RWANDA REMOVES VISA FEES

RWANDA IN AN ATTENT TO PROMOTE BOTH LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL TOURSM IT HAS REMOVED VISA FEES .
KIGALI, RWANDA - Rwanda has announced it has exonerated East African citizens from resident visa or work permit fees.
This, according to the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration, started on March 9, 2009.
The changes were announced following a cabinet decision last month, which requested the directorate to deal with issues of visa and work permits on foreigners going to work or reside in Rwanda.
The directorate announced work permits fall under two categories: Category A for a foreigner whose monthly gross remuneration is Rwf500, 000 (US$ 881) and Category B for those whose monthly gross is below Rwf500, 000 ($ 881). The directorate said, for all other nationalities, resident visa fees will drop from Rwf200, 000 ($352) to Rwf50, 000 ($88) per year.
The annual work permit fees will change from Rwf200, 000 ($352) to Rwf50, 000($88) for category A and Rwf10, 000 ($17.63) for Category B.

MUNYONYO IS COMING UP AS ANOTHER TOURISM SPOT NEXT TO NAMUGONGO MARTYRS SHRINE

MYNYONYO IS COMING UP AS ANOTHER TOURISM SPOT NEXT TO NAMUGONGO MARTYRS SHRINE .
On every 3rd June Uganda celebrate the normally known as Martyrs Day in the East African region. As arememberance to the previous mascre /exetution of the matyrs who felt rebellious to the king of buganda kabaka Mwanga who following the introduction og Christianity in Buganda.
Other than the popular Namugongo Catholic and Protestant Martyrs shrines, and later may be St. Balikuddembe (Owino) Market, one neglected or less talked about place is Munyonyo.
The first culprits of Kabaka Mwanga's rage were Andrew Kaggwa and Denis Sebugwawo just on the outskirts of Mwanga's Munyonyo Palace. And there is no better way to introduce Munyonyo as a place of religious rebellion or rather martyrdom and therefore, it is crying for attention so that religious pilgrims can come and experience the feel of the beginning of the road to martyrdom.
Munyonyo is home to Denis Sebugwawo's shrine that has been gazetted by Gaba Catholic Parish as an open church. Every Sunday, mass is said at this open church near Boutique Hotel while Andrew Kaggwa's shrine which has a church that can sit not more than 20 people, rubs shoulders with The Royal Impala Hotel.
Other than Munyonyo being a posh residential place, it is here that the martyrdom (1885-87) marked the beginning of the end of Mwanga's rule and his subsequent exile to the Seychelles. For this, Munyonyo is beckoning for attention as a religious and cultural heritage tourism destination centre. And the well tended Andrew Kaggwa's shrine that seats on a five-acre piece of land is ideal for picnics, while the Mulungu landing site is out there calling for attention.
Hotels are springing up for one to partake of this religious and cultural heritage of Uganda and, other than the famous Munyonyo Speke Resort Hotel; the area is dotted with other pocket friendly, tranquil tropical hotels where 'the sound of silence' can be heard. This sound is the massive Lake Victoria waters hitting the shores, crickets chirping away, birds singing and trees inviting the sweet winds.
Munyonyo has a potential of becoming a commercially viable religious, political, cultural tourist destination where pilgrims will be fascinated by the gaiety of this inviting place. But it can only provide that invitation if the seeds of religious, political and cultural tourism are sown and nurtured beyond Namugongo shrines by both the church, the kingship and Bulange, the seat of Buganda Kingdom.
According to Godfrey Walusimbi, who loiters around Munyonyo landing site and who claims to be possessed by the ancestral spirits of Buganda, the whole idea of 'murdering' the martyrs was hatched at the Munyonyo palace.
This is confirmed by an elder who does not feel comfortable to be revealed in the press, that Munyonyo is home to two important Catholic martyrs: Andrew Kaggwa and Denis Sebugwawo.
The elder says these were pages of King Mwanga II at the Munyonyo palace which is currently home to Prince Walugembe. The king had called for a conference of his people regarding his pages' rebellion and what could be done to stop their fanaticism.
The name Munyonyo is derived from the Luganda word 'okunnyonyola' meaning to expound, to educate, inform, or to enlighten. The king would call a conference of his people to Munyonyo to discuss or explain a given happening.
During the religious wars and the kingship of Mwanga II, the British administration would intervene and exile Mwanga to Bulingugwe Island which is just a kilometre from the landing site of Mulungu.
Mulungu itself has its various connotations. It derives its name from 'okulungamya' or 'okumulungula ensonga' meaning, to make clear or to clear some air over a given matter or issue within the kingdom.
This landing site is where Arabs penetrated the hinterland of Buganda from Karagwe in Tanzania. And they would always say: 'Tumefika Salaama' meaning we have arrived safely and they would meet King Mwanga at Munyonyo Palace. That is also how a whole village just outside Munyonyo is called Salaama.
Arabs convinced Mwanga to become a Moslem from Munyonyo Palace. The Christians later met Mwanga at Munyonyo and convinced him to change religion and become a Christian. However, interestingly, Mwanga kept his shrine for the spirit of Nalongo Nagadya at Mulungu.
Mulungu is the very point through which Mwanga wanted to have a canal linking Bulange Palace and Munyonyo Palace. This was the reason the Kabaka's lake was dug so that the canal could go through the Kibuye artisan town and Salaama and drop in at Mulungu on Lake Victoria.
The king loved the canoe sport and wanted to have canoe rides from Bulange to Munyonyo and hold clan canoe competitions from Bulange to Munyonyo. Every year, the Baganda under the kingship of Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II hold canoe competitions at Mulungu.
Munyonyo, therefore, was not only a place of discussing issues pertaining in the kingdom but also the beginning of hatching the plan to finish off all those who had rebelled against the king for the sake of foreign religions.

