Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa has applauded the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic, Tomio Okamura for promoting Uganda’s tourism industry through taking part in the gorilla mountain trekking in Uganda. Okamura, who is visiting Uganda, alongside Tayebwa, trekked the mountain gorillas over the weekend in Bwindi impenetrable national park in South Western Uganda during the August 2026 expedition. “He [Okamura] has appointed himself ambassador of tourism for Uganda and he has promised that he is going to do whatever he can to tell the story of Uganda-how beautiful we are as a country and why everyone should come and visit Uganda,” Tayebwa said. Tayebwa made the remarks in his communication during plenary sitting on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, wherein Okamura, together with several delegates from Czech Republic followed proceedings of the sitting in the visitors’ gallery. Tayebwa said that Okamura’s visit to Uganda is a vote of confidence, given the recent ban on travel by Ugandans by several countries over the Ebola virus outbreak. “It is a very strong message to the rest of the world that our country is safe and secure,” Tayebwa said. He however called for better marketing of Uganda’s tourism, saying that many do not know about the vast tourism sites and safari activities in the country. “He [Okamura] did not know that he can do safari in Uganda. He first went to another country, did safari and then came to Uganda to do gorilla trekking. That means we need to do a lot to market and package our country so that we are known beyond gorilla trekking,” Tayebwa said. Tayebwa also renewed a call to the Ministry of Works and transport to improve on the road network in tourism sites, countrywide, saying that tourists spend more hours on the roads due to their poor state. “It is very important that we fix the roads. I am told that that government has very good plans for tourism roads and I hope we can expedite these and work on the roads,” Tayebwa said. Hon. Boniface Okot (NRM, Kole South County) thanked Okamura for promoting Uganda’s tourism and encouraged lawmakers to become Uganda’s tourism ambassadors. “I know in the tourism sector one of the initiatives is having high profile tourists and I encourage the MPs to interest more high profile tourists to visit Uganda,” said Okot. He added that a proposed Parliamentary tourism week in February 2027 will go a long way in ensuring that legislators participate in promoting Uganda’s tourism. “This is important in allowing Members to participate in this sector that will have our economy running,” Okot said. The Minister of State for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Susan Nakawuki encouraged Ugandans to take advantage of the open national park days, from 25 to 27 September, 2026. “During those days, entrance to the national parks is free for Ugandans and foreign residents in Uganda,” Nakawuki said. Nakawuki also encouraged lawmakers to participate in naming of gorillas and rhinos at a cost ranging between US$20,000 and US$50,000, as a way of promoting Uganda’s tourism as well as revenue generation. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.Media filesDownload logo
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