Hilton Hotels & Resorts is committed to two hotels in Uganda – Hilton Garden Inn and Hilton Kampala – to serve different market segments. Samantha Muna, the director of development for the hotel brand in East Africa spoke to The Independent’s Isaac Khisa about their plans and opportunities in the …
Read More »Museveni speaks out on South African visas
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | President Yoweri Museveni has said Ugandans should get visas on entry in South Africa. Museveni was reacting to reports that several Ugandan tour operators recently had difficulty getting visas while others were denied entry to attend the Indaba Tourism Fair in Durban last week. …
Read More »Uganda wins gold at Africa’s Travel Indaba Expo 2019
Durban, South Africa | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda has emerged Best Exhibitor in the category of Southern African Development Community and Africa as a whole, winning gold at Africa’s Travel Indaba Expo 2019 that ended today in Durban There were at least 10 Ugandan exhibiting companies including Abacus African Vacations, …
Read More »Museveni welcomes ‘baby’, pushes for East African airline
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | President Yoweri Museveni has said he is an advocate of an East African Airways to be owned and run by the East African Community bloc to stem what he called unnecessary competition. Museveni urged East African countries to work together instead of competing in the aviation …
Read More »Australian tourists detained after illegally flying drone in park
Kisoro, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Two Australian tourists, who illegally flew drones in a Ugandan park, are in trouble for allegedly spying on Uganda. They are 52-year-old Michael Laurence Seebeck and 38-year-old, Van Benen Naam Fleur. The duo was intercepted by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) game rangers in Mgahinga …
Read More »‘Uganda still safe for tourists’
Kelley Mac Tavish is the Executive Director Pearl of Africa, Tours and travel Limited. She spoke to The Independent’s Patricia Akankwatsa about the state of Uganda’s tourism opportunities. First, can you briefly describe your company? I opened a tour company in Uganda in 1999 called Pearl of Africa, Tours and …
Read More »Ugandan police charge ‘mastermind’ behind tourist kidnapping
Kampala, Uganda | AFP | Ugandan police said Thursday they had charged the alleged “mastermind” behind the kidnapping of an American tourist and her safari guide, who were later released in exchange for a ransom. Byaruhanga Onesmus, a former convict, was charged in a court in the country’s west with …
Read More »Tourists raise safety queries on Uganda
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A number of international tourists have raised concern about their safety while in Ugandan national parks. This follows the kidnap of US tourist Kimberly Sue Endecott from Queen Elizabeth National Park recently. Kimberly was kidnapped by four gunmen alongside a Ugandan tour guide, Jean-Paul …
Read More »Two arrested as police hunt for kidnappers of US tourist Kimberly
Kanungu, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Two men have been arrested and are in custody as Uganda’s security continues the hunt for the four kidnappers of US tourist Kimberly Sue Endicott at Queen Elizabeth Park last week. Police spokesperson Fred Enanga confirmed to URN that there were some arrests made in …
Read More »‘Security errors were made before kidnap of US tourist’
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Tourism Minister Professor Ephraim Kamuntu has admitted that the kidnap of an American tourist and a Ugandan tour guide was a result of a security lapse by officials of the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Kimberly Sue Endicott and her Ugandan tour guide Jean Paul Mirenge …
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