Uganda

Uganda Hotels – The Boost for Tourism

HISTORY

Hotel growth in Uganda started in the 19th century, a decade after independence during the colonial period. this saw the growth of accommodation, transport and infrastructure in Uganda (tourism.) the political instability during the 1970′s and 1980′s led to the decline in the hotel industry as well as tourism. Hotels were closed, destroyed and made into police barracks like the Nile mansions.

The taking over of power in 1986 by the National Resistance movement (NRM) led to the revival of the tourism industry. Uganda has consistently worn foreign and international relations, support of large international organizations like World Tourism Organization, and has attracted internal and external investors. this has led to the rehabilitation of leisure and tourism facilities like hotels.

Visitor arrivals have grown due to the increase in tourism demand from the 512,000 in 2004 to about 700,000 in 2005.Uganda’s tourism sector has continued to grow and is expected to earn the country over $500m (about sh905b) this year from $360m (sh651.6b) last year.

HOTELS/ACCOMMODATION

Uganda has a wide range of excellent hotels and accommodation facilities located in all regions of the country. these are mainly located in the main towns of Kampala (Capital City), Jinja, Entebbe, Gulu, Mbarara, Mbale, Fortportal, Arua.
Uganda is well known for its hospitality and the welcoming nature of the local people, which has promoted the growth and development of hotels and other accommodation facilities.

Upmarket, low budget and more affordable hotels and accommodation include Sheraton Kampala hotel, Serena hotel (formerly Nile hotel), Speke hotel, Grand Imperial hotel, Emin pasha hotel, Hotel Equatoria, hotel Africana, Tourist hotel, Hotel Diplomate, Holiday Express hotel. Imperial Resort beach hotel, Botanical beach hotel, Hotel Tria
ngle, Crested crane hotel, Windsor lake Victoria hotel, Mbale resort hotel, Mt.Elgon hotel, to mention but a few.

Other accommodation facilities include hostels, lodges, campsites, guesthouses and apartments, which are located in the city center, suburbs and in all regions of the country. Lodges include Mweya safari lodge, Speke resort Munyonyo, Red chili rest camp and hideaway, Gorilla forest camp, Volcanoes, Arra fishing lodge, Jacana safari lodge etc. Apartments include Acacia apartments, Windsor apartments, Kabira club, Dolphin suites, Mosa courts, golden leaves, Royal suites, Salama springs, Speke resort, etc. Campsites and hostels include Adrift/Nile high camp, Red chili hideaway, Backpackers, Bigodi wetland sanctuary, Bunyonyi overland camp, Ishasha wilderness camp, Sambiya river lodge Bandas, Hornbill, the crows nest, Lake Nabugabo campsite, etc. Guesthouses include Rwenzori guesthouse, Mamba point, palm tree guesthouse, 2 friends guesthouse, Palm tree guesthouse, etc and Islands like nature’s prime island, Ssese Island, Bulago island.

HOTEL DEVELOPMENTS IN UGANDA.

The latest hotel developments in Uganda are a sure indication of tourism growth in Uganda and EastAfrica as a whole.
The development of tourism has been enhanced by effective promotion, of both the destination and products offered by specific businesses. Establishment of awareness programes, qualified, trained and skilled human resources, improved and stronger tourism administration, investment in the tourism plant and associated products (attractions, entertainment, shopping, etc), enhancing marketing methods and development of basic facilities, social services and proper infrastructure.

The hotels and other accommodation facilities have developed to offer distinguished ambience, panoramic views, and tranquil surroundings. They are uniquely refurbished to offer comfortable accommodations for a relaxing business or holiday trip. Hotels are perfectly situated for visitors with a welcoming atmosphere, friendly and hospitable services, with excellent facilities as well as comfortable guestrooms and public areas.

Business centers with boardrooms and equipment, Bars and restaurants serving intercontinental cuisine with wines and cocktails, Services like massage, sauna, Internet facilities, private lounges, gyms, swimming pools, shopping malls, Recreation courtyards, open spaces, pergolas, terraces and entertainment centers are offered by Uganda’s hotels and accommodation facilities.

The hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting scheduled for 2007 in Uganda has also enhanced hotel development and refurbishment, and Hotel Owners have put their facilities together necessary to host the summit in 2007.

