A South African-based SRS Aviation Limited is preparing to bestow $10m (sh18b) in flight services in Uganda, a top official said recently. The company is the country’s first black woman-owned and operates airborne services in chartering flights, game count and capture, fire fighting, heli-camping, medical evacuation, aerial photography and film work.

The company’s managing director Sibongile Sambo when she was marketing the project here in Uganda said that they are ready to invest $10m but they wanted a local partner. She was part of the South African delegation led by President Thabo Mbeki that was in Uganda last week.
When Sibangole Sambo was addressing one of Uganda’s leading daily news paper reporter said that the company has access to over 5000 flights worldwide, for in aviation you don’t own a plane, you just lease and manage the aircrafts on behalf of owners.

She said the company leases the necessary equipment for slinging operations aimed at moving injured animals from difficult places for treatment. Other services include power line inspection and maintenance, security, crop spraying and geographic locations.

She also said that the company has access to over 5000 flights worldwide, and that in aviation you don’t own a plane, you lease and manage the aircrafts on behalf of owners. She told this to The New Vision news reporters on Monday at Sheraton hotel.

BY Tanah Hadijah
Uganda Hotel news

STAKE HOLDERS in the Ugandan tourism industry have been inspired to develop eco-tourism because the demand for it has gone up all over the world.

Yakobo Moyini, a consultant for bio-trade programme under the Uganda Exports Promotion Board (UEPB) said recently that eco-tourism was important because it contributes to the conservation of bio-diversity.
Demand for eco-tourism is on the rise because of the growing aging population in the developed world where most of our tourists come from.

Moyini said there was need to improve visitor statistics, diversify the range of accommodation inside and outside tourist attractions and promote environmentally sound concepts to capture eco-tourists. He said tourists should not be disappointed with poor products and services.

Moyini said while presenting his assessment on eco-tourism for the bio-trade programme that there is need for enriching vacations, the outdoors and nature.
Eco-tourism was moving away from a niche market and was draw towards today’s desk bound society because of the need for physical activity.

Moyini said projections for the tourism industry show that by 2010, the gross output from tourism would be at $7.2 trillion and $305m for job creation. But this would only be achieved if we develop eco-tourism. Eco-tourism is ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary locus on experiencing natural areas that advances environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation.

Eco-tourism is not a segment in its purest sense, it does not exist, the only challenge is to develop and market .

BY Otana Hadijah
Uganda Hotel News

Sheraton Kampala Hotel is accustoming to brand the most of the 2007 Commonwealth conference to be held in Uganda.
The five-star hotel recently completed a massive renovation of its rooms, lounge and other facilities and expects to be at its best next year.
Ms Janet Mzigo, the hotel’s Sales and Marketing Director, said that notwithstanding the current political shake ups occasioned by the imminent elections early next year, they anticipate to make the most of the meeting of Commonwealth leaders later in the year.
She told Daily Monitor on the sidelines of an annual dinner hosted by the hotel on December 15 in respect of its venerable clients.

Several guests received gifts from the hotel’s management include weekends at the hotel, flights to S. Africa and Ethiopia among other gifts.
Mzigo said since the termination of the renovation the hotel has made enormous strides in attracting back its old clients and new ones. She said that this year they got major international bookings for conferences and accommodation.
The Sheraton Kampala is among 750 chain of hotel global hotels that provide high quality and international hotel services. Built in 1957, the hotel employs over 1,020 people today.

By Tanah Hadijah
Uganda Hotel News

The Ugandan government has initiated arrangements to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2007. Fabrication for Serena Hotel the expected venue for hosting the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth summit has started.

Ugandan Foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa yesterday said Serena Hotel and Nile Conference Centre would be the venue for the beginning ceremony of the summit, to be attended by 53 heads of government in the former British colonies.

The biennial meeting is going to be thrown open by the Queen of England, Elizabeth II, the head of the Commonwealth.

Kutesa, flanked by state minister for regional cooperation Augustine Nshimye Sebuturo and CHOGM 2007 executive director Hilda Musubira, notified journalists in the Wapakhabulo Auditorium at the ministry headquarters, that the leaders would withdraw to the secluded Speke Resort Munyonyo.

Kutesa said the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Donald McKinnon, visited Uganda early this year with four people who inspected and approved the venues. He mystified journalists when he said the executive session would be held at a yet unnamed hotel being constructed on Nile Avenue by property mogul and investor Karim Hirji. “The Secretary General was here with a team of four. He looked at the venues and approved them. Looking at what Malta offered, we can put up an equal or superior show,” Kutesa, who attended the Commonwealth ministers’ meeting in Malta, said confidently.

Other hotels to host pre-summit conferences are Hotel Africana, Imperial Resort Entebbe, Sheraton Hotel and Hotel Equatoria.

The ministry of Tourism was catechized to rate the hotels and notify the owners of the shortlisted ones to revamp them. Over 3,000 guests are expected to attend the CHOGM.

Kutesa admonished the oppositions for trying to use the arrest of FDC leader Dr Kizza Besigye at the Malta summit to have Uganda disqualified from hosting the summit. He asked, “Hosting CHOGM benefits Uganda. Why should the opposition oppose it? 2007 is a long way. Why should you think that you will still be in the opposition?”
This commonwealth summit conference is going to be Uganda first time privilege which shows that Uganda is developing at a faster rate.

By Tanah Hadijah
Uganda Hotel News

Nile Serena Hotel a member of the Serena Hotels East Africa, the region’s leading hotel group, is under rerenovation and upgrading to a five-star status. The hotel is set to reopen as the Kampala Serena Hotel next February.

The renovation and upgrading project commenced on February 15 and will reach completion by the end of February 2006, at a total cost of $26m (about Shs46.8b).

Facilities of the former Nile hotel are being renovated and upgraded to step up the hotel. Rooms are being configured from the previous 85 to 149 including 120 standard rooms, 17 superior rooms, 11 business suites and a presidential suite. Staff facilities, kitchens, stores and offices, two restaurants, a bar and guest bedrooms, world class health club and fitness center are also being completely refitted.

The hotel will offer employment opportunities to people and offer world class facilities to both leisure and business tourists to Uganda attractions like national parks, city and cultural sites.

The principal shareholder is the Swiss-registered Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development.

By Kisibo Jackie