President Yoweri Museveni last week launched the Busoga Cultural Tourism Initiative’s Kagulu Hill Climbing Challenge in Buyende district north of Jinja town where he contributed 100m Uganda shillings towards the improvement of the site.
Mr Museveni urged the tourism industry players to provide means for the elderly to participate in the hill climbing challenge. “The children without money are climbing for adventure but are contributing publicity. He called on Tourism planers to simplify the climb for the elderly rich who come for leisure, with a cable or ladder to tap on their money.
The minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Mrs Maria Mutagamba who asked the government to provide her ministry with buses and professional drivers to ease transportation of tourists, also said her sector has plans to start massive teaching of the Chinese language to tour operators and guides with a view to tapping the Eastern market. She also said Uganda tourism stake holders will soon host the president of the United Nations Tourism Organization as well as showcasing tourism attractions in Japan during a forthcoming forum.
The speaker of Parliament Ms Rebecca Kadaga observed that Busoga region boasts of several potential tourism sites that need to be developed including the Igenge palace, Source of the Nile, Itanda Falls, Kyando Memorial Site where a 19th century missionary Bishop Hanington was murdered, Nhenda Hill Cultural site and Kagulu Hill which stands at 3,600 feet above sea level
The hill is believed to be the first migration and settlement centre in the Busoga sub-region. The hill and the surrounding areas have a historical attachment to the formation of Busoga and hence exude a lot of cultural heritage for the Basoga.
It is said Bunyoro kings sought sanctuary and spent their leisure time on Kagulu hill. It is also believed that the caves were discovered around 1686 when Olimi was king of Bunyoro.
The caves are the first settlement and migration centre in Busoga. It is said that Prince Mukama was among the first Bunyoro traditional rulers to conquer Busoga and to settle in the caves of Kagulu hill.
Uganda Wildlife Authority participated in the challenge with an eight man delegation led by the Executive Director, Dr. Andrew Seguya who was flanked by the Business Development Manager Mr. Stephen Masaba. Other ministry officials who graced the occasion included Hon. Maria Mutagamba, Ms Grace Mbabazi Aulo the director of Tourism and member Board of Trustees member for UWA, Mr. Patrick Mugoya the Permanent Secretary and Mr. Cuthbert Baguma the ED for the Uganda Tourism Board among others.