GORILLAS IN THE MIEST

HAVE AN EXPERIENCE OF YOUR LIFE TIME ,DON'T YOU FEEL AMAZZED WHEN ONE TALKS OF ADVENTURERING IN THE WILDERNESS!!!! ENCLOSE YOUR SELF WITH THE TEN REASON AS TO WHY ONE WOULD FELL FREE TO PARTICIPATE IN ADVENTURING
Top 10 Reasons to Travel

10) It's interesting to see differences between western and non-western culture.

9) Driving from one place to the next is often its own adventure.

8) Pick up cool gifts for your friends/family like rain sticks from the E.Africa Uganda/Rwanda.

7) Learning a foreign language is sexy.

6) Trying new foods is always fun! Have some grilled cuy (guinea pig) in kampala one of uganda's capital city.

5) Helps you remember not to take things for granted back home.

4) See/experience things firsthand that you learned about in school.

3) Instead of zoo or aquarium, see animals in their natural habitat while trekking in the jungle or adventuring in the wildernes.

2) Experiencing different places and cultures can expand tolerance.

1) You meet great people and can make lifelong friendships.
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THE HECTIC NATURE OF LIONS

An photo of an African king of the jungle (lion)http:

THE HECTIC NATURE OF LIONS

Life is so hectic in nature as its being looked at in different perspective as both are complements to each other one would ask him self about the mighty lions with all its superiority of being king of the jungle bending down to its knees where the forces of demand and supply interacts in the wilderness there fore animals should be given an ample time of privacy with minimal human interference as observation greatly affects the breeding patterns of theses wild species as a photo a lion escaped from Congo DRC because of much interference of the rebel groups that paved way to migration of most wildlife to Uganda’s side/Ishasha sector . though nature has checks and balances there fore human beings should leave a breathing space for nature to take its course since in any eco system there must be apray and predator but one would as him self that ‘lion is predator to most species in the jungle but in terms of population they are the few species compared to other species in the jungle yet there is no prey to lions why do you think so……………….??????

UGANDA WILD LIFE AUTHOLITY CREATES UNIQUENESS OF TOURIM PRICES SO US TO BOOST TOURISM IN EAST AFRICA (New Tariff)

