KANUNGU: The Executive Director of the Kigezi Healthcare Foundation, Dr. Anguyo Geoffrey, has urged the people of Kigezi sub-region to embrace and promote their culture and explore the opportunities of tourism.
He made the remarks at the commemoration of the World Environment Day celebrations Tuesday afternoon at Kyeshero, Kanungu District
Dr Anguyo disclosed that Africa was lagging behind as a result of failure to promote their culture is and unrelenting destruction of wetlands for unsustainable reasons.
“Africans resort to promoting European items ahead of their own; denting their culture and sustainable development,” added Dr. Anguyo.
He further cautioned the residents to desist from using imported items – chemicals, medicines and other consumables – that led to most diseases affecting Africans and yet they resorted to destroying trees which are a source of medicine. Dr Anguyo added that diseases, like cancer, are on the rise as a result of the conduct.
Dr. Anguyo lauded the head of CTT AfriCare Herbert Banobi for his undeniable contribution in promoting tourism, citing that culture and behavioural change ought to be incorporated to guarantee the development of the greater Kigezi sub-region and Uganda as a whole
Banobi expressed concern over tourists visit Uganda just to manipulate the tourism sector and instead promoting their own culture. He urged Government to maintain roads within Bwindi to support the tourism sector so that many are attracted in the country for an experiential rendezvous with nature.
With a booming tourism expedition in Kigezi sub region over the year, over 20,000 gorilla permits are sold annually, which translates into collection of over Shs39b per annum with mountain gorilla tracking.
This, as a result, has attracted more tourists in the region with a spillover effect in areas of auxiliary service development, especially in hotel and hospitality and the transport sector.
