UCOTA Monthly E-Newsletter

Greetings from Uganda Community Tourism Association

It is our hope that the first quarter of the year is going on well so far.Time has come yet again when we catch up and review the activities being undertaken by UCOTA and various other tourism stakeholders.

Being the second month of the year, we can attest that so far things have been running smoothly on our end and the momentum to make 2015 a success in Community Based Tourism in very high.

In this edition, we highlight on a community training that was undertaken in Kichwamba and Sipi Falls region, the ongoing Community Based Tourism Enterprises (CBTEs) inventory and KCCA crafts training among others.

These activities were made possible by your continued support and we applaud you for that.

Keep reading!!!

UCOTA News

UCOTA is carrying out a countrywide registration and profiling of Community Based Tourism Enterprises
UCOTA in partnership with the government is spearheading the development of a national Community Tourism Enterprises inventory. All CBTEs are therefore requested to register with us either through ucota please inform your neighbouring CBTEs to also take part.

Why register?

1. To pave way for better service delivery in the sector by both government and UCOTA e.g. marketing, capacity building, etc.
2. To facilitate regulation by government
3. Be part of the National CBTEs inventory

Required information
Name, location (area & district), distance from nearest town, name of and distance from nearest tourism attraction, activities (tourism services offered), ownership, contact (name, email, telephone).

By Management

UCOTA trains Community Tourism Guides in Kichwamba

In the endeavor to concretize quality service delivery and enhanced visitor experience under the One Village One Tourism product, Uganda Community Tourism Association conducted a six-day-interpretive guiding training for community tourism guides in Kichwamba, Rubirizi District.

A total of 16 onsite and trail guides (10Males and 6Females) from the four parishes attended the training. These were from Kataara Women Poverty Alleviation Group, Mukorobozi Wildlife Club, Rumuri Kirinju group, Omumasaka Women Tukore group, Kyambura Game Lodge, Volcano safaris, Enganzi lodge, Kingfisher, Twin lakes Safari lodge and Nyanzibiri -Dave the cave camp plus one free-lance guide. Read more…

UCOTA partners with KCCA to train community driven development groups in Kampala
As part of empowering craft making community groups in Kampala, KCCA through the Department of Social Services and Directorate of Gender and Community Services have been supporting various groups that make crafts in Kampala. However there has been a challenge in quality, design identity and marketing of these products to potential tourist and other buyers.

There is need to produce crafts with an identity to showcase the originality and uniqueness of crafts that would be associated with Uganda. It’s upon this background that the city Authority partnered with UCOTA to develop skills of the community group’s crafts making with ideas in design, quality, branding, choice material and marketing. Read more…

UCOTA Community of the Month

The Elephant Centre Campsite ~ Outside Queen Elizabeth National Park
The Elephant Centre Campsite is located at the boundary of Queen Elizabeth national park, 600m before Kikorongo junction on your way from Kasese town.

Highlights and what to expect:

• Purchasing or viewing original African paintings and crafts in the community shop
• Feel closest to nature with the melodious bird sounds around the campsite.
• Walk up the hill and enjoy the great panoramic lake views over queen Elizabeth national park
• Meet the locals in their setting and be part of them as you walk to the equator
• Unforgettable safari to Queen Elizabeth national park and a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel
• Visiting the local community to participate in their daily life.

Read more…

UCOTA carries out Customer care training for its members and tourism stakeholders in Sipi
As part of our commitment to serve and enrich our community members to run their community based tourism enterprises better; UCOTA during the month of February conducted Customer Care training in Kapchorwa, Sipi Falls region that was attended by both males and females.

Participants were drawn from Crows’ nest camp, Robs Rolling Rock, Moses’ campsite, Sipi river lodge, Sipi fall resort, Lacam Lodge, Noah’s ark, Twalight as well as free-lance guides that operate around Sipi.

Training participants were equipped with the different aspects of customer service, the potential impacts of the good and bad customer service, communication skills as well as handling of customer complaints. The training mode was through short presentations by UCOTA trainers, role plays using various scenarios. Read more…