Jane Goodall visits Uganda ahead of Mount Rwenzori Marathon
Renowned global conservationist and author, Dr. Jane Goodall visited Uganda in late July in the wake of the launch of a national conservation online campaign and a Mount Rwenzori tourist festival.
The Primatologist (specialist in Primates) and founder of the Jane Goodall Institute graced the Sheraton Hotel, Kampala, on Tuesday, August 22nd, where she gave a public lecture themed “Partnerships for Co-existence”. This lecture was given in collaboration with international organisations like the World Conservation Fund, the Chimpanzee Trust, and the Jane Goodall Institute.
Lilly Ajarova, the Uganda Tourism Board’s lead, had launched the mygorillafamily App a few days earlier at the Kampala Tourism Information Centre – an online application that will aid in the tracking and care of Uganda’s mountain gorillas. The application also enables tourists to support conservation efforts remotely while “staying in touch” with the primates they’ve already encountered on Safari.
“Tourism has been the major source of funding for conservation (efforts) in Uganda,” the UTB ED noted. It was on this basis that she applauded both public and private partners for the growth of infrastructure that enables tourism.
“Over the last ten years, we have seen tremendous growth in infrastructure – road networks, lodging, and even airline travel – which has translated into more revenues, not only for tourism but also for conservation.”
The two also spoke as preparations for the Mount Rwenzori Festival were in high gear. The week-long festival in Kasese District began on August 29th and will end on September 2nd, 2023. It features the Rwenzori Community Biodiversity Week from the 29th to the 31st of August, a Tourism, Trade, and Investment Summit on the 1st of September, and a four-day long Tourism Expo from August 31st to September 3rd.
The event will be capped off by the Second Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon on September 2nd, which will bring together track and long-distance running enthusiasts from across the region.
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