Hotels are on the increase in the country like Emin pasha, which opened at the end of March 2004. Kampala Sheraton Hotel, Bwebajja on Entebbe Road, Garden City, Golf course and Kampala Serena hotels are undergoing construction and refurbishment. Buhoma Homestead, mantana-tented camps and the Volcanoes lodges are undergoing upgrading and expanding, and the most luxurious hotels used by business travellers and upmarket tourists have prices set in dollars.

There are plenty of budget hotels and accommodation facilities in Uganda, and the accommodation sector is growing consistently, with remarkable staff offering hospitable dcor in hotels and all accommodation facilities.

Free Headlines:

Kampala — the Metrological department has advised Uganda farmers to stay planting their crops until a comprehensive forecast is communicated as rains are expected mid March in most parts of the country.

The Commissioner for Meteorology, Mr. Michael Nkalubo, said there is a marked improvement in cloud development over most parts of the country that is expected to translate in rainfall in the coming two weeks.

“The intermittent light to moderate rainfall which is experienced in south western Uganda is expected to continue indicating an early onset over other regions,” Nkalubo explained.

He referred the current rains to the modulating factor of the seasonal rainfall that led to the convergence of low level winds and the tropical cyclone that permitted the revival of the moisture-laden south-east winds to flow over East Africa.

The Head of Seasonal Forecasting in the department, Mr. Deus Bamanya, advised farmers in south western Uganda to start preparing their land and start planting at the beginning of March.

“Farmers in other parts of the country should wait for the seasonal forecast of March, April and may,” Bamanya advised. “Municipalities over Lake Victoria Basin and Western Uganda should open up drainage systems to avoid water accumulation due to surface run off.”

The country experienced a down pour last week which caused flash floods over most low lying areas including in Kampala that raised farmers’ anticipation on whether to start planting or prolong their patience.

“Another tropical Cyclone is already established over the Indian Ocean and advancing westwards most likely to divert the moisture in the next few days causing short dry spells over the country,” Bamanya added.

Most parts of the country had been experiencing a dry spell with frequent winds associated with dust and out break of wild fires as witnessed along the Mt Rwenzori ranges.

Duke Global Health Institute

New research by DGHI faculty member Randall Kramer highlights the need for a more integrated national approach to controlling malaria vectors like mosquitoes in Uganda, which suffers from one of the highest burdens of malaria deaths in Africa.

Uganda malaria experts discuss malaria policy options at Duke co-sponsored workshop

With collaborators from the University of Pretoria and the Ugandan Ministry of Health, Kramer calls for more collaboration among the health, environmental and agricultural sectors. Published in Malaria Journal, the study examined knowledge and perceptions about malaria vector control among key stakeholders in the country.

Integrated vector management is one of the key strategies widely promoted by the World Health Organization for preventing and reducing malaria. An integrated vector control approach combining non-chemical and chemical methods can be tailored to different local ecological and socioeconomic conditions.

“In most malaria prone countries, integrated management of malaria vectors remains a challenging component of malaria control policy,” said Kramer, professor of environmental economics and global health at the Nicholas School of the Environment. “Better cooperation across agencies and continuous engagement of local communities are necessary to better control the mosquitos that transmit malaria.”

The study used structured interviews with individuals familiar with malaria control in Uganda. the study found that Ugandan policymakers and professionals in health, environment, agriculture and fisheries sectors are knowledgeable about malaria and believe it is an important health issue in Uganda.  Three-fourths of the respondents felt that a combination of drug therapy and malaria vector control was the best approach to reducing the incidence of malaria infection. most felt that malaria research in Uganda rarely influenced policy changes.

Regarding the choice and integration of vector control interventions, the most effective methods were considered to be bed nets and indoor residual spraying of pesticides. Larviciding and environmental management were also regarded as effective although not routinely implemented.

The Ugandan experts believe the country’s malaria burden is too big to be effectively addressed by current strategies alone, and a massive scale-up in drug therapy and vector control methods is required. they identified a number of obstacles to improving national malaria control policies, including poor collaboration and community participation, too little monitoring and evaluation, budgetary constraints, inadequate health system infrastructure, and poverty. 

This study is part of the “Malaria decision Analysis Support Tool”, a large-scale, three country project funded by the World Health Organization. For more information, click here.