Uganda Safari News

By Nakiboneka Halimah
Uganda Safari and Travel News Reporter
Kampala Uganda

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is expecting to raise about US$100million in one year from an Internet-based tourism campaign dubbed ‘Friend a Gorilla Campaign.’ 

The campaign, which is due to be launched this week (September 26) will raise the money through the Internet and other forms of sponsorship for wildlife conservation.

“Beside the $1 that will be paid for each gorilla befriended on the internet, we expect to get sponsorships for families of gorillas from corporate companies,” said Mr. Moses Mapesa the executive director UWA.

Uganda’s tourism sector has registered significant growth over the past three years in both revenues collected and the number of visitors arriving into the country.

In 2006, Uganda registered 500,000 visitors but that number was bettered in 2007 with 700,000 visitors while 2008 saw 800,000 visitors come to Uganda. The revenue collected from tourism has also been rising. In 2006, $350 million was collected; in 2007 $450 million was collected while in 2008 $600 million was collected. It is estimated that gorillas alone contribute $200 million annually.

The rise in numbers can be attributed to improved security, facilities especially in the hospitality industry and a rich flora and fauna.

Beside these attractions, the country boasts of some rare animal species including tree climbing lions found in the Ishasha the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park and chimpanzees found in Kibale National park, kyambura gorge Queen Elizabeth national park and Budongo forest Murchison falls National Park.

Mapesa said the campaign is aimed at positioning Uganda as an up-market tourism destination to local, regional and international markets. Under this campaign, Ugandans and the international public will befriend a Ugandan mountain gorilla through internet-based social networks such as Face book, Twitter and My Space.

Anyone will be able to befriend as many gorillas as they wish and pay $1 for each of the gorilla they befriend. Each gorilla will be befriended by as many people possible.

A Global Positioning System (GPS) will be used to show the gorilla movements on a map of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park so that whoever befriends a gorilla is able to tell its movements on the map.

Uganda is home to 53% of the world’s mountain gorilla population, with the other half spread in the three trans-boundary national parks - Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in southwestern Uganda,Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and the Virungas in the Democratic Republic of Congo.