| Dear Reader,
Greetings from Uganda Community Tourism Association,
It is yet another time when we share our interesting experience in the tourism industry. This moment is usually filled with admiration as we flash back on the long journey that community tourism in Uganda has taken. We can’t help but applaud each and everyone of you for the great contribution in making the journey of a thousand miles worth.
We are once more honored to share with you the milestones made during the month of March 2015. Our community based tourism activities have taken us to the scenic Crater Lakes in Western Uganda and the equally amazing Northern part of the country.
It has been an awesome month. Welcome aboard and let’s walk this beautiful journey together.
Happy reading!
UCOTA News
UCOTA’s office has relocated
Uganda Community Tourism Association wishes to inform all stakeholders, partners and friends that the office has been shifted from plot 7A, Lugogo Bypass to Bukoto Plot 1732 Old Kira Road. The office contacts remain the same. Telephone: ucota See attached map below for directions.
Amazing Community Coffee Roasting Experience
Arriving in a home with scenery of the crater lakes in Rubirizi District in Western Uganda, you will be welcomed by the heavy laden coffee branches with multicolor coffee berries in green, yellow, red and sometimes with white open flowers, in season.
Guided by the farmer, you’re taken to the coffee garden and he starts by showing you the basics of coffee farming and picking. “We just make sure we pick only the red juicy seeds and leave the green ones plus the remaining seed stock on the branch or you will not have a good harvest at the end leave alone the risk of losing the flowering for the next season.” These are some of the words we heard from the Douglas Santana while taking us through the coffee farming experience. Read more…
Discovering the wilderness Kidepo Valley National Park
The alluring scenery of uniquely formed valleys, the untampered wilderness and freely roaming animals is the sight that welcomes you to Kidepo Valley National Park (KVNP) that is located in the furthest end of North Eastern Uganda.
Right from Narus to Kidepo – the two valleys that lie side by side to form the park – the beauty of KVNP is unmatched and can only be described as the ultimate wilderness park. It is among one of the dream destination that a visitor can look forward to once on a Wildlife safari in Uganda.
It is this beauty that I got to experience a couple of weeks ago during the discovery trip while representing my organization, Uganda Community Tourism Association (UCOTA) which was among other tourism stakeholders who had gone on a week-long visit to familiarize with what the park has to offer. Read more…
UCOTA trains communities on chilli growing
In the continued effort to promote community tourism, as well as conservation of Uganda’s Wildlife and Natural resources around communities, Uganda Community Tourism Association (UCOTA) has in addition to other projects initiated a Chilli/red pepper growing project.
The activity which is aimed at controlling animals and vermin from raiding community crops along the park boundaries of Queen Elizabeth National Park is under the ongoing One Village, One Tourism Product (OVOTP) that is being implemented in Kichwamba Sub County, Rubirizi District in Western Uganda
The chilli growing activity is being undertaken in partnership with various stakeholders, community members and majorly farmers who cultivate along the park boundary. It is aimed at encouraging the community members grow red pepper to control wild animals from raiding crops and also to market part of the produce which will in turn sustainably improve their livelihoods at household level in their respective villages. Read more…
Ideal Community Conservation Experience
Kataara Women’s Poverty Alleviation Group
Who would have thought Elephant dung could make paper?
Kataara Women’s Poverty Alleviation Group is proving that this is possible beyond any reasonable doubt. With their uniquely designed greetings cards, menus and gift bags that are all products of Elephant dung, the women group is not only earning a decent living from these products but also contributing to conservation activities around Queen Elizabeth National Park.
During Uganda Community Tourism Association’s (UCOTA’s) recent visit to Rubirizi in Western Uganda, where this group is located, we learnt a lot about how the members have made what used to be a community menace of Elephant destroying crops, to an income earning activity even to villagers who are not members of their group. Read more… |
Coffee roasting demo by Santana
Elephants in Kidepo Valley National Park
Seed bed preparation for chilli planting
Elephant dung gift bag
