Uganda Tourism Board team lead by the CEO Ms. Lilly Ajarova on Sept, 7th joined numerous tourism partners and stakeholders in the inaugural Rwenzori Theluji Festival organized by Kasese Tourism Investors Forum (KTIF) from 01st – 04th September 2022. The Chief Guest, State Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Hon. Martin Mugarra Bahinduka was joined by area Members of Parliament that included Kasese Municipality Kambale Ferigo, former Leader of Opposition Rt. Hon. Winnie Kiiza and Dr Crispus Kiyonga former ambassador of Uganda to China, Kasese district RDC, several government officials, the private sector and media among others.
While launching the expo and the tourism, trade and investment round table, Hon. Martin Mugarra emphasized that Kasese had become the logistical and business hub of Uganda. “Urbanization in Kasese is growing with human resource development increasing because of existence of Universities where locals can attain skills for development for the growth of both the tourism industry and the district as a whole. Rwenzori region has a lot of untapped Tourism potential, and therefore, Theluji festival has come to reawaken the sleeping giant in particular Tourism in the region,” he said.
He also noted that government through the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities was implementing the Mt. Rwenzori infrastructure development plan for the period 2021 – 2026 geared towards constructing cold proof accommodation facilities, 4,000 metres trail, 65 bridges, capacity building services, among several other ventures totaling up to UGX70 billion. He retaliated government commitment to marketing destination Kasese as a preferred tourist spot and argued the development partners to support the initiative.
In her remarks, UTB CEO Lilly Ajarova noted that there wasn’t any place on planet earth more beautiful than the Rwenzori region and therefore the need to promote the destination. “Tourism is a multifaceted sector that cuts across the different sectors with a huge multiplier effect. Now that we have everything in the region, we also look forward to promoting the destination as a film destination where film producers, script writers and actors from across the world can take advantage of the natural endowments to come up with block buster beautiful movies. Government recognizes tourism as a lead sector in the development and transformation of Uganda’s economy from peasant to middle income status. Therefore, with the revival of Uganda Airlines, telecommunication infrastructure, peace and security and improved road networks that connect even to the remotest areas of the country including tourism sites and attractions, the task is now up to us to leverage on these developments and opportunities therein to benefit from the industry and develop the industry,” she emphasized.
Numerous activities were organized that aimed at amplifying tourism in the Rwenzori region and positioning Kasese as a top tourist destination that included cultural diversity expo, the Tusker Lite Mt. Rwenzori marathon, tree planting, miss tourism, among several others.
This year’s festival was aligned to the promotion of conservation of the biodiversity around the Rwenzori mountain and support post COVID-19 initiatives for sustainable tourism, trade and investment that promotes Kasese as a viable tourism destination.