UGANDA CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY ISSUES COVID-19 PASSENGER MEASURES

Uganda Civil Aviation Authority has issued strict guidelines at Entebbe International Airport in order to help slow the wide spread of Corona virus. In the recent communication, departing passengers will be expected to arrive at Entebbe Airport about 4 hours prior boarding. This is to ensure travelers go through the mandatory health port screening process.

Passengers must avail their valid health certificate issued by the Ministry of Health or undergo a rapid test at the airport prior departure. The arriving and departing passengers on the other hand are expected to put on their face masks and always keep social distancing upon resumption of flights.

According to Engineer Ayub Sooma, the Director Airports and Aviation Security, the new measures have been designed in accordance to the new guidelines from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), World Health Organization (WHO), Airports Council International now that most countries are on plan to start re-opening airports some of which have been closed to passenger traffic for over 2 months.

He was quoted saying that the authority is working with officials from the Ministry of Health, Internal Affairs and Foreign Affairs to ensure the set measures are observed by passengers at Entebbe International Airport.

He added that some measures at the airport facilities will include offering more room for boarding lounges, e-boarding pass readers, installation of automatic sensor non touchable doors and non-touchable taps, automated document readers to restrict excessive scanning of passport. The authority has so far erected 3 big marguess for passengers to keep social distancing.

In the statement issued by the authority’s medical specialists, the health and immigration officers will be in position to serve about 100 passengers in the 2 tents for temperature screening and processing of documents while samples will be collected from a maximum of 10 passengers at the same time.

However, there is need to improve on the aeration inside the tents to avoid infection says Dr. Benson Tumwesigye. He further added that the airport can only resume passenger flights when the Ministry of Health contented that the guidelines are well-observed.

Passenger flights at Entebbe International Airport were temporarily suspended by H.E. President Museveni to limit wide spread of corona virus. Unlike the passenger flights, cargo and emergency flights still continued operating up-to-date. Prior the outbreak of corona virus and lock down, over 90 to 120 flights were handled every day.

UWA RESCUES 5 STRANDED SITATUNGAS AT KARUMA

Did you know that sitatungas are some of the unique antelope species in the wild? The team at Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) have saved 5 stranded sitatunga antelopes at Karuma dam after they were moved by the floating islands due to heavy down pour. By rescuing these unusual creatures is by far a remarkable move to save their lives.

SITATUNGA RESCUED BY UWA ANIMAL CAPTURE TEAM

Sitatungas also popular as marsh bucks (Tragelaphus spekii) are among the unique wildlife species you shouldn’t miss to catch a glimpse on Uganda safaris. They are swamp-dwelling antelopes and they thrive mostly in swampy and marshy habitats especially in tall and thick vegetation areas, seasonal swamps, riparian thickets plus mangrove swamps.

SITATUNGA

Besides Uganda, sitatungas also exist in other parts of African especially Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Tanzania, Cameroon, Kenya, Ghana, Sudan. They come in medium size and stretches about 81 to 116cm high, weighing between 76 and 119kgs for males then females have a weight of 24 to 57kgs.

They feature hairy bodies and they are water resistant with distinct colors. Their bodies are made in such a way that they are capable of living in swampy areas. Males have horns which can easily be spotted on Uganda safaris. They are active mostly early in the morning and late in the evening.

Females became sexually mature at 1 year and males at 1 and half years. The gestation period takes about 9 months and females give birth to single calf and they take about half a year taking care of it. Sitatungas have a life span of 22 to 23 years in captivity.

In Uganda, these antelope species can be spotted on Uganda safaris in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and other areas. 

UGANDA SUSPENDS PRIMATE TOURISM AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN ITS PROTECTED AREAS.

Following the outbreak of COVID-19 and confirmed cases, Uganda through Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has suspended primate tourism and research activities in the protected areas to help contain the COVID-19. The management of UWA has therefore assessed the present situation at hand and has listed some of the key measures to assist safeguard the country’s wildlife heritage and they include among others;

Ø  Primate tourism and research activities across all protected areas have been temporarily suspended till 30^th April 2020.

Ø  Primate filming has been put on hold till 30^th April 2020.

Ø  Trackers will be availed with essential PPE so as to avoid disseminating any likely infections to the primates.

Ø  Commercial motorcycles including boda boda and bicycles are not allowed in protected areas.

Ø  An internal COVID-19 task force has been formed to work closely with the National Task Force and update as well as guide management on daily developments in the containment of the spread of COVID-19 and its implications to wildlife conservation and tourism in the conservation areas.

Ø  The management has also relaxed rescheduling of gorilla and chimpanzee tracking. Tour operators/agents are free to reschedule tracking permits for a maximum of 2 times till 30^th March 2022. This applies to even tour operators who reserved with 30 percent down payment. The move is aimed at offering tour operators and visitors more flexibility to avoid cancellation of tours which have already been reserved.

Ø  All staff have been advised to be vigilant, wash hands thoroughly with soap or alcohol based solutions, keep social distance to limit spread or contracting COVID-19.

WHAT IS TOURISM IN UGANDA LIKE?

When it comes to top African tourist destinations, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe usually feature on top-list. Interestingly, Uganda shouldn’t be left out because there is a lot more to explore and experience unique from the rest of safari destinations. Tourism in Uganda is largely based on nature.

Tourists on Uganda tour are presented with great opportunity to enjoy the unique art and craft, dances, music performances and also indulge into the pristine wilderness areas-national parks, wildlife reserves, tropical rain-forests and many more. The magnificent safari parks to expect to visit in Uganda include Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Semuliki National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Mount Elgon National Park and Rwenzori Mountains National Park.

