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Uganda Does a U-turn to Travel Visa Fees

Uganda, a country that had increased its tourist visa fees from USD50 to USD100 abruptly seems to be doing a U-turn in its decision to hike the entry fees. Rreliable sources from Uganda intimated to us that after South Sudan putting up a strong protest to the Ugandan government about what has been described as “unaffordable fees for our people”, the authorities are reviewing the new visa fees that seem to be high. The government is now considering an instant review about the visa fees so that a better price for all kinds of travellers can be got.

In July 2015 the government of Uganda increased the cost of visa fees by 100% surprising tourists on arrival as well as tour operators in the country. The abrupt and uninformed increment caused consternation and disbelief among visitor who were taking prebooked safaris in Uganda as well as tourism operators. Sources from the Uganda Tour Operators indicate that the agencies are still trying to come to terms with the government to revise the fees that had made Uganda more expensive to tourists if compared with Rwanda that charges only USD30 for a single entry visa. In addition to that the rise in fees at the beginning of July, caught many tourists unaware at the airport as neither Uganda’s embassies abroad as well as the local tour operators who had booked safaris for their clients.

Tour operators are also against the decision by the Ugandan government to make special provisions for citizens of South Sudan, to pay only a US$50 visa fee, reversing the decision of last month which raised visa fees broadly to US$100 per person, per entry. “If they can reduce the visa fee for South Sudanese, they can surely reduce them for everyone else. We are already struggling with high taxes here which made safaris upcountry a lot more expensive compared to last year. Now the visa fees are doubled. Does our government think the markets can absorb such sudden changes? We are working against the odds to bring more tourists here and for the last year things were very tough. Make no mistake, higher cost for travel to Uganda will be counterproductive.”

Kazinga Channel View Resort opens in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Kazinga Channel View Resort in Queen Elizabeth National Park is now open for booking

Information reached us recently of the opening of Kazinga Channel View Resort, a new budget resort in Queen Elizabeth National Park located, in southwestern Uganda.

The newly opened hotel is located in Katunguru area along Kazinga channel, 1kilometre within the game park. The Kazinga Channel which links two lake – Lake George in the northeast to Lake Edward in the southwest is a dominant feature of Queen Elizabeth National Park trip as the area hosts a wide range of water bird species, hippos, elephant, buffalo, warthog and Nile crocodiles. Wild game can be seen right within the resort’s grounds.

Kazinga Channel View Resort offers accommodation in categories of singles, doubles and twin rooms and bandas for safari holidays, vacation rentals or temporary lodgings. The rooms are spacious and comfortable. Singles from US$76 and doubles from US$152. There is also secure camping grounds.  The resort has own restaurant & bar.

Due to its prime location, Kazinga Channel View Resort offer guests a good base for activities like; boat launch trips, sport fishing and bird watching.

For more information about Kazinga Channel View Resort or to book your room, visit the park website.

Malaysian University To Open A Campus In Uganda

The Limkokwing University of Creative Technology will open a campus in Uganda, its fourth in Africa, said Uganda’s Vice-President Edward Ssekandi.

“Limkokwing has announced that they will be opening a campus in Uganda,” Ssekandi said, adding that he visited the university in Cyberjaya on Saturday.

He was addressing fellow leaders during the Langkawi International Dialogue 2011 session on “Realising National Visions through Socio-Economic Transformation” on Sunday 18 June.

Addressing participants at the Ninth Langkawi International Dialogue 2011, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, announced that Malaysia’s Limkokwing University of Creative Technology is offering scholarships to the tune of RM12 million to African countries participating in the smart partnership movement.

More than 12,000 students are currently studying in Limkokwing’s campuses in Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland all in Southern Africa

Later in the evening, Ssekandi met Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for a bilateral meeting at the premier’s suite at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.

Speaking after the meeting, Ssekandi said both countries would further enhance trade ties and cooperate in the field of education and innovation. “We had a good bilateral meeting today in which we discussed specific technical aspects of bilateral trade and on how to further increase the number of Ugandan students pursuing tertiary education in Malaysia,” he said.

Ssekandi was optimistic the bilateral meeting would open the gateway for businessmen from Uganda & Malaysia to identify new export products.