The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Fort-Portal, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT & MOFA MEDIA | The award-winning documentary “Rwenzori Source of Life” that features Oyo Nyimba Kamba Iguru Rukidi IV, King of Tooro Kingdom summiting the Margherita – the highest peak of Mountain Rwenzori, is now part of the entertainment package on all Brussels Airlines long-haul flights.
“We are thrilled to announce that the award-winning documentary “Rwenzori – The Source of Life” has been featured on all our long-haul flights! Do look out for this spectacular clip on your next flight with us,” Brussels Airlines said in a statement.
King Oyo embarked on the remarkable expedition to Uganda’s tallest mountain, Rwenzori last year, as part of a concerted effort to emphasize the crucial importance of environmental conservation, climate action, and inclusive growth in Uganda’s sustainable development journey. Margherita Peak (5,109m) is the summit of the Rwenzori Mountains and the highest point of Uganda.
The effects of climate change on the “Giant” are clearly evident in the melting glacier, which the King emphasized as a critical reason to protect and conserve the natural environment. The neighboring communities in the region are also significantly impacted by these changes.
“Brussels Airlines continues to support and promote destination Uganda to the World. This documentary displays how “Gifted by Nature” Uganda truly is through its natural beauty, diverse culture and remarkable wildlife species,” the airlines said.
At the launch last year, tourism officials described the documentary on the king as one of the key factors behind the revival of Uganda’s tourism sector from the effects of COVID-19.
“In 2021, 521000 tourists came to Mountain Ruwenzori while in 2022 the number grew by 50% and as we are talking now (towards the close of 2023), we have received close to a million tourists,” said Daniel Irunga, senior brand officer at the Uganda Tourism Board.
He also expressed hope that with the existence of this four-time award-winning documentary and other initiatives, Uganda’s tourism sector will fully recover.
Joan Kantu Else Adyeeri, the tourism minister in the Toro Kingdom, revealed that the idea of this documentary was birthed in Kin Oyo’s sitting room at his palace in Fort Portal (June 2021) and through resilience it was finally achieved.
The Awards and Accolades the documentary has got so far
1. Rwenzori – The Source of Life” – Gold
Trophy – 2023 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards.
2. Rwenzori – The Source of Life” – 2023 US
International Awards winners – Tourism – Tourism Products category.
3. Rwenzori – The Source of Life ” Top 5
World Best Tourism Films in the Tourism Products category, World Tourism Film
Awards (Valencia) 2023.
4. Winner – ART & TUR International Tourism
Film Awards (2023) – Portugal.
5. 2nd Place – Tourism Product, Blue Danube
Award – SilaFest Wards, Serbia
*****
SOURCE: MOFA Newsletter September
