Uganda tourism opens 2nd Twegaite Source of the Nile Run

The Twegaite Source of the Nile Run is one of several sports events that the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) partners with the private sector to promote regional and domestic tourism.

The Twegaite Source of the Nile Run is one of several sports events that the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) partners with the private sector to promote regional and domestic tourism.

The Speaker of the Uganda Parliament, Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, launched the run which is part of events to promote domestic tourism in the Busog region in Eastern Uganda, and specifically in Jinja the biggest city in the region.

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Grace Moses Balyeku MP Jinja West

The run is organized by Twegaite International Organization a non-profit corporation based in the USA. Twegaite brings together children and friends of Busoga, both in the diaspora and Uganda, with a primary objective of reaching out in a collaborative manner for Busoga Regional Development. It was founded in the USA in 1998. Their groupโ€™s primary objective is to reach out in a collaborative effort for Busoga regional development.

Hon. Kadaga said the first run had been a success even though it was held on the shores of the River Mississippi in the USA.

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Ofwono Opondo, CEO Uganda Media Centre

โ€œTwegaite is an organization that brings together the Basoga and other people from eastern Uganda, all living in the USA. I was chief runner at the first event in St. Paul/Minneapolis and I finished the race,โ€ said Kadaga. She was addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala.

Kadaga said this is the first time the run is on the shores of the worldโ€™s longest river, the River Nile. The Nile at about 6,700 km from Jinja in Uganda to the Nile Delta in Egypt on the shores of the Mediterranean is the longest river.

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Stephen Asiimwe CEO Uganda Tourism Board

During the second edition of Twegaite Source of the Nile Run, the organizers hope to raise funds to support a cancer hospice in Jinja. There are a number of activities starting from July 18 all through to July 24, among them a zoo exhibition. Kadaga called upon Ugandans and others to register and participate in the run not only to support the cancer awareness campaign, but also to promote tourism in Uganda.

โ€œEach of us has the personal responsibility to promote our country,โ€ says Hon. Kadaga. โ€œBusoga and the eastern region has a lot to over to the rest of the country and I encourage all Ugandans to participate in this run,โ€ said Hon. Kadaga.

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Stephen Asiimwe UTB CEO; Balyegusa MP Jinja West; Rebecca Kadaga Speaker, Parliament

โ€œThis year, the Uganda Tourism Board is focused on driving domestic tourism to higher levels that the previous years. Uganda is rich and diverse in culture, landscape, and tourism attractions and the Twegaite Source of the Nile Run is one such event that promotes domestic tourism,โ€ says Stephen Asiimwe, the CEO of Uganda Tourism Board.

UTB is partnering with Twegaite International to promote Jinja as a tourism and adventure destination in East Africa. Through this run, UTB and Twegaite International will be driving traffic to Jinja for the entire week (July 18-24).

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Hon. Kadaga launches Nile Run Twegaite

TWEGAITE SOURCE OF THE NILE RUN

WHERE: Source of the Nile, Jinja

WHEN: July 23, 2016

Events start July 18, climaxing with the Twegaite Source of the Nile Run on July 23.

For more information, click here.

FACTS ABOUT IMPACT OF TOURISM IN UGANDA

The total contribution of travel and tourism includes its โ€œwider impactsโ€ (i.e., the indirect and induced impacts) on the economy. The โ€œindirectโ€ contribution includes the GDP and jobs supported by:

โ€ข Travel and tourism investment spending โ€“ an important aspect of both current and future activity that includes investment activity such as the purchase of new aircraft and construction of new hotels.

โ€ข Government collective spending, which helps travel and tourism activity in many different ways as it is made on behalf of the โ€œcommunity at largeโ€ โ€“ for example, tourism marketing and promotion, aviation, administration, security services, resort area security services, resort area sanitation services, etc.

โ€ข Domestic purchases of goods and services by the sectors dealing directly with tourists – including, for example, purchases of food and cleaning services by hotels, of fuel and catering services by airlines, and IT services by travel agents.


VISITOR EXPORTS

Money spent by foreign visitors to a country (or visitor exports) is a key component of the direct contribution of travel and tourism. In 2015, Uganda generated UGX3,732.8 bn in visitor exports.

INVESTMENT

Travel and tourism is expected to have attracted capital investment of UGX1,089.5 bn in 2015. This is expected to rise by 7.6% in 2016, and rise by 7.6% per annum over the next 10 years.

Uganda Accolades

1. CNN: Best Places to Visit in 2016

2. National Geographic: Uganda in top 10 destinations 2013

3. Lonely Planet: Uganda No. 1 tourist destination 2012

4. New York Times travel: Uganda one of 33 places to prioritize to visit in 2012

5. CNN Travel in 2013: Kidepo Valley National Park No 3 in โ€œAfricaโ€™s 10 Best Parksโ€

6. Fodorโ€™s Travel Guides: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in top 10 African safari destinations for 2014

7. SafariBooking.com: Kidepo ranked 14th best national park in Africa; Queen Elizabeth National Park No. 34; and Murchison Falls National Park No. 39

8. African Bird Club: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park voted Africaโ€™s top birding site



9. ITB โ€“ Fifth best Exhibitor 2015

10. Indaba South Africa โ€“ May 2015 โ€“ Best Exhibitor

11. Magical Kenya 2015 โ€“ Best Tourism Board

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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