KAMPALA:- The Uganda Tourism Board and the Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited have sealed a deal to package and market Karuma and Isimba Hydropower stations as tourism products.
Under the partnership, UTB is to assist UEGL to package and commercialize a variety of planned projects and activities at the power dams that among others include plant tours, boat cruises, sport fishing, hospitality facilities and souvenirs.
According to a joint press release by both institutions, the agreement supports UTB’s efforts to diversify ‘Destination Uganda’s tourism products beyond the dominant wildlife-based tourism, thereby increasing tourist stay and pend in Uganda.
Upon completion, Karuma HyrdoPower Dam and Isimba HydroPower Dams will generate 600MW and 183 MW respectively.
Isimba which was commissioned on 21 March 2019 and Karuma which is expected to be commissioned in June next year, are all owned by Government of Uganda and managed by UEGCL.
Lilly Ajarova, the UTB Chief Executive Officer and Hon. Daudi Migereko, the Board Chairman signed on behalf of UTB while Dr Eng. Harrison Mutikanga, the UEGCL Chief Executive Officer and Proscovia Margaret Njuki, the power Board Chairperson signed on behalf of the power generation company.
Accordingly, UEGCL with the support of UTB shall develop promotional content including photographs and or videos for Karuma and Isimba Hydropower stations while UTB will provide support to UEGCL by promoting Karuma and Isimba tourism products to both domestic and foreign tourists via various platforms at her disposal.
On the other end, UTB will assist with coordination with other key stakeholders in the tourism sector on this project including but not limited to Uganda Wildlife Authority, Uganda Hotels Owners Association, the Association of Uganda Tour Operators among others to further sell the tourism potential of the two projects.
MediaScape News understands that the two agencies will organize joint benchmarking visits to other similar tourism destinations with existing related hydropower projects such as Three Gorges in China, Victoria Falls in Zambia, Niagara Falls in Canada among others.
UTB will assist UEGCL in the standardising of products and tourist services at Karuma and Isimba Tourism sites.
UTB and UEGCL will further create links on their respective websites highlighting destination Uganda and its various tourism products and features.
The agreement shall run for three years from the date of signature.
Some of the tourism products/activities being considered for development by UEGCL at the two dams include:
Project construction videos/photos, Exhibition rooms (plant models, rocks) at the visitors’ centre auditorium, Guided Plant Tours, Boat cruises, sport fishing and bird viewing on the reservoir lake at Isimba, Setting up of hotel/conference/shopping mall/Restaurant facilities, Setting up Project Souvenir shops at different locations like the Airport, Park hotels and any other strategic location as advised by UTB, Integrating plant tours with existing tourism facilities within the vicinity of the dams and Setting up of the Karuma Power Plant Resort” close to the tailrace outfall.
“This MoU marks the beginning of an important journey for Uganda. When brought to fruition, the successful development of Karuma HPP and Isimba HPP into tourism sites will further diversify our tourism portfolio and therefore contribute to our core objectives i.e., sustainably increasing the volume (numbers) and value (earnings) of tourism to Uganda and by extension, Ugandan households, and livelihoods, through the creation of jobs and increased tax revenue,” said Lilly Ajarova, the Uganda Tourism Board CEO.
Dr. Eng. Harrison Mutikanga, speaking on behalf of UEGCL said that the MoU is in line with UEGCL’s Five Year Strategic Plan (2018 -2023) that among others focuses on the key objective of enhancing its business portfolio.“As UEGCL, we pledge total commitment to the partnership,” said Mutikanga.