Uganda — Beginning January 2009, nationals of the East African Community are to pay the same amount as their Ugandan counterparts to gain access to utilities and services of Uganda’s national parks and game reserves.
With effect from January 2009, Kenyans, Tanzanians, Rwandans and people from Burundi will pay UShs5,000 for adults and UShs2,500 for the children or the equivalents of those sums of money to visit any wildlife gazetted area in Uganda. The money will, however, not cover other additional activities like mountaineering, gorilla tracking and chimpanzee habituation experiences amongst other services that may be provided by national parks.
In Uganda, wild life protected areas include Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Mgahinga National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kibale National Park amongst others.
Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the body charged with managing the country's protected areas, undertakes a biennial review of the entry and tourism tariffs with the aim of determining whether the tariffs correspond to the market forces and are in line with those charged by neighbouring countries.
Under the new tariff regime, the differences between Ugandans and the other East Africans has been removed and replaced by the category of East Africans under which Ugandans fall.
Children under the age of five years, students from Ugandan schools and honorary wardens will always receive free admissions to the protected areas. Students on educational trips must however carry valid identity cards and a letter from their schools.
In addition to harmonising the fees charged on East Africans, UWA has offered a 50% discount from the 15th of December 2008 to the 15th of January 2009.
The Executive Director of UWA, Moses Mapesa said they had decided to offer the discount at this time of the year because it falls under school holiday time.
"We have decided to offer this discount because this is when most people are on holiday. We would like it if Ugandans and the East Africans took this opportunity because entry into the national parks is going to be UShs2500 (below $2) for all those people who have residence in the East Africa region," he said.
Mapesa also said UWA provides annual entry permits to all protected areas for foreign residents and East African residents. An annual permit costs $50 for an individual, $75 for a couple, $100 for a family of four people with children not exceeding 15 years of age and $400 for corporate organisations providing entry for 10 people.
Foreigners resident in Uganda will now pay $20 for adults and the children below 15 years of age will pay $10. The foreign non-residents will, however, pay $30 for adults and $15 for children below 15 years.
"The need to harmonise tourism tariffs in the East African region is what has compelled us to act in this way. We under took the measure after extensive consultations with other stakeholders in the region," Mapesa said.
It is still unclear whether the other East African countries are also going to charge uniform fees to their nationals and the nationals from the other East African states.
The UWA has also increased the tariffs for chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park from $70 to $90 for foreign non-residents and from $50 to $70 for foreign residents. Citizens of East African countries will pay UShs60,000.
A single day for the chimpanzee habituation experience which involves spending 12 hours watching the chimpanzees feed, play, care for their young and construct nests will cost foreign non-residents $220, foreign residents $150 while the citizens of East Africa will pay $70.
Foreign non-resident persons are the people who come into East Africa exclusively as tourists and do not have any sort of residences while the foreign residents are the people currently residing in East African as expatriates or otherwise.
Gorilla tracking fees have also increased: tracking permits in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are now at $500 for the foreign non-residents, $475 for the foreign residents and UShs250,000 for East Africans. Ugandans too will pay Ushs250,000 up from the previous Ushs150,000.
In an attempt to attract more locals into the tourism sector, the UWA is encouraging people by reducing entrance fees this festive season, harmonising tariffs for East Africans and expanding points of accommodation at most of the major tourist attractions.
"there has been an extensions to Kyobe and Pakuba lodges, we have also received requests to reconstruct Katurumu lodge at Kidepo Valley National Park and Kyambura in Queen Elizabeth is being expanded,blogcatalog" content="9BC9161900"

Shoe Bill stock : Africa’s most sought after bird

Shoe Bill stock : Africa’s most sought after bird
Uganda is widening its range of tourism activities currently Uganda is under a drastic change of promoting Avi- tourism so most special interest tourist tourists have started flopping into Uganda for birding exactions Uganda is more than just Gorillas. With 23 years of dramatic tourism growth Uganda has now been voted the number one birding destination in Africa. Travelers to Africa have unanimously consented that Uganda not only has a great diversity of wildlife but also a profusion of bird species.
Sir Fredrick Jackson, a former Governor of the Uganda protectorate and keen ornithologist once described Uganda as a "hidden Eden….and a wonderland for birds".
He was right as no other area in Africa can match Uganda's amazing diversity of habitats and this richness is reflected in the available 1056 bird species that include the rare shoebill stork - arguably one of the worlds's most sought after birds.
Also known as Balaeniceps rex translated as "King Whale head"; the shoe bill is remarkably a striking bird with certain pre-historic looks. It is classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Aves and order Ciconiiformes.
The shoe bill has a large head and unusually long and wide colored bill, which ends in a hooked tip. Standing at 1.5 m in height and sharing attributes with both herons and storks, shoe bills with broad wings, long legs and unwebbed feet live alone in widely spaced pairs.
Some of the places known for viewing of this rare bird specie include Mabamba swamp on the shores of Lake Victoria, the banks of the Nile River in Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Kikorongo in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Kyoga and the southern fringe of Lake Albert that adjoins with the Semliki wildlife reserve.
Their stealthy movements over rafts of floating vegetation, enable them to get hold of prey that include lung fish, water snakes and small crocodiles.
Partially nocturnal and sluggish, the shoe bill obtains its diet by probing the mud with its boot like bill. They also fly with their heads and necks folded back.
As the breeding season approaches usually in the months of April to June, the male and female start engaging in a bill clacking courtship prior to mating and putting up a nest of broken reeds and other aquatic vegetation.
Two eggs are usually laid with both the female and male taking turns incubating them for a period that takes about a month. Two silvery brown chicks are hatched - and do remain helpless for some time. The young birds are dependant on the skilful hunting of their parents.
This goes on for about four months - till the young bills are properly developed. Shoe bills life span usually ranges between forty and forty -five years. Approximately 1000 shoe bills are still believed to survive in different parts of Uganda. With increasing human population characterized by continued habitat destruction and encroachment the survival of the shoe bill stork is paramount considering the increasing number of dedicated ornithologists as well as the novice bird watcher to Uganda who are coming in big numbers to get a glimpse of this rare bird.
For more information on these excursions, contact vacationwildholidays the tour operator under the umbrella of Uganda Tourism