Uganda Uncovered, a youth movement that aims to position Uganda as a universally recognised tourism destination has rewarded the country’s best travel writers.
During the finale of the 2024 travel writing competition, Michael Turyakira, Winnie Nakiboneka and Bushira Lutaaya bagged shs500,000, shs300,000 and shs200,000 respectively plus brand new mobile phone and fully paid-for-trips as winners.
Speaking during the ceremony, deputy UTB CEO, Bradford Ochieng lauded Uganda Uncovered, the organisers of the competition, for bringing on board budding writers and interesting them in Uganda’s beauty.
“The initiative of travel writing propelled many Ugandans to go out there and tour their own country. They came back and told the stories in a captivating way. This made the UTB work of marketing Uganda as desired tourism destination, much easier that’s why we have always endeavoured to be part in all the editions of this competition,” Ochieng said.
He said UTB will continue supporting the travel writing initiative and training of travel writers.
“Tourism is regaining its first position as Uganda’s top foreign exchange earner and the government is strongly banking on it, in the new National Development Plan (NDP IV) to spur the country’s economic development. The plan aims at increasing foreign exchange earnings from US$1billion to US$10 billion. We shall achieve this by aggressive marketing and promotion of Uganda’s tourist attractions through initiatives such as the Travel Writing Competition.”
Simplicious Gessa, the head of public relations and communications at UTB said, there are many opportunities in the writing and story-telling field that Ugandans can tap into.
“Those years ago, if we had people who could write our own stories, we would not grow up learning how some foreigners discovered our own natural wonders,” Gessa said.
He expressed optimism that the increasing number of participants in the travel writing competitions each year, indicates how many Ugandans are interesting in telling their own stories from their own perspective.
“There is enough space and platforms in magazines, newspapers, websites and blogs where this content can always be published. We encourage you to continue interesting yourselves in writing. We believe there are so many employment opportunities in this particular field,” he said.
Allen Irene Namisango, the Team Leader at Uganda Uncovered said the competition started in 2021, when the world was just recovering from the ripple effects of COVID-19.
“We wanted to encourage people, especially Ugandans to travel and visit their beautiful endowments. We are grateful for the overwhelming participation each year,” Namisango said.
She noted that the first edition of Travel Writing Competitions held in 2021 saw 54 writers participating but noted the number has been increasing over the years.
Namisango noted that last year, 317 participants were registered.
“These competitions are a trademark to the array of tourism activities we engage in. Several countries in the region have extended an invitation to us, to have a similar endeavour implemented in their tourism sector,” she said.
During this year’s competition, other travel writers who made it to the top 20 included Titus Nsubuga, Collins Mark Katamba, Jacqueline Penina Babirye, Isaac Namanya, Alex Kayola, Irene Chosen Akellot, Precious Mbabazi, Joel Kibirango, Canine Safaris, Racheal Matsiko, Gilian Ninsiima Mubangizi, Amos Mbyemire, Beatrice Naigaga, Dinah Kansiime, Jacky Phiona, Jannat Nakasanje and Timothy Ogwok Ogwok.
