment to hotel companies ahead of the Commonwealth Summit in November or the shareholding in the failed Victoria International Airways in 2006, none of which the committee says has been sanctioned by parliament and its vote on the countryโ€™s budget. Watch this space to follow this emerging story.

In the same meeting of the PAC it was also revealed, that due to lack of funds Ugandaโ€™s membership at the UN World Tourism Organization โ€“ UNWTO โ€“ has lapsed and the country been suspended, denying Uganda all the benefits from marketing and training support it would be entitled to as a member of the LDC group of nations (least developed countries). This benefit ordinarily amounts to a great multiple of the annual membership fees. The tourism private sector has been demanding compliance from government on this issue for years now, but other than lip service never saw concrete action. Other key memberships in global bodies are also hanging in suspense, as substantial dues arrears have accumulated over the past years โ€“ owing to lack of adequate funding of the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry.

HIGHWAY MARKINGS TO COMMENCE
The Ministry of Works and Transport has now advertised a tender for highway distance markings cum advertising signs. Across the major roads and highways in the country signs are to be erected at one or two kilometre intervals, showing distances to the next major town or rural centre, in exchange for advertising opportunities. At the same time new direction signs are going up all over Kampala to direct traffic towards their destination like key places of interest (Museum, Kasubi Tombs), the Entebbe International Airport, the Kajjansi Airfield, the main stadium and city exits to the major upcountry towns.

FUEL CRISIS LOOMING AGAIN
Following reports of targeted violence against Ugandan trucks, ferrying fuel from the pipeline head depots in Eldoret and Kisumu, transporters and drivers have at least for the moment reduced operations, until full security is guaranteed and provided by Kenyan security forces. Subsequently, fuel in some stations is again being rationed or has run out. Truck drivers arriving at the Ugandan border showed journalists broken windscreens, windows and other damage to their cars and trucks by stones and rocks thrown at them by thugs and goons โ€“ the area between Eldoret and Kisumu to the border being the heartland of the political opposition and most prone to outbreaks of violence. They also reported vehicles being looted and burned while in transit to the border. Opposition leader Odingaโ€™s recent public call for an end to violence sounded hollow and was described by sections of the media as โ€˜too little, too lateโ€™. Parallels have now also been drawn between the 1982 coup attempt supported by Odinga and similar tactics today, to turn his whole tribe โ€“ the Luo โ€“ against the rest of peace loving Kenyans, prompting calls even by the US administration to end โ€˜ethnic cleansingโ€™ โ€“ although presently stopping short of calling it โ€˜genocideโ€™ โ€“ witnessed in the aftermath of the elections in opposition areas. Watch this space as news break.

BUSH AVOIDS KENYA DURING VISIT TO EAST AFRICA
The forthcoming Africa visit by US President Bush is once again avoiding Kenya during its East Africa loop, as already done by him in 2003. State visits this time will take place in Tanzania and Rwanda. This means that for the last three times a US president came to Eastern Africa, Kenya has found herself excluded from the visiting programme, always reportedly over the USโ€™ concerns about domestic political issues in Kenya at the time. Prior to the December 2007 elections there was some hope to have Kenya included in the visiting schedule, but the outbreak of ongoing post election violence has put paid to that.

In the meantime, visiting former UN Chief Kofi Annan expressed his shock over, what he termed โ€˜systematic human right abusesโ€™ of which he saw evidence when visiting the main problem areas in Western Kenya, where in particular the members of President Kibakiโ€™s Kikuyu tribe were relentlessly hunted down and their homesteads and businesses looted and burnt. The tense political situation in Kenya has now also spread to the Rift Valley provincial capital of Nakuru, globally known for the Nakuru National Park, which is home to millions of flamingos. The hitherto peaceful Nakuru saw some serious violence over the last weekend, again perpetrated largely against members of the Kikuyu tribe and most likely carried out by opposition goons loyal to election loser Odinga, who remains ambiguous about the ongoing crimes against humanity and ethnic and political cleansing. Retaliatory โ€˜strikesโ€™ by the Kikuyu tribesmen are now also starting, said to be in defence of their people, but clearly inflaming the cycles of violence some more in an area hitherto largely peaceful, and to make it worse being home to key tourist attractions in the rift valley. Kofi Annan and his team of eminent African personalities subsequently called for โ€˜hard choicesโ€™ to me made by the two opposing camps, a halt to all violence, for political leaders to reign in their supporters and for police investigations and prosecutions of the perpetrators of political violence, which they could see first hand and close up.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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