Safari activities to do in Uganda

Game viewing

Tourism in Uganda largely revolves around wildlife viewing. Game viewing in the pearl of Africa is remarkably one of the best and exciting ways to uncover the hidden treasures in this magical country. On a game viewing tour in Uganda, visitors get a chance to explore various tourist sites including among others Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park and Lake Mburo National Park.

Game viewing in Uganda lets you sight diverse wildlife species including lions plus tree climbing lions which dwell in Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park; African bush elephants, buffaloes, leopards, the Rothschild giraffes, zebras, antelopes, birds, primates to mention but a few.

Game viewing in Uganda

Mountain gorilla trekking tours also make Uganda a unique tourism destination. The iconic tourist sites to visit to trek to see endangered mountain gorillas are Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Approximately half of all the 1063 mountain gorillas live in Uganda thus making it an unusual gorilla tracking destination.

Mountain gorillas

Birding

Uganda hosts an estimate of 1080 distinct bird species and this makes it an ideal birding tour destination. The top birds to sight on bird watching trip here include the great blue turaco, Shelley’s crimson wings, African green broad bill, black breasted barbet, bar tailed trogon, papyrus gonolek, shoe bill stork, Doherty’s Bush shrike, saddle billed stork, pelicans, flamingos to mention but a few.

Shoe bill stork

The leading birding destinations in Uganda include Murchison Falls National Park, Semliki National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Budongo Forest, Mabamba Swamp and many more.

Boat cruise

Boat cruise in Uganda lets you view basking crocodiles, hippos, water birds plus several wildlife species. The best places to visit for launch cruise in Uganda include Queen Elizabeth National Park along Kazinga Channel which joins between Lake George and Lake Edward, Murchison Falls National Park along the Victoria Nile to the bottom of Murchison Falls. Other places include Lake Mburo National Park, Lake Victoria and many more.

Boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park

Mountaineering

Tourism in Uganda also presents tourists opportunity to embark on mountaineering adventures. These are basically challenging adventure experiences for hikers in need to challenge themselves. The best places to go for hiking or mountaineering in Uganda include Rwenzori Mountain ranges, Mount Gahinga, Mount Elgon, Mount Muhabura and Mount Sabyinyo.

Mountaineering in Rwenzori Mountains

MISHAYA GORILLA FAMILY GETS A BABY GORILLA

The Mishaya gorilla family gets a baby gorilla. March has been a blessed month of 2020 for the tourism and conservation fraternity as the Mishaya gorilla group welcomes its newly born gorilla in the Rushaga gorilla tracking region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. We congratulate mother Biretwa for adding on the number of members within the Mishaya group and the population of these endangered species which remain fewer than 1063 in the world today. Based on communication from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the baby and the mother were all in good health conditions.

NEWBORN GORILLA AND MOTHER

Mishaya gorilla is a habituated gorilla group which is open for tourists on Uganda gorilla tracking safari to track in the Rushaga region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It makes up part of the 20 habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and tracking it rewards trekkers with astonishing experiences. This gorilla family is a product of the Nshongi gorilla group and it split away in July, 2010. 

Originally, it was headed by Mishaya Silverback who broke away with 8 members to begin his own family. It consisted of Mize a juvenile, Mwiza baby, Bakunzi, Rutaro, Mishaya Silverback. The group has so far expanded to 12 members with the newly born gorilla. In the Rushaga region, visitors can also track habituated gorilla groups like Nshongi, Kutu, Bweza, Mucunguzi, Busingye, Rwingi, Kahungye and Bikingi.

Where to stay in Rushaga sector

Tourists on gorilla tracking safari in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can spend a night in accommodation options like Ichumbi Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Mutanda Lake Resort, Gorilla Valley Lodge.

How to get to Rushaga sector

Rushaga region is reachable by road or by air. Travelers can commence their journeys from Entebbe or Kampala via Masaka-Mbarara- Kabale/Kisoro to Rushaga area-southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This is a 9-10 hours’ drive journey from Entebbe/Kampala.

WHAT ABOUT GORILLA TREKKING BRIEFING

Gorilla trekking briefing in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) offers insight into what you expect on your actual gorilla trek. It is the first thing to be done at park headquarters before you set off to search for mountain gorillas or the Eastern lowland gorillas in the wild. Gorilla trekking briefing lets you to know the set gorilla trekking guidelines or safety measures. It begins takes place between 7:00am and 8:00am.

Gorilla trekking safety measures that will be briefed to you include washing your hands prior to trekking mountain gorillas in any park of your choice, a maximum of 8 visitors is allowed to trek 1 habituated gorilla family, keep a distance of 7 meters away from mountain gorillas, only 1 hour is given to visitors to strike their imaginations with gorillas, keep your voices low at all times, bury all your wastes as directed by the park ranger guide, stay within your group that you left with after briefing, no smoking, eating or drinking in the presence of gorillas, leave the gorilla habitat the way you got it or better, no flashlight cameras are allowed when taking pictures of mountain gorillas-you can turn it off before taking photos, do not go to trek gorillas in case you are sick. Mountain gorillas share 98% of their DNA with humans which makes them very susceptible to human infectious diseases.

Where gorilla trekking briefing is conducted

Gorilla trekking briefing is conducted in respective gorilla park headquarters. In Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, briefing is done in Buhoma, Ruhija area, Nkuringo and Rushaga sector. In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, it is done in Ntebeko Visitor Center. In Volcanoes National Park, briefing is conducted at Kinigi park headquarters and in the Virunga National Park at Kibati Patrol Station.

What else is done during briefing

After briefing, the park official will put you in a group of 8 trekkers. Each group will be assigned to one habituated family.

With a valid passport, it is on gorilla trekking briefing date that you will be verified.  Note, only persons above 15 years are allowed trek gorillas in Volcanoes National Park in Northwestern Rwanda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park in Southwestern Uganda and Virunga National Park in Eastern DR Congo.